Volume 02, Number 27.

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Click here for a transcript of this program.

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.

Volume 02, Number 26.

Click here for the audio file for this program.

Click here for a transcript of this program.

Thanks for dropping by again this week. Sorry for the delay again with this program. I've got to develop a more efficient system for putting these together. Hopefully we'll return to Friday publication this week. Hopefully .....

This week we cover two items I hope will be of interest. The first is the Shiga gubernatorial election mentioned but not discussed last week. I describe how Japan's "Lady of the Lake," Professor Yuriko Kada, won that one and what it tells us about the future of Japan's electoral politics.

The second topic concerns the "Preemptive Attack Attack" Japan has experienced in the wake of North Korea's missile initiative. Quite a story of the relationship between domestic politics and foreign relations.

Continue to send your comments and suggestions to me at RobertCAngel@gmail.com. And visit the Japan Considered website at www.JapanConsidered.com.