Podcasts about liberal democratic party

This week, the Krewe is joined by Loretta Scott (aka KemushiChan on YouTube Channel) for a personal, insightful, and often funny look at what it's like raising kids in Japan as an American parent. We dig into birth experiences, cultural differences from the U.S., unexpected parenting moments, and tips for families living in or visiting Japan. Curious about family life abroad or considering a trip to Japan with the munchkins? This episode is packed with helpful insight just for you!------ About the Krewe ------The Krewe of Japan Podcast is a weekly episodic podcast sponsored by the Japan Society of New Orleans. Check them out every Friday afternoon around noon CST on Apple, Google, Spotify, Amazon, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.  Want to share your experiences with the Krewe? Or perhaps you have ideas for episodes, feedback, comments, or questions? Let the Krewe know by e-mail at kreweofjapanpodcast@gmail.com or on social media (Twitter: @kreweofjapan, Instagram: @kreweofjapanpodcast, Facebook: Krewe of Japan Podcast Page, TikTok: @kreweofjapanpodcast, LinkedIn: Krewe of Japan LinkedIn Page, Blue Sky Social: @kreweofjapan.bsky.social, & the Krewe of Japan Youtube Channel). Until next time, enjoy!------ Support the Krewe! Offer Links for Affiliates ------Use the referral links below!Zencastr Offer Link - Use my special link to save 30% off your 1st month of any Zencastr paid plan! ------ Links for Tobias Harris ------Loretta on InstagramKemushiChan YouTube Channel------ Past Language Learning Episodes ------Inside Japanese Language Schools ft. Langston Hill (S6E3)Japanese Self-Study Strategies ft. Walden Perry (S5E4)Learn the Kansai Dialect ft. Tyson of Nihongo Hongo (S4E14)Heisig Method ft. Dr. James Heisig (S4E5)Prepping for the JLPT ft. Loretta of KemushiCan (S3E16)Language Through Video Games ft. Matt of Game Gengo (S3E4)Pitch Accent (Part 2) ft. Dogen (S2E15)Pitch Accent (Part 1) ft. Dogen (S2E14)Language through Literature ft. Daniel Morales (S2E8)Immersion Learning ft. MattvsJapan (S1E10)Japanese Language Journeys ft. Saeko-Sensei (S1E4)------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------JSNO Event CalendarJoin JSNO Today!

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, Nippon Ishin no Kai ()削除, on Friday agreed to finalize a plan to reduce the number of seats in the House of Representatives within a year.

自民党税制調査会総会であいさつする小野寺五典税調会長。 Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Thursday began full-scale talks on revising the tax system for fiscal 2026, including how much to raise the country's minimum taxable income level.

首相官邸に入る高市早苗首相、２０日、東京・永田町自民党は２０日、安全保障調査会の勉強会を開き、高市早苗首相が表明した２０２６年末までの安保関連３文書の見直しに向けた検討を始めた。 Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Thursday began talks to update the country's three key national security documents by the end of 2026, as declared by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Thursday began full-scale talks on revising the tax system for fiscal 2026, including how much to raise the country's minimum taxable income level.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Thursday began talks to update the country's three key national security documents by the end of 2026, as declared by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

自民党の小林鷹之政調会長、１３日、同党本部政府・与党は子育て世帯への物価高対策として、子ども１人当たり２万円を児童手当に上乗せして支給する方向で調整に入った。 Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party plans to add 20,000 yen to child allowances as part of a comprehensive economic package to be compiled by the government, LDP policy chief Takayuki Kobayashi said Wednesday.

