The 47th edition of Seijigiri is about a week late, but has some extra content to make up for that. Co-hosts Garrett DeOrio and Ken Worsley begin by taking a look at the recent reshuffling of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda’s cabinet, and try to project just how this new group might perform. A few ministers are looked at closely, including Finance Minister Ibuki Bunmei, State Minister for Economic and Fiscal Policy Kaoru Yosano, State Minister in charge of Consumer Affairs Seiko Noda, and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshihiro Nikai.

After that, the discussion turns to polling numbers for the new cabinet, which has generally received a boost since the reshuffle. What will the cabinet have to do to continue improving on public sentiment? The discussion then moves to a quick look at the new cabinet’s first project, which will be to deal with weakening economic conditions. This brings up the issue of what will happen in the extraordinary session, and when that session may start. Once again, the LDP is going to have to get through a renewal of the refueling bill.

Over at the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, a vote for the next party president is due in September. Our hosts discuss why Ichiro Ozawa will most likely run uncontested and serve a third term as DPJ party president.

A quick look is taken at the North Korea situation, as the US has announced it will not yet remove North Korea from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. Finally, the discussion moves to Garrett’s recent trip to Hiroshima and a discussion of the events surrounding the end of the war every August and how related issues are presented in both Tokyo and Hiroshima.

As always, thank you for listening.

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