Crown prince returns home after attending king's funeral in Tonga
September 20, 2006Crown Prince Naruhito returned to Japan from Tonga on Wednesday after attending the state funeral of the late King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV of the South Pacific kingdom, who died earlier this month after a long illness. The crown prince arrived at Tokyo's Haneda airport aboard a government plane by way of Auckland, New Zealand.
Abe's financial backing largely from medical industry
September 20, 2006Reports declared by political bodies under newly elected Liberal Democratic Party President Shinzo Abe have revealed his political activities have been largely supported by the medical industry. The two political entities collected a total of 295 million yen in 2005, up 37.4 percent from the previous year, according to the political funds reports on the chief Cabinet secretary, who is to be picked as Japan's prime minister next Tuesday.
Opposition parties tough on Abe over disparities, Constitution
September 20, 2006Leaders of opposition parties on Wednesday vowed to take a firm stance against Shinzo Abe who was elected president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party earlier in the day, particularly over issues pertaining to social disparities and the Constitution. Meanwhile, Takenori Kanzaki, chief of the LDP's coalition partner, the New Komeito party, who will step down later in the month, expressed hope that Abe will work to mend ties with Asian countries, tackle the falling birthrate and correct income and regional disparities.