[20210910]IN11691_东京的政治过渡.pdf

CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress INSIGHTINSIGHTi i Political Transition in Tokyo Updated September 10, 2021 On September 3, 2021, Japans Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga abruptly withdrew from seeking reelection as leader of Japans ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Sugas announcement thrust Japanese politics into uncertainty, with the range of outcomes holding potentially significant implications for the U.S.-Japan alliance. Sugas support ratings had fallen to 30% and below, mainly from widespread perceptions that his government was mishandling the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. For months, infection and hospitalization numbers have risen, prompting the government to redeclare a state of emergency in many regions, due in part to Japans slow progress on vaccinating its population. Hosting the Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo during the summer failed to give Suga a hoped-for boost in the polls. Upcoming Election Season Japan is facing a crowded political calendar to end the year, with LDP leadership elections in September 2021 and general elections for the Lower House of Japans parliament (known as the Diet) due in October or November 2021