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New Japanese Communist Party chief

New Japanese Communist Party chairperson Tomoko Tamura gives an interview at the party's headquarters in Tokyo on Jan. 24, 2024.

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New Japanese Communist Party chief

New Japanese Communist Party chairperson Tomoko Tamura gives an interview at the party's headquarters in Tokyo on Jan. 24, 2024.

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New Japanese Communist Party chief

New Japanese Communist Party chairperson Tomoko Tamura gives an interview at the party's headquarters in Tokyo on Jan. 24, 2024.

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New Japanese Communist Party chief

New Japanese Communist Party chairperson Tomoko Tamura holds a press conference after she was endorsed as the first woman to head the party on the final day of a four-day party meeting in Atami in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, on Jan. 18, 2024.

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New Japanese Communist Party chief

New Japanese Communist Party chairperson Tomoko Tamura holds a press conference after she was endorsed as the first woman to head the party on the final day of a four-day party meeting in Atami in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, on Jan. 18, 2024.

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Politicians pay tribute to the late JCP leader Kenji Miyamoto

TOKYO, Japan - Representatives of major political parties in Japan pay tribute to the late Japanese Communist Party leader Kenji Miyamoto at a memorial service held in Tokyo on Aug. 6. From L to R: JCP chairman Kazuo Shii, House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono, former JCP Chairman Tetsuzo Fuwa, Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa (two persons away from Fuwa), Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama and New Komeito deputy leader Chikara Sakaguchi.

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1 week before Japan general election

TOKYO, Japan - Leaders of the ruling and opposition parties campaign across Japan on Dec. 7, 2014, a week before the Dec. 14 lower house election. They are (from R to L, top row to bottom row) Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of the Liberal Democratic Party; Banri Kaieda of the Democratic Party of Japan; Kenji Eda, co-leader of the Japan Innovation Party; Natsuo Yamaguchi of the Komeito party; Takeo Hiranuma of the Party for Future Generations; Kazuo Shii of the Japanese Communist Party; Ichiro Ozawa of the People's Life Party; Tadatomo Yoshida of the Social Democratic Party; and Hiroyuki Arai of the New Renaissance Party.

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Campaigning begins for Japan general election

TOKYO, Japan - Leaders of the ruling and opposition parties stump across Japan on Dec. 2, 2014, the first day of official campaigning for a lower house election. They are (from R to L, top row to bottom row) Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of the Liberal Democratic Party, Banri Kaieda of the Democratic Party of Japan, Kenji Eda, co-leader of the Japan Innovation Party, Natsuo Yamaguchi of the Komeito party, Takeo Hiranuma of the Party for Future Generations, Kazuo Shii of the Japanese Communist Party, Ichiro Ozawa of the People's Life Party, Tadatomo Yoshida of the Social Democratic Party and Hiroyuki Arai of the New Renaissance Party.

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Campaigning begins for Japan general election

TOKYO, Japan - Leaders of the ruling and opposition parties stump across Japan on Dec. 2, 2014, the first day of official campaigning for a lower house election. They are (from R to L, top row to bottom row) Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of the Liberal Democratic Party, Banri Kaieda of the Democratic Party of Japan, Kenji Eda, co-leader of the Japan Innovation Party, Natsuo Yamaguchi of the Komeito party, Takeo Hiranuma of the Party for Future Generations, Kazuo Shii of the Japanese Communist Party, Ichiro Ozawa of the People's Life Party, Tadatomo Yoshida of the Social Democratic Party and Hiroyuki Arai of the New Renaissance Party.

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Upper house election in Japan

TOKYO, Japan - Photo series shows leaders of Japanese political parties campaigning on July 20, 2013, the day before the upper house election. They are (top row, from L) Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of the New Komeito party; Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who leads the Liberal Democratic Party; Banri Kaieda, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan; (middle row, from L) Japanese Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii; Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the People's Life Party; Your Party leader Yoshimi Watanabe; (bottom row, from L) Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who doubles as co-leader of the Japan Restoration Party; Kuniko Tanioka, leader of the Green Wind party; and Mizuho Fukushima, leader of the Social Democratic Party.

