Kozumi, Kanzaki confirm solid coalition partnership

Kozumi, Kanzaki confirm solid coalition partnership

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (R) meets with Takenori Kanzaki, leader of the New Komeito party, at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on July 12. They confirmed the solidity of the governing coalition despite the setback suffered by Koizumi's Liberal Democratic Party in the July 11 House of Councillors election.

Koizumi vows to deliver reform, avoid crisis

Koizumi vows to deliver reform, avoid crisis

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi delivers his policy speech to the plenary session of the House of Representatives in the Diet in Tokyo on Feb. 4. Kozumi reiterated his resolve to carry out his reform pledges to pull the Japanese economy out of recession, as well as to take all possible measures to avoid a financial crisis.

Nikkei falls for 7th day despite Koizumi's assurance

Nikkei falls for 7th day despite Koizumi's assurance

TOKYO, Japan - A scrolling electronic board on a building in Tokyo's Yaeshu district shows the Tokyo Stock Exchange's 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average falling 49.40 points on Jan. 17. The key index of Tokyo stock prices declined for the seventh straight trading day, despite Prime Minister Junichiro Kozumi's pledge he will not allow a financial crisis.

Koizumi calls for closer ties with ASEAN

Koizumi calls for closer ties with ASEAN

SINGAPORE - Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi delivers a speech on ''Japan and ASEAN in East Asia'' at a Singapore hotel on Jan. 14. Kozumi called for closer economic and security ties between Japan and Southeast Asian nations that would ultimately evolve into a new community linking with other parts of East Asia.

Panel sets general expenditure ceiling at 47.8 tril. yen

Panel sets general expenditure ceiling at 47.8 tril. yen

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Junichiro Kozumi (C) attends a meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo on Aug. 9. The government panel agreed to set the ceiling on core general expenditure in the fiscal 2002 budget at 47.8 trillion yen, down from a record-high 48.7 trillion yen in discretionary policy spending in the initial budget for the current fiscal year.

Daycare centers to accept 150,000 more children by FY 2004

Daycare centers to accept 150,000 more children by FY 2004

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Junichiro Kozumi (L) speaks at a government committee aimed at promoting gender equality. The panel, chaired by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, adopted measures to make work and child-rearing more compatible, including accommodating 150,000 more children at daycare centers by fiscal 2004.

Junichiro Kozumi

Junichiro Kozumi

Koizumi has been serving as prime minister since April 26, 2001. Coming from a family of politicians in Kanagawa Prefecture, Koizumi was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1972 at the age of 30. Long dubbed ''unique,'' ''eccentric'' and a ''maverick'' in Japan's political arena, Koizumi took the premiership without the support of the largest faction in his ruling Liberal Democratic Party by advocating drastic political and economic reform.

Kozumi, Kanzaki confirm solid coalition partnership

Kozumi, Kanzaki confirm solid coalition partnership

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (R) meets with Takenori Kanzaki, leader of the New Komeito party, at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on July 12. They confirmed the solidity of the governing coalition despite the setback suffered by Koizumi's Liberal Democratic Party in the July 11 House of Councillors election. (Kyodo)

Koizumi vows to deliver reform, avoid crisis

Koizumi vows to deliver reform, avoid crisis

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi delivers his policy speech to the plenary session of the House of Representatives in the Diet in Tokyo on Feb. 4. Kozumi reiterated his resolve to carry out his reform pledges to pull the Japanese economy out of recession, as well as to take all possible measures to avoid a financial crisis.

Daycare centers to accept 150,000 more children by FY 2004

Daycare centers to accept 150,000 more children by FY 2004

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Junichiro Kozumi (L) speaks at a government committee aimed at promoting gender equality. The panel, chaired by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, adopted measures to make work and child-rearing more compatible, including accommodating 150,000 more children at daycare centers by fiscal 2004.