Reports noted that for the first time in over a generation, Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) may lose power to the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) in the August 30 election1. Meanwhile, former Prime Ministers Junichiro Koizumi and Shinzo Abe, as well as a Cabinet minister and other Diet members, visited Yasukuni Shrine on August 15, the 64th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Prime Minister Taro Aso however did not visit the shrine, widely viewed as a symbol of Japan's past militarism2.

According to a survey conducted by the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (ICNND) Japan NGO Network, while the ruling LDP and its coalition partners have been insisting that Japan remain under the US nuclear umbrella, opposition parties have been varied in their policies on the issue. He survey notes that the LDP and the New Komeito party describe as "appropriate" the policy of being shielded by the US nuclear deterrence, but the main opposition DPJ wants more debate on the issue3.

In other developments, the Japanese Foreign Ministry announced that Russia had stopped accepting humanitarian aid for the Kurile Islands. These islands have been receiving Japanese assistance for the past 18 years4.

• 1. “Japanese voters look to vote for opposition to punish ruling party,” Xinhua, August 12, 2009, at http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-08/12/content_11869936.htm
• 2. “Koizumi, Abe make Yasukuni visit,” Japan Times, August 16, 2009, at http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090816a2.html
• 3. “LDP, opposition parties differ on policy over U.S. nuclear umbrella,” Associated Press, August 14, 2009, at http://www.breitbart.com/print.php?id=D9A2N7R01&show_article=1
• 4. “Japan Told To Halt Aid To Kurils,” Moscow Times, August 10, 2009, at http://www.moscowtimes.ru/article/1010/42/380368.htm