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People's New Party head Watanuki in general election

TOKYO, Japan - Tamisuke Watanuki, head of the small opposition People's New Party, speaks during a TV interview in Tokyo on Aug. 30 after the House of Representatives election.

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Watanuki in general election campaigning

TOKYO, Japan - Tamisuke Watanuki, who heads the small opposition People's New Party, arrives at a stump stop in the city of Hamura in Tokyo on Aug. 18. Watanuki, a former speaker of the House of Representatives, is among candidates seeking reelection as a lower house member. Official campaigning started the same day for the Aug. 30 general election.

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Official campaign begins for Japan's lower house election

TOKYO, Japan - People's New Party leader Tamisuke Watanuki stumps in the city of Hamura in Tokyo on Aug. 18 as the official campaign started for the Aug. 30 House of Representatives election in Japan.

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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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People's New Party joins DPJ in upper house grouping

TOKYO, Japan - Ichiro Ozawa (R), president of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, and Tamisuke Watanuki (L), head of the tiny People's New Party, sign documents for their parties to tie up in the House of Councillors, with the PNP's four members joining the DPJ-led largest political group in the chamber.

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People's New Party leader Watanuke stumps at Tokyo's Yurakucho

TOKYO, Japan - People's New Party leader Tamisuke Watanuki delivers his first speech for the July 29 House of Councillors election at Tokyo's Yurakucho district on July 12.

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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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Opposition calls for health minister'resignation

TOKYO, Japan - Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima, Democratic Party leader Ichiro Ozawa and People's New Party leader Tamisuke Watanuki (L to R) meet at the Parliament on Jan. 30 and agree to press health minister Hakuo Yanagisawa to resign over his remark comparing women to ''birth-giving machines.''

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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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LDP expels 9 as punishment for voting against postal bills

TOKYO, Japan - Tamisuke Watanuki, former House of Representatives speaker, speaks with reporters after being expelled by the governing Liberal Democratic Party on Oct. 21 for voting against Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's postal privatization bills during the previous Diet session ended Aug. 13.

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Political party leaders cast votes for general election

NANTO, Japan - Tamisuke Watanuki, leader of the newly formed People's New Party, casts his vote for the House of Representatives election in Nanto, Toyama Prefecture, on Sept. 11.

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Political party leaders make last appeal to voters

TONAMI, Japan - Tamisuke Watanuki, leader of the newly formed People's New Party, appeals to voters for support for the party in Tonami, Toyama Prefecture, on Sept. 10, one day before the House of Representatives election.

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Party leaders make campaign speech

TOYAMA, Japan - New People's Party leader Tamisuke Watanuki makes an election speech outside JR Toyama Station on Sept. 4.

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Party leaders on the stumping

TONAMI, Japan - Tamisuke Watanuki, leader of the newly formed People's New Party, pops into a shop and picks up a dried fish during his stumping tour in Tonami, Toyama Prefecture, on Sept. 3.

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Party leaders deliver first election speeches

TAKAOKA, Japan - Tamisuke Watanuki of the newly formed People's New Party delivers his first campaign speech in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture, on Aug. 30 after official campaigning for the Sept. 11 general election began.

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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 pre-election debate

TOKYO, Japan - People's New Party head Tamisuke Watanuki speaks during a debate at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Aug. 29.

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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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Ex-LDP critics of postal privatization bills form new party

TOKYO, Japan - Former senior Liberal Democratic Party members who voted against postal privatization bills advocated by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi announce the formation of a new political party at a press conference in Tokyo on Aug. 17 in preparation for the Sept. 11 House of Representatives election. At center is former lower house speaker Tamisuke Watanuki, who heads the party, called the Kokumin Shinto.

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Ex-LDP critics of postal privatization bills form new party

TOKYO, Japan - Former lower house speaker Tamisuke Watanuki holds a card bearing the name of a new party he formed Aug. 17 with other senior Liberal Democratic Party members who voted against postal privatization bills advocated by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. The Kokumin Shinto party includes former LDP members Shizuka Kamei, his elder brother Hisaoki Kamei, and House of Councillors member Kensei Hasegawa. They left the LDP earlier in the day.

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(2)80 lawmakers visit Yasukuni Shrine

TOKYO, Japan - A group of lawmakers, including former House of Representatives Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki, visit the war-related Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on April 22 to mark the occasion of its annual spring festival.

