Junichiro Koizumi

Heizo Takenaka, the former economy minister credited with guiding Japan's longest postwar expansion, on Monday attacked the coalition government for lacking policy direction as it haggles over the next stimulus package. "The decision-making system in the current government is very messy," Takenaka, who served in Cabinet posts under Junichiro Koizumi from 2001 to 2006, said on the sidelines of a seminar in Seoul. "There's no control tower in...  

TOKYO, Dec. 13 (AP) - (Kyodo)—The Liberal Democratic Party launched its "tours with lawmakers" program on Sunday, with Shinjiro Koizumi, a son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and a fir...  

The Liberal Democratic Party launched its "tours with lawmakers" program on Sunday, with Shinjiro Koizumi, a son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and a first-year lower house member, leading participants on a visit to a Self-Defense Forces facility in Kanagawa Prefecture. Some 50 participants, selected from about 5,200 applicants, went to the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Yokosuka base where they were expected to tour an escort ship...  

Takenaka Says Hatoyama Government Lacks Policy 'Control Tower'Bloomberg“The decision-making system in the current government is very messy,” Takenaka, who served in cabinet posts under Junichiro Koizumi from 2001 to 2006, ...and more »  

Junichiro Koizumi avoided discussing his controversial visit to Yasukuni Shrine during talks with top officials in Beijing in 2001 when he was prime minister, according to recently disclosed government documents. The documents on the Oct. 8, 2001, meetings, which the Foreign Ministry recently released, show that then Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji both explained to Koizumi in their respective meetings that his visit to...  

TOKYO, Dec. 7 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Junichiro Koizumi avoided discussing with top Chinese officials his controversial visit to Yasukuni Shrine during talks in Beijing in 2001 when he was prime minister,...  

This handout picture from last September shows former Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi posing with superhero characters for the movie "MegaMonsterBattle -- Ultra Galaxy" at a studio in Tokyo. Koizumi was known for crooning Elvis Presley songs while in office  

TOKYO, Oct. 22 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Former economic and fiscal policy minister Heizo Takenaka, the main architect of postal privatization under former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, criticized Thurs...  

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party is at war with itself after ex-prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, gave premier, Taro Aso, a dressing-down yesterday for talking critically about the privatized postal system, a legacy of Koizumi’s. The ...  

TOKYO, Oct. 23 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Financial and postal affairs minister Shizuka Kamei reiterated Friday he intends to overhaul measures implemented by former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, not only the current postal privatization plans but also ...  

Metropolis: ...former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, 67, has signed on to be the voice of Ultraman King in Mega Monster Battle – Ultra Galaxy Legend: The Movie, after his son and first-term House of Representatives member Shinjiro Koizumi, 28, urged him to accept the part.One of his lines read, “We have to continue the fight, and support the weak. Rise again, warriors of the Land of Light. For peace and justice! For all the universe!”The...