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Party leaders' debate

TOKYO, Japan - Political party chiefs join hands before a debate on their policies in Tokyo on July 3, 2013, ahead of the July 21 House of Councillors election. From left are Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima, People's Life Party leader Ichiro Ozawa, New Komeito party leader Natsuo Yamaguchi, Democratic Party of Japan leader Banri Kaieda, Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party leader Shinzo Abe, Japan Restoration Party co-leader Toru Hashimoto, Your Party leader Yoshimi Watanabe, Japanese Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii and Green Wind party head Kuniko Tanioka.

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Party leaders' debate

TOKYO, Japan - Political party chiefs join hands before a debate on their policies in Tokyo on July 3, 2013, ahead of the July 21 House of Councillors election. From left are Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima, People's Life Party leader Ichiro Ozawa, New Komeito party leader Natsuo Yamaguchi, Democratic Party of Japan leader Banri Kaieda, Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party leader Shinzo Abe, Japan Restoration Party co-leader Toru Hashimoto, Your Party leader Yoshimi Watanabe, Japanese Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii and Green Wind party head Kuniko Tanioka.

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Japan party chief meets China leader Xi

BEIJING, China - New Komeito party leader Natsuo Yamaguchi holds a press conference in Beijing on Jan. 25, 2013, after holding talks with Chinese Communist Party leader and the country's president-in-waiting Xi Jinping. Yamaguchi handed Xi a letter from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe prior to the talks.

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Japan party chief meets China leader Xi

BEIJING, China - New Komeito party leader Natsuo Yamaguchi (L) hands a letter from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Chinese Communist Party leader and the country's president-in-waiting Xi Jinping prior to their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Jan. 25, 2013. (Pool photo by Kyodo News)

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Japan party chief meets China leader Xi

BEIJING, China - New Komeito party leader Natsuo Yamaguchi (L) holds talks with Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping, the country's president-in-waiting, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Jan. 25, 2013. Yamaguchi handed Xi a letter from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe prior to the talks. (Pool photo by Kyodo News)

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Japan party chief meets China leader Xi

BEIJING, China - New Komeito party leader Natsuo Yamaguchi (L) and Chinese Communist Party leader and the country's president-in-waiting Xi Jinping shake hands prior to their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Jan. 25, 2013. Yamaguchi handed Xi a letter from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. (Pool photo by Kyodo News)

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Japan party leader in China

BEIJING, China - New Komeito party leader Natsuo Yamaguchi (L) and senior Communist Party of China official Wang Jiarui shake hands in Beijing before their meeting on Jan. 24, 2013. The Japanese ruling coalition party leader was in China in an effort to improve Japan-China relations strained over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, administered for decades by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing. (Pool photo)

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Japan general election

TOKYO, Japan - Combination photo shows (top column, from R to L) Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, president of the Democratic Party of Japan, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, president of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party, Yukiko Kada, head of the Tomorrow Party of Japan, Natsuo Yamaguchi, head of the New Komeito party, (center column, from R to L) former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, head of the Japan Restoration Party, Kazuo Shii, head of the Japanese Communist Party, Yoshimi Watanabe, head of Your Party, Mizuho Fukushima, head of the Social Democratic Party, (bottom column, from R to L) Kenko Matsuki, acting leader of the New Party Daichi, Shozaburo Jimi, head of the People's New Party, Yasuo Tanaka, head of the New Party Nippon, and Yoichi Masuzoe, head of the New Renaissance Party, while making stump speeches at various locations across the country on Dec. 4, 2012, as official campaigning kicked off the same day for the Dec. 16 general election.

