Volume 02, Number 27.

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Thanks for tuning in. Today we're back on track with our regular Friday program. Lots happening in Japan, both on the domestic political front and the international front. But since we've spent so much time recently on international affairs, this week I've focused on domestic political developments.

Specifically we'll consider recent developments in the LDP presidential race, and efforts to succeed Junichiro Koizumi as LDP president and Japan's prime minister. Reports of Yasuo Fukuda's announcement that he will not contest the election have made significant changes in the situation.

Then we'll consider recent developments in the major opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan, or DPJ, or Minshuto, as it's known in Japanese. Focus here is on Party leader Ichiro Ozawa and his efforts to keep the disparate members and groups that constitute the DPJ moving in roughly the same direction, with the hope of challenging the LDP for leadership of Japan.

And this week we close with a clip of bluegrass from the incomparable John Duffy.