<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>Based on the notion that political society is formed by language, and that in a broad sense the essence of politics is talk, this work examines the multifarious aspects of political discourse in Japan. Focusing on the rhetoric used by members of the political elite and the news media in Japan as the core of political dynamics in this country, <I>Talking Politics in Japan Today</I> addresses explicit and implicit meanings of slogans and gaffes, political cartoons in daily newspapers, the nature of political interviews on Japanese television, and the ways non-Japanese perceive Japan’s views of world events. The author also investigates how political rhetoric varies according to the circumstances and intended visibility of events, the structure and focus of political news, the language and methods information sources used to disseminate information and put their desired spin on events, and the nuances and tone of language used by National Diet members and officials to shape the country’s political culture.