Noda Yoshihiko won the DPJ leadership election today, setting him up to be the next Prime Minister of Japan. He won in a run-off ballot over Ozawa favorite Kaieda Banri, 215 votes to 177.

The first round of ballots saw Kaieda lead with 143 votes to Noda’s 102, with popular Maehara third with 74 votes.

Volunteers to work at Fukushima plant. Photo Source: NY Times.

NY Times: Elders Offer Help at Japan’s Crippled Reactor

“We have to contain this accident, and for that, someone should do the work,” said Mr. Yamada, a retired plant engineer who had worked for Sumitomo Metal Industries. “It would benefit society if the older generation [...]

3-D Animation Hatsune Miku. Photo Source: AFP

AFP: Japan 3-D pop avatar a real-world hit

She doesn’t demand six-figure recording contracts, always shows up on time, never throws tantrums and won’t break a sweat during a two-hour live show in a concert hall packed with thousands of adoring followers.

*****

Asahi: EDITORIAL: Kan needs to announce [...]

Ishikawa Ryo. Photo Source: Wall Street Journal.

Wall Street Journal: Ryo Ishikawa, the Recovery Golfer

“In the sport of golf, in general as you know, all players make mistakes,” said Mr. Ishikawa, currently number 53 in world golf rankings and the youngest money title winner in Japanese golf history at the age of 18, who [...]

Photo Source: Wall Street Journal

Wall Street Journal: Move Over Kate, Princess Masako Is Back

At a school gymnasium now used as a shelter, Princess Masako knelt on the floor and spoke to evacuees there. Media reports said a 67-year-old woman tearfully explained to the royal couple that she fled with little more than the [...]

Photo Source: Digital Trends.

Digital Trends: Panasonic developing an eco-harmonious Japan ‘Smart Town’ for 2014

The plan is to turn a piece of Fujisawa city into a “sustainable smart town” of 1000 houses all built to be energy-conscious and eco-harmonious. Each of the nine companies has their own responsibility from creating the town concept and [...]

Photo Source: Asahi Shimbun.

Facing a vote of no-confidence in the Japanese Diet today, which it appeared he was set to lose with a large chunk of his own party joining with the opposition, Prime Minister Kan Naoto has announced that he will resign from his position at a future date. Just when this will [...]

According to a new NTV poll, conducted between the 15th and 17th of April, 17.2% of respondents approved of the Prime Minister Kan’s handling of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Accident. 68.5% answered that they didn’t approve, and a further 14.3% were unsure. Kan has been taking a battering in the media and from the [...]

With the resignation of Hatoyama Yukio last week, Kan Naoto became the fifth man to hold the post of Japanese Prime Minister since September 2006. Since this time, Abe Shinzo (1 year), Fukuda Yasuo (1 year), Aso Taro (1 year), and Hatoyama Yukio (8.5 months) have all failed to govern beyond their first anniversary… Indeed, [...]

Masuzoe Yoichi spoke at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan yesterday, where he again highlighted the LDP’s need for reform. With the DPJ government’s approval ratings falling with every passing month, the LDP should theoretically be well placed to perform well at the Upper House elections scheduled for later this year. But they have [...]