Volume 02, Number 14

Click here for the audio file of today's program.

Click here for the transcript of today's program.

Thanks for tuning in again this week. Click on over to the Japan Considered Project, sponsor of this podcast, at www.JapanConsidered.org, and have a look around. The interviews with other specialists on Japan's domestic politics and international relations have been especially popular of late. And send your comments and suggestions to me at JapanConsidered@gmail.com.

News of the Democratic Party of Japan's efforts to select a new president has dominated Japan's media for the past week. We begin with a look at the selection of Ichiro Ozawa to succeed outgoing president Seiji Maehara. I apply the "factionist" versus "populist" categories introduced week before last to the leadership change.

Then we consider recent developments in Japan's management of relations with North Korea. Nothing exciting has happened this week. But I believe the accumulation of actions taken by the Government of Japan are worth considering together.

Finally we take a very short web sound tour of the ITV-Japan streaming video site. This is another useful resource available to us all free of charge.

As usual, we close out with a clip of bluegrass music, this time featuring John Starling and the late John Duffy. From their two-CD 20th anniversary album recorded for Sugar Hill Records.