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Japan general election

TOKYO, Japan - Leaders of Japan's major political parties join hands before a debate at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Nov. 30, 2012, ahead of the Dec. 16, 2012, general election. From L are Shozaburo Jimi of the People's New Party, Mizuho Fukushima of the Social Democratic Party, Kazuo Shii of the Japanese Communist Party, Natsuo Yamaguchi of the New Komeito party, Shinzo Abe of the Liberal Democratic Party, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda of the Democratic Party of Japan, Yukiko Kada of Nippon Mirai no To (Japan Future Party), Shintaro Ishihara of the Japan Restoration Party, Yoshimi Watanabe of Your Party, Muneo Suzuki of the New Party Daichi and Yoichi Masuzoe of the New Renaissance Party.

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Political leaders hold pre-election debate

TOKYO, Japan - Leaders of political parties -- (from L to R) New Renaissance Party's Yoichi Masuzoe, People's New Party's Shizuka Kamei, Japanese Communist Party's Kazuo Shii, Liberal Democratic Party's Sadakazu Tanigaki, Prime Minister Naoto Kan (who also serves as Democratic Party of Japan leader), New Komeito party's Natsuo Yamaguchi, Social Democratic Party's Mizuho Fukushima, Your Party's Yoshimi Watanabe and Sunrise Party of Japan's Takeo Hiranuma -- take part in a nationally televised debate at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on June 22, 2010, ahead of the June 24 start of official campaigning for the House of Councillors election.

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Political leaders hold pre-election debate

TOKYO, Japan - Leaders of political parties -- (from L to R) New Renaissance Party's Yoichi Masuzoe, People's New Party's Shizuka Kamei, Japanese Communist Party's Kazuo Shii, Liberal Democratic Party's Sadakazu Tanigaki, Prime Minister Naoto Kan (who also serves as Democratic Party of Japan leader), New Komeito party's Natsuo Yamaguchi, Social Democratic Party's Mizuho Fukushima, Your Party's Yoshimi Watanabe and Sunrise Party of Japan's Takeo Hiranuma -- take part in a nationally televised debate at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on June 22, 2010, ahead of the June 24 start of official campaigning for the House of Councillors election.

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Party leaders hold public debate before upper house election

TOKYO, Japan - Leaders of political parties -- (from L to R) New Renaissance Party's Yoichi Masuzoe, People's New Party's Shizuka Kamei, Japanese Communist Party's Kazuo Shii, Liberal Democratic Party's Sadakazu Tanigaki, Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who also serves as Democratic Party of Japan's leader, New Komeito party's Natsuo Yamaguchi, Social Democratic Party's Mizuho Fukushima, Your Party's Yoshimi Watanabe and Sunrise Party of Japan's Takeo Hiranuma -- line up at Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on June 22, 2010, before their public debate ahead of the June 24 start of official campaign for the House of Councillors election.

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Aso, Hatoyama, 4 other major party heads

TOKYO, Japan - (From L) Social Democratic Party head Mizuho Fukushima, New Komeito party leader Akihiro Ota, Prime Minister Taro Aso who doubles as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Democratic Party of Japan President Yukio Hatoyama, Japanese Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii and People's New Party head Tamisuke Watanuki shake hands before a debate at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Aug. 17, on the eve of the start of official campaigning for the Aug. 30 general election.

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Ruling camp-backed incumbent defeated in Aomori mayoral election

AOMORI, Japan - Hiroshi Shikanai (C), surrounded by his supporters, celebrates at his election campaign office in Aomori on April 19 after winning the Aomori mayoral election. Shikanai, supported by the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party, defeated Seizo Sasaki, supported by the Liberal Democratic Party and local organizations of the New Komeito party, and Ryo Seki.

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LDP-backed incumbent governor wins Toyama election

TOYAMA, Japan - Takakazu Ishii celebrates his reelection as governor of Toyama Prefecture Oct. 19, defeating a challenger backed by the Japanese Communist Party. Ishii, 62, was backed by the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito party.