史上 shǐshàng – in history; of all time首相 shǒuxiàng – prime minister高市早苗 Gāoshì Zǎomiáo – Sanae Takaichi (Japan's first female prime minister)鐵娘子 tiěniángzǐ – Iron Lady (nickname for strong female political leaders)當選 dàngxuǎn – to be elected; to win an election政壇 zhèngtán – political arena; political circles打拚 dǎpīn – to struggle; to work hard; to fight for success落選 luòxuǎn – to lose an election; to fail to be elected佩服 pèifú – to admire; to respect挫折 cuòzhé – setback; frustration; difficulty自民黨 Zìmíndǎng – Liberal Democratic Party 敬佩 jìngpèi – to deeply admire; to esteem柴契爾 Chái Qì'ěr – Margaret Thatcher拋棄 pāoqì – to abandon; to give up工作與生活平衡 gōngzuò yǔ shēnghuó pínghéng – work-life balance拼 pīn – to give it all; to work hard; to fight石破茂 Shí Pò Mào – Shigeru Ishiba (former Japanese prime minister)奈良 Nàiliáng – Nara (a city in Japan)政治世家 zhèngzhì shìjiā – political family; political dynasty公司職員 gōngsī zhíyuán – company employee; office worker勤奮 qínfèn – diligent; hardworking神戶大學 Shénhù Dàxué – Kobe University慶應大學 Qìngyīng Dàxué – Keio University早稻田大學 Zǎodàotián Dàxué – Waseda University重金屬樂團 zhòng jīnshǔ yuètuán – heavy metal band鼓手 gǔshǒu – drummer暴走族 bàozǒuzú – biker gang; reckless youth motorcycle group國會議員 guóhuì yìyuán – member of parliament (MP); congressperson重量級人物 zhòngliàngjí rénwù – heavyweight figure; influential person安倍晉三 Ānbèi Jìnzāng – Shinzo Abe (former Japanese prime minister)左右手 zuǒyòushǒu – right-hand person; trusted assistant黨內主席 dǎngnèi zhǔxí – party leader; party chairperson強硬保守派 qiángyìng bǎoshǒupài – hardline conservative faction夫婦別姓 fūfù biéxìng – married couple using different surnames賣淫 màiyín – prostitution控管 kòngguǎn – to control and manage; regulation中風 zhòngfēng – to have a stroke親自 qīnzì – personally; in person復健 fùjiàn – rehabilitation; physical therapy玻璃天花板 bōlí tiānhuābǎn – glass ceiling (metaphor for barriers preventing women's advancement)Follow me on Instagram: fangfang.chineselearning !

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Saturday marked the 70th anniversary of its establishment.

Japan's political scene is changing—from new parties rising in visibility to historic moments in national leadership—so the Krewe is bringing you a timely crash course. Political analyst Tobias Harris (Founder & Principal of Japan Foresight) joins the pod to break down the foundations of Japan's government system, how it compares to the U.S., and why voters view politics the way they do. We explore the major and emerging parties shaping the landscape, the issues driving debate today, and how international pressures and global events influence domestic policy. Tobias also sheds light on the media's role in shaping public perception and political accountability.------ About the Krewe ------The Krewe of Japan Podcast is a weekly episodic podcast sponsored by the Japan Society of New Orleans. Check them out every Friday afternoon around noon CST on Apple, Google, Spotify, Amazon, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.  Want to share your experiences with the Krewe? Or perhaps you have ideas for episodes, feedback, comments, or questions? Let the Krewe know by e-mail at kreweofjapanpodcast@gmail.com or on social media (Twitter: @kreweofjapan, Instagram: @kreweofjapanpodcast, Facebook: Krewe of Japan Podcast Page, TikTok: @kreweofjapanpodcast, LinkedIn: Krewe of Japan LinkedIn Page, Blue Sky Social: @kreweofjapan.bsky.social, & the Krewe of Japan Youtube Channel). Until next time, enjoy!------ Support the Krewe! Offer Links for Affiliates ------Use the referral links below!Zencastr Offer Link - Use my special link to save 30% off your 1st month of any Zencastr paid plan! ------ Links for Tobias Harris ------Japan ForesightObserving Japan on SubstackThe Iconoclast on AmazonTobias Harris on BlueSky------ Past History/Society Episodes ------The Castles of Japan ft. William de Lange S5E19)Foreign-Born Samurai: William Adams ft. Nathan Ledbetter (Guest Host, Dr. Samantha Perez) (S5E17)Foreign-Born Samurai: Yasuke ft. Nathan Ledbetter (Guest Host, Dr. Samantha Perez) (S5E16)Change in Urban & Rural Japanese Communities ft. Azby Brown (S5E15)Inside Japanese Homes & Architecture ft. Azby Brown (S5E6)Kendo: The Way of the Sword ft. Alexander Bennett, 7th Dan in Kendo (S4E16)Jokichi Takamine: The Earliest Bridge Between New Orleans & Japan ft. Stephen Lyman (S4E13)The Chrysanthemum Throne ft. Dr. Hiromu Nagahara [Part 2] (S2E18)The Chrysanthemum Throne ft. Dr. Hiromu Nagahara [Part 1] (S2E17)The Age of Lady Samurai ft. Tomoko Kitagawa (S1E12)------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------JSNO Event CalendarJoin JSNO Today!

