In Japan, campaign pits conservative versus dove
106554
TOKYO - The race to replace outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appeared to narrow to two candidates yesterday as the ruling party's conservative number two leader and a dovish party stalwart who favors warmer ties with Asia announced they will run.
156471
The contest to succeed Shinzo Abe as Japan&#39;s next prime minister was thrown wide open Friday as dovish ruling party veteran Yasuo Fukuda announced he would run in what has turned into a two-way race.
506417
The race to replace outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe narrowed to two candidates Saturday as the ruling party said its conservative No. 2 leader and a dovish party stalwart who favors warmer ties with Asia will run.
376355
Conservatives keen to keep women from  ascending the Chrysanthemum Throne are hoping this week will  bring the answer to their prayers: the birth of Japan's first  imperial male heir in more than four decades.
157122
Front-runner Shinzo Abe has opened his bid to become Japan's next prime minister with calls for a more assertive nation but also better relations with Asian neighbors.
439646
Japanâs ruling party was expected to push into law a bill to revive a naval mission to support U.S.-led forces.
522470
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was warned to be more humble by a key backer in his ruling party amid a simmering row over his controversial plans to privatize postal services.
696113
Japan's ruling bloc lost a key local election on Sunday, a possible bellwether of public support after a Cabinet minister caused an uproar by calling women "birth-giving machines."
477902
Japanâs main opposition party pressed for a general election after Prime Minister Shinzo Abeâs government became embroiled in a fresh round of scandals.
440987
Allegations that a Japanese public television network was pressured by politicians to soft-pedal a program on Japan's legacy of sexual enslavement during World War II has pitted liberal Japanese media against their conservative counterparts.
134614
Japan's Prime Minister is losing traction on affairs close to voters, polls say
202329
Support for Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and his cabinet slid sharply to 37 percent in a poll taken after his decision to extend the mandate of Japanese troops serving in Iraq, a national daily said on Sunday.
266646
Shinzo Abe, an advocate of a more   muscular Japanese foreign policy and restoring traditional   values, is poised to win a party leadership contest on   Wednesday, setting the stage for his election as prime minister   next week.
353672
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has launched a media offensive to win back foundering voter support, which has slid below the key 30 percent level ahead of an upper house election this month.
585525
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is stumbling over the same controversial anti-terror legislation that brought down his predecessor, Shinzo Abe
558544
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe moved to woo back his conservative supporters on an Asian tour this week, snubbing China and paying tribute to an Indian figure revered by Japanese nationalists.
111807
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was  forced to reprimand his defense minister over a gaffe on  Monday, as his cabinet&#39;s support rates slid below the critical  30 percent level in a poll weeks before an upper house  election.