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(1)80 lawmakers visit Yasukuni Shrine

TOKYO, Japan - Lawmakers, including former House of Representatives Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki (3rd from R), visit the war-related Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on April 22 to mark the occasion of its annual spring festival as in past years, despite already testy relations with China. A nonpartisan parliamentarian group promoting worship at the shrine said 80 Diet members and 88 representatives of lawmakers belonging to the group visited the shrine. No incumbent Cabinet minister took part.

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LDP picks Kono as lower house speaker

TOKYO, Japan - File photo shows former Foreign Minister Yohei Kono, whom the ruling Liberal Democrat Party has decided to name as speaker of the House of Representatives to replace Tamisuke Watanuki, executive LDP lawmakers said Nov. 12. Kono, 66, is expected to be elected to the post during a special Diet session to be convened Nov. 19.

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(2)Watanuki meets China's Wu in Beijing

BEIJING, China - Former Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki (L) holds talks with Wu Bangguo, China's No. 2 leader and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 25.

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(1)Watanuki meets China's Wu in Beijing

BEIJING, China - Former Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki (L) shakes hands with Wu Bangguo, China's No. 2 leader and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress prior to their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 25.

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(3)Koizumi dissolves Diet for Nov. 9 general election

TOKYO, Japan - House of Representatives Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki reads out Emperor Akihito's rescript at a plenary session of the lower house on Oct. 10 to dissolve the chamber.

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China's Wu urges Japan to deal with poison gas

TOKYO, Japan - Wu Bangguo (L), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, shakes hands with House of Representatives Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki in the Diet in Tokyo on Sept. 5 prior to their talks.

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China's No. 2 leader arrives in Japan

TOKYO, Japan - Wu Bangguo (C), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, poses for a photograph at a welcome reception in Tokyo on Sept. 4, flanked by Hiroyuki Kurata (L), president of the House of Councillors, and Tamisuke Watanuki, speaker of the House of Representatives. Wu arrived in Tokyo earlier in the day for a weeklong trip to meet with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and celebrate the 25th anniversary of the signing of a peace treaty between the two countries.

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Castro meets with lower house speaker Watanuki

TOKYO, Japan - Cuban President Fidel Castro (L) shakes hands with House of Representatives Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki at the Diet building in Tokyo on March 2. Castro arrived in Japan on March 1 for an unofficial three-day visit.

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Karzai meets lower house speaker Watanuki

TOKYO, Japan - Afghan President Hamid Karzai (L) shakes hands with House of Representatives Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki at the Diet on Feb. 21. Karzai is visiting Japan to attend an international conference in Tokyo to help establish peace in Afghanistan.

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Emperor receives New Year's greetings

TOKYO, Japan - Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko receive New Year's greetings from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, House of Representatives Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki, and other officials at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Jan. 1. ''I'm praying for this country's prosperity and people's happiness,'' the emperor told well-wishers. (Pool photo)

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(2)Commission submits interim report on Constitution

TOKYO, Japan - Taro Nakayama (R), chairman of the Research Commission on the Constitution at the House of Representatives, submits to lower house speaker Tamisuke Watanuki the panel's interim report at the Diet in Tokyo on Nov. 1.

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(1)Tanaka quits parliament hoping to stem disillusion

TOKYO, Japan - Former Prime Minister Makiko Tanaka speaks to reporters in front of her house in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward on Aug. 9 about her resignation from parliament. Earlier in the day, Tanaka tendered her resignation from the House of Representatives to lower house speaker Tamisuke Watanuki.

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Opposition submits no-confidence motion against Koizumi

TOKYO, Japan - Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Naoto Kan (2nd from L), along with representatives from other opposition parties, hands a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's cabinet to Tamisuke Watanuki (L), speaker of the House of Representatives, on July 30, one day before the current Diet session ends.

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Parliamentary leaders host reception for Li

TOKYO, Japan - Li Peng (2nd from R), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, toasts during a welcome reception hosted by House of Councillors President Yutaka Inoue (R) and House of Representatives Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki (3rd from R) at the speaker's official residence in Tokyo on April 3.

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China's Li meets lower house speaker

TOKYO, Japan - Li Peng (C), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, addresses a meeting with Tamisuke Watanuki, speaker of the House of Representatives, and other lawmakers, in the Diet building April 3. Li arrived in Japan the previous day on an eight-day tour.