参院予算委員会で挙手する高市早苗首相、１４日午後、国会内自民党は１５日で結党７０年を迎える。 Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Saturday marked the 70th anniversary of its establishment.

憲法改正に関する協議に臨む自民党の新藤義孝氏と日本維新の会の馬場伸幸氏、１３日午後、国会内自民党と日本維新の会は１３日、憲法改正を検討する実務者協議体の初会合を国会内で開いた。 Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, Nippon Ishin no Kai , have held the first meeting of their working-level forum of discussions on constitutional amendment.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, Nippon Ishin no Kai ()削除, have held the first meeting of their working-level forum of discussions on constitutional amendment.

鈴木俊一自民党幹事長自民党の鈴木俊一幹事長は９日放送のＢＳテレ東番組で、衆院議員の定数削減について、１２月１７日が会期末の臨時国会中に全党で合意に達するのは困難だとの見方を示した。 Shunichi Suzuki, secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said Sunday that it seems difficult to reach an agreement among all parties on a cut in the number of House of Representatives seats by the Dec. 17 end of the ongoing extraordinary Diet session.

Shunichi Suzuki, secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said Sunday that it seems difficult to reach an agreement among all parties on a cut in the number of House of Representatives seats by the Dec. 17 end of the ongoing extraordinary Diet session.

日本維新の会の藤田文武共同代表は８日の朝日放送番組で、衆院議員定数の削減など自民党との連立政権合意を野党が阻んだ場合、衆院解散も選択肢だとの認識を示した。 Fumitake Fujita, co-leader of Nippon Ishin no Kai in the ruling coalition, said Saturday that dissolving the House of Representatives for a snap election could be an option if the opposition camp blocks the policies outlined in its coalition agreement with the Liberal Democratic Party.

Fumitake Fujita, co-leader of Nippon Ishin no Kai ()削除 in the ruling coalition, said Saturday that dissolving the House of Representatives for a snap election could be an option if the opposition camp blocks the policies outlined in its coalition agreement with the Liberal Democratic Party.

参院本会議で、国民民主党の舟山康江氏の質問に答弁する高市早苗首相、６日午前、国会内参院は６日午前の本会議で、高市早苗首相の所信表明演説に対する２日目の各党代表質問を行った。 Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi vowed Thursday to take strict action if a problem similar to the "slush funds" scandal occurs in her ruling Liberal Democratic Party again.

自民党本部、東京都千代田区自民党知的財産戦略調査会は６日、アニメや漫画といったコンテンツ産業の成長を後押しするため、海外展開のための支援などを現状の約４倍に当たる１０００億円規模に増額するよう政府に求める緊急決議案をまとめた。 Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party will propose that the government quadruple its aid for the country's content industry to around 100 billion yen, it was learned Thursday.

与党実務者協議会に臨む自民党の井上信治幹事長代理と日本維新の会の金村龍那幹事長代理、６日午後、国会内自民党と日本維新の会は６日、「副首都」構想の実現や衆院議員定数の削減など連立政権樹立の合意事項の履行に向け、与党実務者協議会の初会合を国会内で開いた。 Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its new coalition partner, Nippon Ishin no Kai , agreed Thursday to launch five panels to implement their policy agreement.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its new coalition partner, Nippon Ishin no Kai ()削除, agreed Thursday to launch five panels to implement their policy agreement.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi vowed Thursday to take strict action if a problem similar to the "slush funds" scandal occurs in her ruling Liberal Democratic Party again.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party will propose that the government quadruple its aid for the country's content industry to around 100 billion yen, it was learned Thursday.

参院本会議で、立憲民主党の水岡俊一参院議員会長が行った代表質問に答弁する高市早苗首相、５日午前、国会内高市早苗首相の所信表明演説に対する各党代表質問が５日午前、参院本会議で始まった。 Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Wednesday that she will not replace Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kei Sato, a House of Councillors lawmaker involved in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's "slush funds" scandal.