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LDP-backed incumbent governor wins Niigata election

NIIGATA, Japan - Hirohiko Izumida smiles at his election office in Niigata Oct. 19 as he was reelected governor of Niigata Prefecture. Izumida, 46, backed by the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito party, defeated a challenger backed by the Japanese Communist Party.

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Budget, tax bills pass lower house amid opposition boycott

TOKYO, Japan - With the opposition benches empty, members of the ruling coalition at the House of Representatives vote in a late night session Feb. 29 to approve an 83 trillion yen state budget and a tax reform bill for fiscal 2008, ensuring that the budget will become law in time for the start of the new fiscal year on April 1. The opposition parties, excluding the Japanese Communist Party, boycotted the vote on grounds that there had been insufficient deliberation on the bills.

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China leader urges Japan to clearly oppose Taiwan referendum

BEIJING, China - Li Keqiang (R), member of the powerful Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party's Politburo, meets with Yotaro Kobayashi, chief corporate adviser at Fuji Xerox Co. and the Japanese leader of the New Japan-China Friendship Committee for the 21st Century, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Jan. 29. Li said Beijing hopes Tokyo will issue a clearer opposition against a referendum to be held in Taiwan in March.

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Party chiefs engage in pension debate ahead of election

TOKYO, Japan - (From L to R) Tamisuke Watanuki, head of the People's New Party, Kazuo Shii, head of the Japanese Communist Party, Ichiro Ozawa, head of the Democratic Party of Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is also head of the Liberal Democratic Party, Akihiro Ota, head of the New Komeito party, Mizuho Fukushima, head of the Social Democratic Party and Yasuo Tanaka, head of the New Party Nippon, pose for photos after the end of their joint forum discussion at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on July 11.

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No-confidence motion voted down in lower house

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe looks as former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi prepares to cast his ballot against a no-confidence motion submitted by four opposition parties against the Cabinet in the House of Representatives on Dec. 15. The lower chamber voted down the motion sponsored by the Democratic Party of Japan, the Japanese Communist Party, the Social Democratic Party and the People's New Party.

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4 opposition parties call for Fukui's resignation

TOKYO, Japan - (From L to R) People's New Party leader Tamisuke Watanuki, Japanese Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii, Democratic Party of Japan leader Ichiro Ozawa and Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima meet in the Diet building on June 24. Later they issued a ''joint emergency appeal'' callong on Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui to step down to take responsibility for his controversial investment.

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3 men to run for Nago mayor

NAGO, Japan - Three men filed their candidacies Jan. 15 for the upcoming mayoral election in Nago, where the major issue for the Okinawa Prefecture city is whether it should host the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Futemma Air Station. The three vying to succeed retiring Mayor Tateo Kishimoto are (file photos from L to R) Yoshikazu Shimabukuro, 59, backed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito party, Munehiro Gakiya, 59, an independent, and Yoshitami Oshiro, 65, supported by the Democratic Party of Japan, Japanese Communist Party and Social Democratic Party.

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Political party leaders hold pre-election debate

TOKYO, Japan - Leaders of six political parties are seated at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Aug. 29 for a major debate. (From L to R) People's New Party head Tamisuke Watanuki, New Komeito party leader Takenori Kanzaki, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who also heads the Liberal Democratic Party, Democratic Party of Japan President Katsuya Okada, Japanese Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii and Social Democratic Party head Mizuho Fukushima.

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Political party leaders hold debate ahead of general election

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's political party leaders join hands prior to their debate ahead of the Sept. 11 general election at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Aug. 29. (From L to R) People's New Party head Tamisuke Watanuki, New Komeito party leader Takenori Kanzaki, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who also heads the Liberal Democratic Party, Democratic Party of Japan President Katsuya Okada, Japanese Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii and Social Democratic Party head Mizuho Fukushima.