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Li Peng meets with parliamentary leaders

TOKYO, Japan - Li Peng (R)), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, is in talks with House of Representatives Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki (2nd from L) and House of Councillors President Yutaka Inoue (L) at the state guesthouse in Tokyo on April 2.

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(3)Bush delivers speech in Diet

TOKYO, Japan - U.S. President George W. Bush addresses lawmakers of both houses of the Japanese Diet (parliament) in the House of Councillors on Feb. 19. Seated behind him are House of Councillors President Juro Saito (L) and House of Representatives Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki (R), with interpreters sitting between them.

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Bush arrives at Diet to deliver speech

TOKYO, Japan - U.S. President George M. Bush waves at people Feb. 19 as he is greeted by House of Representatives Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki on arrival at the Japanese Diet (parliament) to deliver a speech.

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Panel calls for ending Diet committees' prior review of bills

TOKYO, Japan - Ryuzo Sejima (L), chairman of a private advisory panel to House of Representatives Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki, presents a report to Watanuki on reforming the lower house at Watanuki's official residence in Tokyo on Nov. 19. In the report, the panel proposes to scrap the Diet committees' prior review of bills before they reach the Diet floor.

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Emperor, empress greeted by government officials, envoys+

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko receive New Year's greetings from foreign ambassadors at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Monday. About 500 government officials including Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, House of Representatives Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki and Supreme Court Chief Justice Shigeru Yamaguchi also greet the imperial couple and other imperial family members. (Pool photo)

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Chinese premier meets lower house speaker

TOKYO, Japan - Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji (R) shakes hands with Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki at the Diet building in Tokyo on Oct. 13. Zhu arrived in Japan Oct. 12 for a six-day official visit aimed at fostering open and friendly relations between China and Japan.

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DPJ's Hatoyama, Kan talk briefly after Yamamoto quits Diet

TOKYO, Japan - Yukio Hatoyama (R), leader of the largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), talks briefly with DPJ policy chief Naoto Kan in the Diet building Sept. 8 after disgraced lawmaker Joji Yamamoto, under arrest on suspicion of fraudulently obtaining 20 million yen in government funds, submitted a resignation letter earlier in the day to House of Representatives Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki. Yamamoto, who recently also quit the DPJ, was once Kan's secretary.

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S. Korea's Lee hopes for successful Tokyo-Pyongyang talks

NEW YORK, United States - Japan's House of Representatives Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki (L) and Lee Man Sup, speaker of the South Korean National Assembly, shake hands at the United Nations on Aug. 30. Lee told Watanuki he hopes Japan and North Korea will succeed in ongoing negotiations to normalize diplomatic ties.

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Watanuki calls for reform of U.N. Security Council

NEW YORK, United States - Japan's House of Representatives Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki delivers a speech at a conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) at the United Nations on Aug. 30. He said the U.N. must reform the Security Council and restructure its finances if collaborative ties with national legislatures is to bear fruit.

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Watanuki elected lower house speaker

TOKYO, Japan - File photos show (from L to R) former Construction Minister Tamisuke Watanuki of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), who was elected speaker of the House of Representatives on July 4, and Kozo Watanabe, who was reelected vice speaker of the lower house. Watanabe belongs to the Mushozokuno Kai (a group of independents).

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Watanabe reelected lower house vice speaker

TOKYO, Japan - Kozo Watanabe, former vice speaker of the House of Representatives, addresses the plenary session of the lower house on July 4 after being reelected to the same post. Tamisuke Watanuki, newly-elected speaker of the house, is in the background.

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LDP picks Kono as lower house speaker

TOKYO, Japan - File photo shows former Foreign Minister Yohei Kono, whom the ruling Liberal Democrat Party has decided to name as speaker of the House of Representatives to replace Tamisuke Watanuki, executive LDP lawmakers said Nov. 12. Kono, 66, is expected to be elected to the post during a special Diet session to be convened Nov. 19. (Kyodo)

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China's Li meets lower house speaker

TOKYO, Japan - Li Peng (C), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, addresses a meeting with Tamisuke Watanuki, speaker of the House of Representatives, and other lawmakers, in the Diet building April 3. Li arrived in Japan the previous day on an eight-day tour.

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(2)80 lawmakers visit Yasukuni Shrine

TOKYO, Japan - A group of lawmakers, including former House of Representatives Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki, visit the war-related Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on April 22 to mark the occasion of its annual spring festival. (Kyodo)