記者会見する木原稔官房長官、３０日午前、首相官邸木原稔官房長官は３０日の記者会見で、野党が高市早苗首相による起用を問題視する佐藤啓官房副長官の交代を否定した。 Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara on Thursday ruled out the possibility of replacing Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kei Sato, who is one of the Liberal Democratic Party members involved in the ruling party's "slush funds" scandal.

オンライン形式で行われた自民党の全国政調会長会議で、あいさつする小林鷹之政調会長、３０日午前、東京・永田町の同党本部自民党は３０日、物価高への対応を盛り込む総合経済対策の策定に向け、各都道府県連の政策責任者による全国政調会長会議をオンライン形式で開いた。 Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party will decide its proposal for economic measures, including those to address persisting inflation, by mid-November, the party's policy leader said Thursday.

記者団の取材に応じる自民党の小林鷹之政調会長、２９日午前、東京都千代田区の自民党本部自民党と日本維新の会の幹事長、政調会長、国対委員長は２９日、東京都内で会談した。 Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its new coalition partner, Nippon Ishin no Kai , on Wednesday agreed to establish a joint conference to coordinate policies.

高校授業料の無償化などを巡り協議する自民、日本維新の会、公明３党の実務者、２９日午後、国会内自民、日本維新の会、公明３党は２９日、高校授業料無償化に関する実務者協議を国会内で開き、２０２６年度からの開始で合意した。 Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Nippon Ishin no Kai and Komeito agreed Wednesday to launch a program in fiscal 2026 to effectively make high school education free.

ガソリン税の暫定税率廃止に関する協議後、記者団の取材に応じる自民党の小野寺五典税調会長と立憲民主党の重徳和彦税調会長、２９日午後、国会内ガソリン税の暫定税率廃止を巡り、自民、立憲民主など与野党６党は２９日、国会内で協議した。 Six Japanese ruling and opposition parties on Wednesday agreed to explore the possibility of scrapping the provisional gasoline tax surcharge by the end of this year, Itsunori Onodera, tax chief of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said.

【図解】２０２４年衆院選各党の獲得議席数自民党と日本維新の会が合意した衆院議員定数の１割削減方針に野党から反発や懸念が相次いでいる。 Japanese opposition parties are wary of a plan by the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Nippon Ishin no Kai to reduce the number of House of Representatives seats by 10percentagefrom the current 465.

Beijing on Tuesday expressed hope that Japan will work with China to maintain the political foundation of bilateral ties and comprehensively advance a strategic relationship of mutual benefit.中国外交部周二表示，希望日方同中方一道，维护两国关系政治基础，全面推进互利共赢的战略伙伴关系。Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a regular news conference in Beijing when asked to comment on the election of Sanae Takaichi as Japan's new prime minister on Tuesday.在当日例行记者会上，有记者就日本新首相高市早苗当选一事提问，外交部发言人郭嘉昆作出上述回应。"We have noted the result of the election," Guo said. "This is Japan's internal affair."“我们注意到此次选举结果，”郭嘉昆表示，“这是日本的内部事务。”He stressed that China and Japan are close neighbors, and that China's position on bilateral relations has been consistent and clear.他强调，中日两国互为近邻，中国在中日关系上的立场一贯且明确。"China hopes Japan will work with China in the same direction, adhere to the principles of the four political documents between the two countries, honor its political commitments on major issues such as history and Taiwan, safeguard the political foundation of bilateral relations, and comprehensively advance the strategic relationship of mutual benefit," Guo said.“中方希望日方与中方相向而行，恪守中日四个政治文件原则，在历史、台湾等重大问题上信守政治承诺，维护两国关系政治基础，全面推进互利共赢的战略伙伴关系。”郭嘉昆说。Sanae Takaichi, president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, was officially elected the country's prime minister on Tuesday after winning in both houses of parliament, becoming the country's first female leader.日本执政党自民党总裁高市早苗在参众两院选举中获胜后，于周二正式当选日本首相，成为该国首位女性首相。bilateral/ˌbaɪˈlætərəl/adj.双边的mutual/ˈmjuːtʃuəl/adj.相互的；彼此的