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(2)Leaders of political parties hold public debate

TOKYO, Japan - Leaders of five political parties -- Takenori Kanzai of New Komeito (L), Junichiro Koizumi of the Liberal Democratic Party (2nd from L), Katsuya Okada of the Democratic Party of Japan (C), Kazuo Shii of the Japanese Communist Party (2nd from R) and Mizuho Fukushima of the Social Democratic Party -- hold a public discussion on June 21 ahead of the July 11 House of Councillors' election, at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo.

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(1)Leaders of political parties hold public debate

TOKYO, Japan - Leaders of five political parties -- Takenori Kanzai of New Komeito (L), Junichiro Koizumi of the Liberal Democratic Party (2nd from L), Mizuho Fukushima of the Social Democratic Party (C), Katsuya Okada of the Democratic Party of Japan (2nd from R) and Kazuo Shii of the Japanese Communist Party -- join hands for photos at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo prior to their public debate on June 21 ahead of the House of Councillors' election set for July 11.

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JCP drops 'revolutionary' platform

TOKYO, Japan - Kazuo Shii, chairman of the Japanese Communist Party's (JCP) Executive Committee, speaks Jan. 17 at a party convention in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture. The JCP adopted a new platform, dropping its aim to bring about a ''socialist revolution'' in Japan.

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(1)Party leaders hold debate before election

TOKYO, Japan - The leaders of Japan's six major political parties hold a debate session at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Oct. 27 ahead of the Nov. 9 general election. (From L to R) are New Conservative Party leader Hiroshi Kumagai, New Komeito leader Takenori Kanzaki, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of the Liberal Democratic Party, Democratic Party of Japan leader Naoto Kan, Japanese Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii, and Social Democratic Party leader Takako Doi.

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(4)Party leaders start canvassing tours

TOKYO, Japan - Ruling and opposition leaders started stumping nationwide on Oct. 11. Delivering campaign speeches are (anticlockwise from top right) Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Shinzo Abe, new Komeito Party leader Takenori Kanzaki, Democratic Party of Japan leader Naoto Kan, Socialist Democratic Party leader Takako Doi, Japanese Communist Party chairman Kazuo Shii and New Conservative Party leader Hiroshi Kumagai.

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Koizumi meets opposition leaders over terror attacks

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (2nd from R) meets with opposition leaders (from L to R) Takako Doi of the Social Democratic Party, Yukio Hatoyama of the Democratic Party of Japan and Kazuo Shii of the Japanese Communist Party at his official residence on Sept. 20 to discuss how Japan will assist the United States following the Sept. 11 terror attacks on New York and Washington.

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Opposition camp to fight Koizumi administration

TOKYO, Japan - Opposition leaders confirm April 27 at the Diet building in Tokyo their intention to fight the administration of new Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and topple the coalition led by his Liberal Democratic Party. Attending the meeting are Takako Doi of the Social Democratic Party (2nd from R in front), Ichiro Ozawa of the Liberal Party (L), Yukio Hatoyama of the Democratic Party of Japan (C, in background), and Kazuo Shii of the Japanese Communist Party (R, in background).

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3 coded letters written by ex-JCP head Nosaka unearthed

TOKYO, Japan - Three coded letters written by Sanzo Nosaka, a controversial Japanese Communist Party leader who was later expelled by his party and died seven years ago at age 101, shed light on his underground life in the United States after he sneaked into the country in 1934. The photo shows copies of the letters, translated into German, which were sent by Nosaka from New York to his Comintern handlers in Moscow in 1934 and now preserved at Russia's National Archives. The letters prove that Nosaka did more than produce antiwar propaganda during his four-year stay in the U.S., as generally believed by Japanese historians.

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Party heads debate policies ahead of official campaigning

TOKYO, Japan - Leaders of Japan's political parties debated policies at the National Press Club in Tokyo on June 12, ahead of official campaigning for the June 25 election, which starts June 13. Left to right are Chikage Ogi of the New Conservative Party, Takenori Kanzaki of the New Komeito party, Yoshiro Mori of the Liberal Democratic Party, Yukio Hatoyama of the Democratic Party of Japan, Tetsuzo Fuwa of the Japanese Communist Party, Ichiro Ozawa of the Liberal Party, and Takako Doi of the Social Democratic Party.

