JAPAN IN 2016: BASIC POLITICAL EVENTS OF THE YEAR

Abstract

The article analyzes major internal political events and social and economic situation in Japan in 2016. Among the most important of them there were elections to the Upper House of Parliament. Alignment of political forces in the country depended on their results. Based on the elections outcome, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) got the majority of seats in the House. Considering its advantages in the key Lower House of Parliament, it would be appropriate to say that the LDP maintains strong stands in the political games in the country. This enables the ruling bloc, more or less freely, to adopt the laws beneficial for the LDP, since the opposition parties are weak and have minority in both Houses of Parliament. The ruling LDP has nourished an idea for a long time to review the Constitution of Japan, mainly, its 9^th article prohibiting the country to officially have any armed forces and get involved in wars. This draws protests on the part of some out-parties and the public. With this aim in view, preparation for the nation-wide referendum to review the basic law of Japan is underway. Upon elections to the Upper House of Parliament, Japan’s Prime-Mister Shinzo Abe carried out a government reshuffle. Out of 19 ministers, only eight stayed at their jobs. In 2016 the elections of a governor of Tokyo capital prefecture were held as well. For the first time ever, the woman was elected to hold this important and weighty job. One of the main tasks for the new governor for the nearest four years will include control over preparation for the Summer Olympic Games-2020 which will be held in the capital of Japan. The imperator’s address to the nation about abdication in favor of his eldest son has also become a new event in the Japanese history. To study this issue, a board of expert was established at the Cabinet of Ministers, which is now looking into all the issues of the forthcoming abdication, which is not permitted by the current law. The social and economic situation in Japan did not suffer violent changes. Prime-Minister Shinzo Abe confirmed to continue on the course for further development of the economy. The list of the most significant international events includes the news about elections of a new president in the USA and forecasts of prospective Japanese-American relations under the new USA Administration, relations with neighboring countries, official visit of RF President Vladimir Putin to Japan and his negotiations with Japan’s Prime-Minister Shinzo Abe and others.