閣議に臨む高市早苗首相ら、２３日、首相官邸自民党は高市政権の発足を受け、連立を組む日本維新の会との政策調整の仕組みづくりを急ぐ。 Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party is working to create a framework for policy coordination with its new coalition partner, Nippon Ishin no Kai , including regular talks between their senior officials, following the launch of the administration of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party sealed a new coalition deal that sets up Sanae Takaichi to become the country's first female prime minister. LDP President Takaichi and Hirofumi Yoshimura, co-leader of the Japan Innovation Party, also known as Ishin, signed the coalition agreement on Monday evening. Combined, the LDP and Ishin hold 231 seats in the lower house of parliament. While that is two seats shy of a majority, divisions between opposition parties mean Takaichi is almost certain to win a parliamentary vote on Tuesday to decide the prime minister. We get perspective from Sheila Smith, Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow for Asia Pacific Studies. She spoke to Bloomberg's Shery Ahn and Avril Hong. Plus - Wall Street traders drove stocks higher amid solid signals from Corporate America and hopes that tensions between the world's two largest economies are cooling. Bond yields edged lower. With the earnings season well underway, about 85% of the companies in the S&P 500 reporting results so far have beaten profit estimates. That's helped fuel a rebound in equities, with the benchmark notching its best two-day gain since June. Sentiment was also buoyed by expectations the trade war will de-escalate as the US and China return to the negotiating table. We heard from Carol Schleif, Chief Market Strategist at BMO Private Wealth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) Israel said it had resumed a truce with Hamas in Gaza after heavy fighting over the weekend, with the sides accusing each other of breaching a deal brokered by President Trump. Around 9:30 p.m. Israel time on Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces said it had “begun renewed enforcement of the ceasefire” and warned it would “respond firmly to any violation.” Israel launched strikes against Hamas in Gaza and suspended aid shipments on Sunday after blaming the Iran-backed militant group for an ambush that killed two soldiers in the southern part of the strip. The IDF said it responded by hitting weapons-storage facilities and other sites. It also said it dismantled several kilometers of underground tunnels.2) President Trump listed rare earths, fentanyl and soybeans as the US’s top issues with China just before the two sides return to the negotiating table and as a fragile trade truce nears expiration. Trump also said the US wanted China “to stop with the fentanyl,” a reference to his accusation that Beijing has failed to curb exports of the drug and its precursor chemicals, contributing to the American opioid crisis. Another key demand was for the world’s No. 2 economy to resume soybean purchases. The three topics were all “very, you know, normal things,” he added.3) Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party will sign a coalition deal with the Japan Innovation Party later Monday, according to the smaller party’s leader, a move that would set up Sanae Takaichi to become the country’s first female prime minister. The LDP and the JIP, also known as Ishin, have broadly reached an agreement and will announce the deal at 6 p.m., Hirofumi Yoshimura, Ishin’s co-leader told reporters, after speaking with Takaichi earlier in the day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian stocks opened higher on Monday following two consecutive weeks of declines as easing trade tensions between the world's largest economies bolstered sentiment. Shares in Japan and South Korea rose, while Australia dipped, after the region's equities fell on Friday amid concerns on US regional banks. Also, one of China's most important meetings begins on Monday. Chinese President Xi Jingping and other ruling Communist Party Elites will gather in Beijing to map out goals for the next five years. For more, we heard from heard from Fabien Yip, IG International Market Analyst. Yip spoke to Bloomberg's Shery Ahn and Annabelle Droulers. Plus - Lawmakers in the Japan Innovation Party (Ishin) are set to meet this afternoon to decide whether to form an alliance with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party that would likely lead to Sanae Takaichi becoming the country's first female prime minister. A gathering of Ishin lawmakers from both houses of parliament that begins at 2 p.m. in Tokyo may be followed by a meeting between Takaichi and Ishin leaders in the evening to confirm the alliance before a vote in parliament tomorrow to elect a prime minister, national broadcaster NHK reported. For more perspective, we heard from Nicholas Smith, CLSA Japan Strategist. He spoke to Bloomberg's Annabelle Droulers and Shery Ahn.