Abe names new LDP executives

Abe names new LDP executives

TOKYO, Japan - Liberal Democratic Party leader Shinzo Abe (4th from L) joins hands with new party executives he named on Sept. 25 at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo. The executives (from L to R) are Acting Secretary General Nobuteru Ishihara, General Council Chairman Yuya Niwa, Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa, Abe, Policy Research Council Chairman Shoichi Nakagawa, the party's upper house caucus leader Mikio Aoki and the caucus Secretary General Toranosuke Katayama.

Abe names ex-health minister as LDP'S General Council chief

Abe names ex-health minister as LDP'S General Council chief

TOKYO, Japan - Former health and welfare minister Yuya Niwa is surrounded by reporters at the Liberal Democratic Party headquarters on Sept. 25 upon being named as chairman of the party's decision-making General Council.

New LDP leader Abe names top party executives

New LDP leader Abe names top party executives

TOKYO, Japan - New Liberal Democratic Party President Shinzo Abe named on Sept. 25 former Chief Cabinet Secretary Hidenao Nakagawa (L) as secretary general of the governing party, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shoichi Nakagawa (C) as chairman of the Policy Research Council, and former health and welfare minister Yuya Niwa as chairman of the decision-making General Council.

Niwa opts out of LDP presidential election

Niwa opts out of LDP presidential election

TOKYO, Japan - Former health minister Yuya Niwa fields questions from reporters in Tokyo on Sept. 5 after the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) faction to which he belongs decided not to field him as its candidate in the party's Sept. 20 presidential election.

Horiuchi launches new LDP faction

Horiuchi launches new LDP faction

TOKYO, Japan - Mitsuo Horiuchi (C), a former trade and industry minister, along with former Health and Welfare Minister Yuya Niwa (L) and former Foreign Minister Yukihiko Ikeda (R), attends a news conference at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's headquarters in Tokyo's Nagatacho on Jan. 31 after launching a new LDP faction, a move marking the formal split of Kochikai, the second largest intraparty power group headed by former LDP Secretary General Koichi Kato.

Obuchi visits nursing-care center, encourages elderly

Obuchi visits nursing-care center, encourages elderly

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi (center) shakes hands with a patient during a visit to the ''Yamabuki-no-sato'' nursing-care center for the elderly in Tokyo on April 1. The visit marked the launch of a new public nursing-care insurance system in Japan. Left in the rear is Health and Education Minister Yuya Niwa.

Abe names new LDP executives

Abe names new LDP executives

TOKYO, Japan - Liberal Democratic Party leader Shinzo Abe (4th from L) joins hands with new party executives he named on Sept. 25 at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo. The executives (from L to R) are Acting Secretary General Nobuteru Ishihara, General Council Chairman Yuya Niwa, Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa, Abe, Policy Research Council Chairman Shoichi Nakagawa, the party's upper house caucus leader Mikio Aoki and the caucus Secretary General Toranosuke Katayama. (Kyodo)

Abe names ex-health minister as LDP'S General Council chief

Abe names ex-health minister as LDP'S General Council chief

TOKYO, Japan - Former health and welfare minister Yuya Niwa is surrounded by reporters at the Liberal Democratic Party headquarters on Sept. 25 upon being named as chairman of the party's decision-making General Council. (Kyodo)

New LDP leader Abe names top party executives

New LDP leader Abe names top party executives

TOKYO, Japan - New Liberal Democratic Party President Shinzo Abe named on Sept. 25 former Chief Cabinet Secretary Hidenao Nakagawa (L) as secretary general of the governing party, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shoichi Nakagawa (C) as chairman of the Policy Research Council, and former health and welfare minister Yuya Niwa as chairman of the decision-making General Council. (Kyodo)

Niwa opts out of LDP presidential election

Niwa opts out of LDP presidential election

TOKYO, Japan - Former health minister Yuya Niwa fields questions from reporters in Tokyo on Sept. 5 after the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) faction to which he belongs decided not to field him as its candidate in the party's Sept. 20 presidential election. (Kyodo)

Horiuchi launches new LDP faction

Horiuchi launches new LDP faction

TOKYO, Japan - Mitsuo Horiuchi (C), a former trade and industry minister, along with former Health and Welfare Minister Yuya Niwa (L) and former Foreign Minister Yukihiko Ikeda (R), attends a news conference at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's headquarters in Tokyo's Nagatacho on Jan. 31 after launching a new LDP faction, a move marking the formal split of Kochikai, the second largest intraparty power group headed by former LDP Secretary General Koichi Kato.

Obuchi visits nursing-care center, encourages elderly

Obuchi visits nursing-care center, encourages elderly

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi (center) shakes hands with a patient during a visit to the ''Yamabuki-no-sato'' nursing-care center for the elderly in Tokyo on April 1. The visit marked the launch of a new public nursing-care insurance system in Japan. Left in the rear is Health and Education Minister Yuya Niwa.