Volume 02, Number 35.

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Welcome again to the program. Thanks for tuning in. This week, after updating handling of the unfortunate Kisshin-Maru 31 fishing boat incident with Russia, we take a closer look at the election of Shinzo Abe as president of the Liberal Democratic Party. How it happened, what it's likely to mean, and consider the nature of communications media reporting on the result.

Then we turn again to the Democratic Party of Japan. Last week we considered the DPJ's overall importance for the Japanese political party system, and its leadership. This week we consider the organization of the DPJ, with comments from Professor Len Schoppa of the University of Virginia. Visit Professor Schoppa's website, Japan Politics Central, by clicking here.