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japan's Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato voiced serious concern over China's latest export controls on rare earths, stressing the importance of coordinated action from Group of Seven nations. "Japan is deeply concerned about these measures," Kato told reporters in Washington on Wednesday, referring to China's latest trade measures. "I called for G-7 nations to unite and respond," Kato said. Kato spoke following a G-7 meeting held on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings. Also in Japan, ruling party leader Sanae Takaichi's chances of becoming prime minister strengthened after progress on policy talks with the Japan Innovation Party, with Monday emerging as a deadline for deciding whether the parties form a new coalition. The Liberal Democratic Party and the Osaka-based JIP, also known as Ishin, confirmed they are on the same page on major policy items. But one major sticking point remains in place: reforms on political funding rules. For more perspective, we speak to Shuntaro Takeuchi, Portfolio Manager at Matthews Asia. Plus - Stocks slid, extending a weeklong stretch of volatility on Wall Street, as bad loans at two regional banks stirred concern about credit quality in the economy and further underscored the fragility of the $28 trillion bull market. Following an earlier advance driven by another solid outlook for artificial-intelligence demand, the S&P 500 turned lower as a pair of regional lenders disclosed problems with loans involving allegations of fraud, adding to concern that more cracks are emerging in borrowers' creditworthiness. We turn to Jeff Palma, Head of Multi Asset at Cohen & Steers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Read more insights from Morgan Stanley.----- Transcript ----- Political developments in Japan and France have brought more volatility to sovereign debt markets. Our Global Economist Arunima Sinha highlights the risks investors need to watch out for.Arunima Sinha: Welcome to Thoughts on the Market. I'm Arunima Sinha, from Morgan Stanley's Global and U.S. Economics teams.Today, I'm going to talk about sovereign debt outlooks and elections around the world.It's Wednesday, October 15th at 10am in New York.Last week we wrote about the deterioration of sovereign debt and fiscal outlooks; and right on cue, real life served up a scenario. Elections in Japan and another political upheaval in France drove a reaction in long-end interest rates with fiscal outlooks becoming part of the political narrative. Though markets have largely stabilized now, the volatility should keep the topic of debt and fiscal outlooks on stage.In Japan, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, the LDP, elected Sanae Takaichi as its new leader in something of a surprise to markets. Takaichi's election sets the stage for the first female prime minister of Japan since the cabinet system was established in 1885.That outcome is not assured, however. And recent news suggests that the final decision is a few weeks away. The landmark movement in Japanese post-war politics, in some ways further solidifies the changing tides in the Japanese political economy. Markets have positioned for Takaichi to further the reflation trade in Japan and further support the nominal growth revival.The Japanese curve twists steepened sharply as Tokyo markets reopened with the long-end selling off by 14 basis points amid intensifying fiscal concerns and the unwinding of pre-election flattener positions. Specifically, expectations appear to be aligning for a more activist fiscal agenda – relief measures against inflation, bolstered investment in economic security and supply chains, and stepped-up commitments to food security.Our strategists expect that sectors poised to benefit will include high tech exporters, defense and security names, and infrastructure and energy firms, as capital is likely to rotate towards these areas. Though, as our economists cautioned, the lack of a clear legislative maturity may hamper efforts for outright reorientation of fiscal policy.Meanwhile, we expect the implications for monetary policy to be limited. Our reading is that Taikaichi Sanae is not strongly opposed to Bank of Japan Governor Ueda's cautious stance reducing expectations for near term hikes. But we also reiterate that a hike late this year remains a possibility, particularly as the yen weakens.Economically, our baseline call has been supported by the election outcome given we did not expect the BoJ to raise rates in the near future. Indeed, market expectations of an increase in interest rates have been priced out for the next meeting.France is the other economy that saw long-end rates react to political shifts since we published our debt sustainability analysis. PM Lecornu's resignation was far quicker than markets expected, especially given the fact that he was only in office for a matter of weeks.A clear majority in the current parliament remains elusive pointing to continued gridlock, and ultimately snap elections remain a possibility for the next weeks or months. At the heart of the political uncertainty is division about how to proceed with fiscal consolidation against a moving target of widening deficits.The lack of fiscal consolidation in France has been a topic for many years. Though the ECB provides an implicit backstop against disruptive widening of OAT spreads through the TPI, our Europe economists view the activation of TPI as unlikely. As the spread widening has been driven by concerns around France's fiscal sustainability, a factor that is likely seen as reflecting fundamentals.In our rather mechanical projections on debt, we highlighted markets would ultimately determine what is and is not sustainable. These political events are the type of catalyst to watch for.So far, the risks have been contained, but we have a clear message that complacency could become costly at any time. With the deterioration in debt and fiscal fundamentals, we suspect there will be more risks ahead.Thanks for listening. If you enjoy the show, please leave us a review wherever you listen and share Thoughts on the Market with a friend or colleague today.

