We’ve been wandering around Japan for five weeks and, while it’s been a wonderfully immersive experience, you would be fooling yourself if you thought you were doing anything more than dipping your toes in the waters.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has dissolved the lower house of parliament, paving the way for a snap election on October 22.

Whether they have a strong political pedigree or none, women are climbing to the top of Asian politics, writes Vishakha Desai

A former defence minister today announced she would try to become Japan’s first female prime minister, as candidates made it clear today that rejuvenating the world’s second-largest economy would be the focus of the upcoming election battle.