Why Japan’s PM is calling an early election - Asia Specific podcast, BBC World Service

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Japan’s first female prime minister has called a snap election just three months into the job - a high-risk move critics call opportunistic, and supporters say is about securing a public mandate. Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 https://bbc.in/3VyyriM Sanae Takaichi is riding high in the polls, boosted by viral moments on the world stage - from an unexpected drum duet with South Korea’s president to eye-catching selfies with global leaders. But her surprise diplomacy comes against a far more contentious backdrop at home and abroad, including rising living costs, political scandals, and strained ties with China over Taiwan. In this Asia Specific podcast, host Mariko Oi speaks to Professor Seijiro Takeshita from the University of Shizuoka and Yuna Ku from the BBC Korean Service to unpack why Takaichi is taking this political gamble now, how her image is being received in Japan and South Korea, and what a snap election could mean for Japan’s future. 00:00 Introduction 02:20 Why Takaichi decided to call a snap election so soon 03:57 How a South Korean journalist viewed the Takaichi - Lee drum session 06:53 Why Japan is seeking closer ties with South Korea 09:30 How voters feel about Japan’s tensions with China 11:16 Has the tone shifted among feminists who didn’t welcome Takaichi’s victory? 13:25 Neighbours’ concerns over Takaichi’s possible plans to boost military spending 14:53 Why Takaichi moved so quickly to call an election 16:45 Could inflation and the ruling party’s slush fund scandal backfire? Watch more episodes of Asia Specific here 👉🏽 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz_B0PFGIn4c3njIxB0KHuO8SS2mBMtUc Instagram: @bbcworldservice Email: [email protected] ---------------- This is the official BBC World Service YouTube channel. If you like what we do, you can also find us here: Instagram 👉🏽 https://www.instagram.com/bbcworldservice Twitter 👉🏽 https://twitter.com/bbcworldservice Facebook 👉🏽 https://facebook.com/bbcworldservice BBC World Service website 👉🏽 https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldserviceradio Thanks for watching and subscribing! #BBCWorldService #WorldService #asiaspecific #asiaspecificpodcast #japan #takaichisanae #election