Japan's Komeito party has decided to terminate its coalition with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, ending a partnership that has lasted more than 25 years.

Today we were thrilled to host Julien Dumoulin-Smith, Managing Director of U.S. Power, Utilities, and Clean Energy Research at Jefferies. Julien joined the firm in July 2024 after serving as a Senior Research Analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and as an Executive Director at UBS. He holds an MBA and a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from Columbia University. Institutional Investor magazine has ranked Julien as a #1 double-ranked analyst in both Utilities and Alternative/Clean Energy, and he was inducted into the II Hall of Fame for his cumulative accomplishments. It was our pleasure to welcome Julien to our office and hear his thoughtful perspectives on the ever-evolving energy and power landscape. In our discussion, we explore Julien's coverage universe, which he describes as “the full electron and derivatives landscape” spanning utilities, IPPs, renewables, gas plants, industrial adjacencies, and service providers. We discuss the influx of new investors entering power and utilities, Julien's observation that the biggest surprise isn't data center proliferation, but rather how tech companies are paying premiums for power to secure supply, and how utilities once seen as “defensive” are now showing growth characteristics. We touch on the tension between tech companies' need for rapid, large-scale power and their reluctance to become capital-intensive or FERC-regulated, why we're not seeing more long-term offtakes with existing power plants and how state level politics play into it, and how legacy players, new entrants, and regulators are all adapting to a power market being reshaped by AI demand, infrastructure bottlenecks, and novel deal structures. Julien shares that rising inflation across the economy is showing up in utility bills and expresses concern that LNG developers or data centers could be scapegoated for higher gas and power prices. He highlights the parabolic rise in the value of capacity and reliability, the drivers of power inflation including turbine shortages and rising capital costs, whether utilities are properly incentivized to control costs, the role of demand-response mechanisms, and how regulatory and state-level actions are shaping markets. We cover power market scenarios for high and low demand cases, the role of innovation in batteries, fuel cells, and other technologies, and the tension between patching existing systems versus building large-scale infrastructure. We also discuss constraints on ramping renewables, the growing influence of behind-the-meter power, implications for Q3 earnings, and much more. We covered a lot of territory and greatly enjoyed the conversation. To be added to Julien's research distribution list, click here. To start the show, Mike Bradley noted that markets continue to be mostly focused on the U.S. Government shutdown. The 10-year bond yield continues to trade sideways at ~4.1% with economic reports on pause until the government reopens. Internationally, Japan's Liberal Democratic Party elected Sanae Takaichi (who is viewed as fiscally expansionary), which some believe increases the risk of an unwind of the long-standing Yen carry trade. The S&P 500 is up roughly 80bps since the government shutdown, with Healthcare and Technology outperforming. He highlighted AMD's chip deal with OpenAI, which added roughly $70B in market cap, and Oracle's pullback on AI cloud margin concerns. On the crude oil market front, WTI price has increased modestly this week due to OPEC+ announcing a smaller than expected ~135kbpd oil production increase for November. While this could widen the 2026 surplus, traders are weighing when and how prices might react amid limited OPEC spare capacity. On the energy equity front, he pointed out FERMI America's strong IPO debut and continued investor enthusiasm for electricity generation. He ended by flagging the upcoming Rockpoint Gas Storage IPO (280bcf in Canada &

In this week's episode of China Insider, Miles Yu discusses the accelerating trend of financial flight, and whether the CCP can stem the flow of China's wealthy elite from leaving the country. Next, Miles reviews Japan's Liberal Democratic Party leadership election, the upcoming election for Prime Minister, and China's response to the current slate of candidates and desired outcomes. Finally, Miles comments on the recent purge of Liu Jianchao from China's International Department, and Xi Jinping's efforts to concentrate the CCP's foreign affairs and diplomatic dialogue under a more centralized authority. China Insider is a weekly podcast project from Hudson Institute's China Center, hosted by China Center Director and Senior Fellow, Dr. Miles Yu, who provides weekly news that mainstream American outlets often miss, as well as in-depth commentary and analysis on the China challenge and the free world's future.