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Osaka prefectural assembly passes bill to tax big banks

OSAKA, Japan - The Osaka prefectural government joins the Tokyo metropolitan government on May 30 to impose a new local tax on major financial institutions, as the assembly of Japan's second most populous prefecture approves legislation at its plenary session. The Osaka prefectural assembly passed the ordinance in a majority vote by members of the Liberal Democrats Party (LDP), the Japanese Communist Party, the Social Democratic Party and some other groups.

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CPC to make greater achievements in future: former Japanese PM

STORY: CPC to make greater achievements in future: former Japanese PM DATELINE: Oct. 25, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:42 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of views in China 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Japanese): YUKIO HATOYAMA, Former Japanese prime minister 3. various of views in China and Japan 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Japanese): YUKIO HATOYAMA, Former Japanese prime minister STORYLINE: In a recent interview with Xinhua, former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama applauded China's achievements in the past decade and expressed confidence in its path forward under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC). SOUNDBITE 1 (Japanese): YUKIO HATOYAMA, Former Japanese prime minister "It (the CPC) has put forward the extraordinary Belt and Road Initiative and the concept of building a human community with a shared future. It has defended international fairness and justice, and upheld and practiced true multilateralism. In the face of future challenges, the CPC will continue to press forward and make new achi

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Hong Kong unveils new memorial hall of Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression

STORY: Hong Kong unveils new memorial hall of Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression DATELINE: Sept. 4, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:07 LOCATION: HONG KONG, China CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. STANDUP (English): ZHANG YICHI, Xinhua correspondent 2. various of the memorial hall STORYLINE: A new memorial hall on the history of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was unveiled Saturday in Hong Kong. STANDUP (English): ZHANG YICHI, Xinhua correspondent "It's the first independent memorial hall to commemorate Hong Kong's resistance against Japanese aggression, an important part of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression." Located in Sha Tau Kok of New Territories, the memorial hall is featured with exhibitions on local resistance efforts, including the history of the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column, a guerrilla force against Japanese aggression under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. T

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Political party leaders hold debate ahead of general election

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's political party leaders join hands prior to their debate ahead of the Sept. 11 general election at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Aug. 29. (From L to R) People's New Party head Tamisuke Watanuki, New Komeito party leader Takenori Kanzaki, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who also heads the Liberal Democratic Party, Democratic Party of Japan President Katsuya Okada, Japanese Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii and Social Democratic Party head Mizuho Fukushima. (Kyodo)

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3 men to run for Nago mayor

NAGO, Japan - Three men filed their candidacies Jan. 15 for the upcoming mayoral election in Nago, where the major issue for the Okinawa Prefecture city is whether it should host the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Futemma Air Station. The three vying to succeed retiring Mayor Tateo Kishimoto are (file photos from L to R) Yoshikazu Shimabukuro, 59, backed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito party, Munehiro Gakiya, 59, an independent, and Yoshitami Oshiro, 65, supported by the Democratic Party of Japan, Japanese Communist Party and Social Democratic Party. (Kyodo)

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4 opposition parties call for Fukui's resignation

TOKYO, Japan - (From L to R) People's New Party leader Tamisuke Watanuki, Japanese Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii, Democratic Party of Japan leader Ichiro Ozawa and Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima meet in the Diet building on June 24. Later they issued a ''joint emergency appeal'' callong on Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui to step down to take responsibility for his controversial investment. (Kyodo)

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No-confidence motion voted down in lower house

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe looks as former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi prepares to cast his ballot against a no-confidence motion submitted by four opposition parties against the Cabinet in the House of Representatives on Dec. 15. The lower chamber voted down the motion sponsored by the Democratic Party of Japan, the Japanese Communist Party, the Social Democratic Party and the People's New Party. (Kyodo)