日本 « NITU-PON »
— Officially: 日本国 « Nitu-pon Koku ».
— English: Japan.
— Seat of government: 東京 « Tou-kijou ».
— Status: Democratic.
— Structure: Parliament (国会 « Kotu-kai ») comprises the 衆議院 « Sijuu Gi-in », elected partially in geographical constituencies by plurality, and partially in multi-member geographical constituencies by party-list proportional representation, and the 参議院 « San Gi-in », elected partially in prefectures and partially by party-list proportional representation. The 衆議院 « Sijuu Gi-in » is more powerful and chooses the prime minister.
— Governing parties: 自由民主党 « Zi-juu Min-siju Tou »; 公明党 « Kou Mei Tou ».
— Head of government: 岸田 文雄 « Kisi-da Humi-o », 自民党 « Zi Min Tou », prime minister (since 2021).
— Parliamentary opposition parties: 立憲民主党 « Ritu-ken Min-siju Tou »; 日本維新の会 « Nitu-pon I-sin no Kai »; 国民民主党 « Koku-min Min-siju Tou »; 日本共産党 « Ni-hon Kijou-san Tou »; れいわ新選組 « Reiŭa Sin Sen-gumi »; 社会民主党 « Sija-kai Min-siju Tou ».
— Recent history: Virtually the entirety of the post-war era has been under the elected government of the 自由民主党 « Zi-juu Min-siju Tou ». Its two components were in power from 1948 until merged in 1955, and all time subsequent but 1993-6 and 2009-12. The 2003 election saw the then-governing coalition lessen its majority; the 自民党 « Zi Min Tou » then absorbed coalition partner 保守新党 « Ho-siju Sin Tou ». 小泉 純一郎 « Ko-izumi Zijun-iti-rou » (2001-6), then prime minister, transformed the governing party and the political system. Campaigning on the issue of privatization of 日本郵政公社 « Nitu-pon Juu-sei Kou-sija », he removed dissident members of the 自民党 « Zi Min Tou » and won an increased majority in snap elections in 2005. His immediate successor, 安倍 晋三 « A-be Sin-zou » (2006-7, 2012-20), proved less able, serving for a year and resigning after the 自民党 « Zi Min Tou » lost its majority in the 参議院 « San Gi-in ». 安倍 « A-be »’s successor, 福田 康夫 « Huku-da Jasu-o » (2007-8), also resigned after only a year, replaced by 麻生 太郎 « A-sou Ta-rou » (2008-9). Shortly before general elections in 2009, opposition leader 小沢 一郎 « O-zaŭa Iti-rou » resigned, replaced by 鳩山 由紀夫 « Hato-jama Ju-ki-o » (2009-10). Those elections were won handily by 民主党 « Min-siju Tou »; it formed a coalition to achieve a majority in the 参議院 « San Gi-in » as well. That coalition failed in less than a year, and 鳩山 « Hato-jama » resigned, replaced by 菅 直人 « Kan Nao-to » (2010-1), and then 野田 佳彦 « No-da Josi-hiko » (2011-2). A general election in 2012 saw the 自民党 « Zi Min Tou », again under 安倍 « A-be », win a decisive victory; it expanded its majority in snap elections in 2014. The result in 2017 was much the same. 安倍 « A-be » resigned for health reasons in 2020, replaced by 菅 義偉 « Suga Josi-hide » (2020-1), but 菅 « Suga » resigned a year later over declining popularity. 岸田 « Kisi-da » took office shortly before the 2021 election, with the 自民党 « Zi Min Tou » winning another, smaller majority, and the opposition reshuffled. While campaigning for his party in the 2022 参議院 « San Gi-in » elections, 安倍 « A-be » was assassinated.
— FH: 1-2, free. Econ: 8.25 (17), full democracy.
— Updated: 2022 July 17.
O.T. FORD