PREVIEW: Historic Election of Takaichi Sanae as LDP Leader and Presumed Next Prime Minister of JapanGuest: Scott Harold John Batchelor's conversation with Scott Harold focuses on the newly elected head of the LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) in Japan, Takaichi Sanae, who is presumed to be the next prime minister. Ms. Takaichi's political background is that of a conservative LDP member and an acolyte of the late Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. Her victory was attributed to two main factors. First, she was the most conservative candidate at a time when the LDP was worried about losing conservative votes to another party that sought to emulate parts of the MAGA ideology. The party viewed her as the best candidate to retrieve those votes. Second, while her competitor was the younger, more liberal son of a former prime minister, LDP voters and legislative members were ultimately "more comfortable voting for an older conservative woman." Additionally, a major scandal involving derogatory remarks posted by her competitor's supporters helped drive down his support late in the race. This is a historic election as Ms. Takaichi will be the first female Japanese prime minister. She has described herself as an emulator of Margaret Thatcher and emphasizes boosting the Japanese economy with substantial spending, including on defense, to enhance the US-Japan alliance.

From the BBC World Service: The Nikkei 225 stock index in Japan rose sharply on the first day of trading after Sanae Takaichi won the contest to lead the country's ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Then, Jaguar Land Rover plans to resume vehicle production in the U.K. today, six weeks after a cyberattack forced a production pause. And, although the artificial intelligence industry is worth close to $250 billion, some businesses are rejecting its use altogether. We'll hear from them.

From the BBC World Service: The Nikkei 225 stock index in Japan rose sharply on the first day of trading after Sanae Takaichi won the contest to lead the country's ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Then, Jaguar Land Rover plans to resume vehicle production in the U.K. today, six weeks after a cyberattack forced a production pause. And, although the artificial intelligence industry is worth close to $250 billion, some businesses are rejecting its use altogether. We'll hear from them.

The Liberal Democratic Party of Japan elected former economic security minister Takaichi as its leader, and thus Prime Minister-presumptive. Takaichi is seen as a pro-growth leader, and has signaled scepticism about the persistence of Japan's inflation. This has supported equities, and may delay expectations of a Bank of Japan rate increase.

The ASX-200 has started the week in the red, as a tech sell-off offset strong gains by gold and copper miners. Plus, Japanese stocks have hit a record high just a day after the country's ruling Liberal Democratic Party named Sanae Takaichi as its leader. For more, Rena Sarumpaet spoke with George Boubouras from K2 Asset Management. As annual superannuation statements start to arrive in the mail, Australians are being urged to not ignore them with research from Canstar showing about a fifth of respondents only check their super once every few years - or never. For more on how a financial health check could benefit your nest egg, Stephanie Youssef spoke with Canstar Data Insights Director Sally Tindall.

From the BBC World Service: Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party will choose a new leader on Saturday, and he or she will become the country's next prime minister. Germany's Munich Airport closed temporarily overnight due to drone sightings, making it the latest European airport forced to halt operations because of unexplained drone flights. And the French government has launched a campaign against what the Minister of Work calls “the last discrimination”: ageism.

From the BBC World Service: Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party will choose a new leader on Saturday, and he or she will become the country's next prime minister. Germany's Munich Airport closed temporarily overnight due to drone sightings, making it the latest European airport forced to halt operations because of unexplained drone flights. And the French government has launched a campaign against what the Minister of Work calls “the last discrimination”: ageism.

Sam Fenwick takes a look at the soaring cost of cybercrime, as attacks sweep across industries and threaten global business stability, spotlighting Japan's Asahi Breweries, one of the latest victims. A liquefied natural gas platform meant to bring economic prosperity in the West African nation of Senegal is at the centre of controversy.And in Tokyo, the race to lead Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party heats up. With five contenders and the economy centre stage, we explore what's at stake for the nation's future.

Sam Fenwick takes a look at the soaring cost of cybercrime, as attacks sweep across industries and threaten global business stability, spotlighting Japan's Asahi Breweries, one of the latest victims.A liquefied natural gas platform meant to bring economic prosperity in the West African nation of Senegal is at the centre of controversy. And in Tokyo, the race to lead Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party heats up. With five contenders and the economy centre stage, we explore what's at stake for the nation's future.

Lance Gatling Japan's LDP Prime Minister Race and China's Influence Lance Gatling discusses the race for Japan'snew Prime Minister within the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) following Ishida's resignation. The LDP lacks a majority, complicating coalition-building. Takaichi Sanae, a conservative candidate critical of China, is opposed by Beijing's propagandists, highlighting China's active influence in the Japanese political landscape 1930