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May 17, 2024
 

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Over 70% of respondents in a survey do not support Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's handling of the high-profile slush fund scandal involving factions of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
JAPAN / Politics
Kishida Cabinet's support rate edges up, poll shows
The poll found that 72.9% of respondents do not support Kishida's handling of a high-profile slush fund scandal.
JAPAN / Politics
Mayor in Hiroshima Prefecture city to run in Tokyo governor race
"I want to change Japan through changing Tokyo," said Shinji Ishimaru, mayor of the city of Akitakata in Hiroshima Prefecture.
JAPAN / Politics
Taipei mayor meets Japanese ruling party officials in Tokyo
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an met with Japanese ruling party officials in Tokyo in his first visit to Japan since assuming office in 2022.
Lee Hee-sup, secretary-general of the Seoul-based Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat, speaks during an interview in Seoul on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
May 15, 2024
Summit between Japan, China and South Korea to focus on future cooperation
The leaders of Japan, China and South Korea are expected to meet in Seoul late this month, for the first summit between the three neighbors since 2019.
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks to reporters during a news conference in Washington on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
May 15, 2024
Japan concerned over U.S. officials' remarks on atomic bombings
The remarks justifying the August 1945 atomic bombings could put a damper on bilateral ties between Tokyo and Washington.
Nippon Ishin no Kai Secretary-General Fumitake Fujita (right) speaks beside Yui Kanazawa, the party's candidate in the Tokyo 15th district by-election on April 28. Nippon Ishin lost in this by-election as well as another in Nagasaki held on the same day.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
May 14, 2024
Ishin struggles to set itself apart from other parties
By Eric Johnston
The Osaka-based party is weighed down by its Kansai focus as well as its closeness to the LDP, which makes it hard for it to criticize the ruling party.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi called a South Korean opposition party leader's landing on Takeshima "totally unacceptable."
JAPAN / Politics
May 14, 2024
Japan protests Takeshima trip by high-profile South Korea politician
Former South Korean Justice Minister Cho Kuk on Monday visited the small, rocky group of isles, known as Dokdo by Seoul.
East Japan Railway has set out a strict policy of not yielding to unreasonable demands from customers. The government and ruling parties are considering a labor law revision to strengthen measures against "customer harassment."
JAPAN / Politics
May 14, 2024
Japan mulls legislation against customer harassment
46.8% of union members said they had experienced customer harassment in the past two years, according to a survey this year by UA Zensen.
Officers from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police raid the Tsubasa no To office in Tokyo on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
May 13, 2024
Political party Tsubasa no To investigated over election obstruction
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
The group is suspected of interfering with the campaign activities of candidates in the recent by-election in Tokyo’s No. 15 district.
The Maritime Self-Defense Force’s Kaga destroyer has undergone the first stage of modifications to turn it into a de facto aircraft carrier for F-35B stealth fighter jets.
JAPAN / Politics / Regional Voices: Hiroshima
May 13, 2024
MSDF’s Kure base expanding mission as it marks 70th anniversary
The unit has increased its activities not only in national defense, but also in disaster relief operations and overseas missions.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Saturday addresses a rally in Tokyo seeking the immediate return of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago.
JAPAN / Politics
May 12, 2024
Kishida again vows to strive for summit with North Korea
Prime Minister Kishida also said that establishing fruitful relations between Japan and North Korea would be in the interest of both countries.
The Liberal Democratic Party faction once led by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe holds a fundrasing party in Tokyo in May 2023.
JAPAN / Politics
May 10, 2024
Abe faction's ex-treasurer pleads guilty to underreporting political funds
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Junichiro Matsumoto admitted to underreporting political funds totaling ¥670 million ($4.3 million) in the period from 2018 to 2022.
Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi (second from right) and his Komeito counterpart Keiichi Ishii (second from left) hold a signed agreement on political funding reform, on Thursday in parliament.
JAPAN / Politics
May 10, 2024
Japan's ruling parties find agreement on political reform, but gaps remain
By Gabriele Ninivaggi and Kanako Takahara
The parties' plan lacks specifics on key contentious issues.
The Upper House passes a security clearance bill on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
May 10, 2024
Japan's parliament enacts new economic security clearance bill
The new law will work in conjunction with an existing law on the protection of specially designated secrets.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol in Hiroshima in May 2023. Yoon's focus on mending ties with Japan since he took office has seen relations recover from what officials and experts said was the worst since the two countries normalized diplomatic relations in 1965.
JAPAN / Politics
May 10, 2024
Japan-South Korea ties remain on rocky ground over history
The possibility of disagreements over wartime labor in particular poses a constant threat to the dramatically improved relations built up in recent years.
Former Shizuoka Vice Gov. Shinichi Omura announces he is running for the gubernatorial election, on April 12.
JAPAN / Politics
May 9, 2024
Campaigning for Shizuoka's next governor kicks off with all eyes on maglev line
By Francis Tang
A record six candidates are running for the post after the previous governor resigned over controversial remarks.
Executives of opposition parties meet in the parliament building on Tuesday to discuss their stance over the political funds scandal in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
JAPAN / Politics
May 9, 2024
Japan's opposition parties ask for ethics panel review of 44 lawmakers
The review would have no binding power, however, and the decision of whether to attend will be left up to the lawmakers.
Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan President Kenta Izumi has vowed to resign if his party fails to win at least 150 seats in the next general election.
JAPAN / Politics
May 8, 2024
Pact with JCP a double-edged sword for the CDP
By Eric Johnston
While some of its members wish to further the cooperation, others might prefer to work with opposition parties considered more moderate or right wing.
The Lower House starts discussing a security clearance bill on April 19 in Tokyo.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
May 7, 2024
Unlike 10 years ago, Japan's new security bill sparks little debate
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Some point to a shift in the nation’s security stance, while opposition party lawmakers indicate a general apathy among the media to cover the story.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrives at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Monday after his trip to France, Brazil and Paraguay.
JAPAN / Politics
May 7, 2024
LDP weighs proposal to disclose usage of party's 'policy activity funds'
Policy activity funds are provided to lawmakers from parties to which they belong. How they are used is not presently subject to disclosure.
Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa meets with Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan on April 29.
JAPAN / Politics
May 7, 2024
Kamikawa supporting struggling Kishida government on diplomatic front
Some in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party are hoping she will become a candidate for the party presidency and lead it through the next general election.
Kenta Izumi, head of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, speaks at a news conference at the Parliament building last month.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
May 7, 2024
Japan opposition seeks snap election, but united front proving elusive
Despite the calls, questions remain over whether opposition parties will be able to join hands against the LDP in the next Lower House general election.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida holds a news conference in Sao Paulo on Saturday.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
May 5, 2024
Kishida talks up bolstered Latin American ties as China cements position
By Gabriel Dominguez
While the visit may improve ties, observers doubt countries like Brazil will jeopardize relations with Beijing, their most important trading partner.

