Mainichi :: Tuesday, June 30, 2009

• LDP intra-party movements to oust PM Aso gain momentum ★
  A number of groups of ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) legislators critical of Prime Minister Taro Aso held meetings Monday night as moves to force him to resign gain momentum. continued ...


• Aso abandons reshuffling LDP leadership ★
  Prime Minister Taro Aso has abandoned reshuffling the leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), bowing to stiff opposition from legislators belonging to the party. continued ...


• Ex-defense bigwig fired for WWII 'aggressor nation' comments to give speech in Hiroshima ★
  Former Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) Chief of Staff Toshio Tamogami, who was fired last year after claiming that Japan was not the aggressor nation during World War II, will be giving a lecture on the anniversary of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima titled "Doubting Hiroshima's Peace" -- raising ire from local residents. continued ...


• LDP may place popular governor in top roster spot for election ★
  The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) may offer to place popular Miyazaki Gov. Hideo Higashikokubaru in the top roster spot of its candidates in a proportional representation bloc for the upcoming House of Representatives race, party officials said. continued ...


• Japan should acknowledge secret pact with U.S. over port calls by ships carrying nukes ★
  Former Administrative Vice Foreign Minister Ryohei Murata has admitted that there was a secret Japan-U.S. agreement over port calls by U.S. vessels carrying nuclear weapons at the time of the 1960 revision of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. His remarks, made during a recent interview with the Mainichi Shimbun, were the first for a former administrative vice minister to attest that the pact was passed down among Foreign Ministry officials in the form of documents. continued ...