Politics
TOE Alert: Record low turnout and uncontested seats give LDP triumph in local elections
written by Richard Katz on April 13, 2015
This report analyzes why Abe's victory in local elections does not reflect support for either Abenomics or any other of Abe’s policies, as claimed by the Abe team.
TOE Alert: Wyden-Hatch Cosponsor TPA without Any Increase in Congress' Ability to Withdraw all or Parts of It
written by Richard Katz on April 16, 2015
In this report, Richard explains why Wyden-Hatch deal on TPA increases the likelihood that TPA can pass the House.
I Shot My Arrow in the Air
written by Richard Katz on March 09, 2015
This is the March issue of Richard's the Oriental Economist Report covering a range of political and economic issues in Japan.
TOE Alert: GPIF Sses Pensioners' Money to Boost Stock Prices
written by Richard Katz on March 05, 2015
The stock monitor in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s office is just one of the indicators of the degree to which he sees rising stock prices as pivotal to approval ratings. In the past, he has used “jawboning” to try to raise stock prices. Now, he is using the money of Japan’s retirees and soon-to-be retirees.
Abe's Reform of JA-Zenchu: What it Does and Doesn't Do Less Than Meets the Eye
written by Richard Katz on February 13, 2015
Richard analyses why the Zenchu reform is not an agricultural reform as Abe claims and why it is just another of the incremental steps that have gradually weakened JA-Zenchu’s power over the last few decades.
Abe’S Man Loses Saga Governor Vote To JA (Japan Agriculture)
written by Richard Katz on January 12, 2015
Richard analyzes the Saga Prefecture election setback to Abe and its possible implications for TPP.
A Victory, not a Mandate
written by Richard Katz on January 09, 2015
Hope in Abe and Abenomics disappearing.
LDP Does Not Owe Victory to Rural Districts
written by Richard Katz on December 17, 2014
This report analyzes that Abe has the electoral ability to override the farm lobby on TPP—and its allies within the LDP if he wants to, since the LDP was not dependent on the rural vote for its victory.
LDP: A Victory, Not Mandate
written by Richard Katz on December 15, 2014
In this report, Richard explains why Shinzo Abe and his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won a victory, but not a mandate.
TOE Alert: LDP Predicted tO Win 300 or More Seats
written by Richard Katz on December 04, 2014
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is currently on a trajectory to win 300 or more seats in the Dec. 14 Lower House election, according to polls in Nikkei, Asahi, Kyodo and Yomiuri, all based on tens of thousands of phone calls.