Japanese stripper bids to have her porn movies taken off internet
Plaintiff Miyuki Ariga (left) speaks at a news conference along with her lawyer, Yoshitomo Morohashi, after filing a lawsuit at the Tokyo District Court on Monday.
Kishida defends planned rule to revoke foreigners' residency
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a meeting of the Lower House Judicial Affairs Committee on Wednesday.
Human bone-like objects found at Nippon Steel plant’s molten iron pot, with one worker missing
Police believe it’s highly possible that human bones found in a molten iron pot at Nippon Steel's Oita factory belong to a missing male employee.
Was Onosato's defeat of Terunofuji an era-defining bout?
Onosato (right) defeats Terunofuji at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on May 12. While nothing in sumo is guaranteed, it seems almost inevitable that Onosato is destined for the top of the sport's pyramid.
Japan to review romanization system for first time in 70 years
An advisory panel to the education ministry will consider how the Japanese language should be transcribed into the Latin alphabet, including unifying different romanization styles currently in use.
Japanese rap creates its mecca in Pop Yours
Tokyo-based artist Jumadiba says he forgoes the label of simply “rap” for his music because the Japanese rap scene isn’t confined to a particular sound.
Who’s toughest on China? Biden’s tariff tactic ups ante as election looms.
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about new actions to protect American workers and businesses from China's "unfair" trade practices, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on Tuesday.
Was Onosato's defeat of Terunofuji an era-defining bout?
Onosato (right) defeats Terunofuji at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on May 12. While nothing in sumo is guaranteed, it seems almost inevitable that Onosato is destined for the top of the sport's pyramid.
Ishin struggles to set itself apart from other parties
Nippon Ishin no Kai Secretary-General Fumitake Fujita (right) speaks beside Yui Kanazawa, the party's candidate in the Tokyo 15th district by-election on April 28. Nippon Ishin lost in this by-election as well as another in Nagasaki held on the same day.
In Japan, 68,000 people over 65 projected to die alone at home this year
As Japan grapples with its population's rapid aging, supporting people who live and age alone is looming larger on the policy agenda.

Podcast

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.
[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Longform

Things may look perfect to the outside world, but today's mom is fine with some imperfection at home.
How 'Reiwa moms' are reshaping motherhood in Japan
By Mai Yoshikawa

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