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July 27, 2024
 

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A Lower House plenary session is held in June. One vote in the least-populated single-seat constituency for the lower chamber is at least twice as powerful as that in the eight most populous constituencies, an analysis has found.
JAPAN / Politics
Vote-value disparities may be unconstitutional in eight Lower House districts
One vote in the least-populated single-seat constituency is at least twice as powerful as one in the eight most populous constituencies, a new analysis shows.
JAPAN / Politics
The LDP members best placed to deal with the next U.S. president
With Kamala Harris entering the race, the LDP now has to prepare to deal with either a familiar former president or a not-so-familiar vice president.
JAPAN / Politics
CDP and DPP exploring prospect of cooperation in upcoming polls
The two opposition parties believe it is possible to capitalize on the ruling LDP's slush funds scandal to deny it of its majority.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi (right) during a meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jul 24, 2024
Why Japan's mysterious stash of classified funds escapes scrutiny
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
The funds can be used by the chief cabinet secretary with no explanation needed, fueling speculation of widespread misappropriation.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi speaks during a news conference at the Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 24, 2024
Toyota chairman and 12 other Japanese executives banned from entering Russia
Others include Rakuten Group Chairman and CEO Hiroshi Mikitani and Japan International Cooperation Agency President Akihiko Tanaka.
A computer-generated image shows the new refined design of a next-generation fighter aircraft being co-developed by Japan, Britain and Italy.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jul 24, 2024
Japan has ‘no concerns’ over rumored hitch in joint fighter jet plans
By Gabriel Dominguez
While experts agree there are currently no indications that the U.K. might drop out of the program, the multilateral project still faces a number of challenges.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks aboard the USS Howard destroyer at the Yokosuka Naval Base, in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, in September 2022.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jul 23, 2024
Continuity in Asia: Harris' policies likely to assuage concerns in Japan
By Kathleen Benoza and Jesse Johnson
Tokyo is already quite familiar with the approach of the U.S. vice president, who will likely continue her predecessor's foreign policy if she is elected president.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Defense Minister Minoru Kihara meet in Singapore in June.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jul 23, 2024
U.S.-Japan security talks to cover 'extended deterrence' for first time
By Jesse Johnson
The allies' top diplomats and defense chiefs will for the first time cover the U.S. commitment to using its military capabilities, including nukes, to protect its ally.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to reporters in Tokyo Monday following news of U.S. President Joe Biden's exit from the presidential race.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 23, 2024
Kishida aides wary of impact from Biden's withdrawal
Many expect Kishida to make a decision on his approach to the LDP's leadership race after the summer holiday period in mid-August.
Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Kenta Izumi speaks during a news conference at the Diet building on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 22, 2024
CDP mulls setting leadership election for mid to late September
The CDP election will be held as current leader Kenta Izumi's term of office will expire at the end of September.
Participants from government ministries and agencies take part in the Cyber Defense Exercise with Recurrence (CYDER) in Tokyo.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 20, 2024
Japan eyes new law to introduce 'active cyberdefense'
The envisaged law will make it possible to collect online communications data from telecommunications companies and use the data to detect signs of cyberattacks.
Ichiro Aisawa, a Lower House lawmaker with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, speaks to reporters at LDP headquarters in Tokyo on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 20, 2024
LDP plans to launch leadership election board next week
The party is considering launching on July 26 the administration committee for its presidential election expected to take place in September.
Campaign posters for the Tokyo gubernatorial election on July 7.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 19, 2024
LDP eyes legal revision that would call for decency in campaign posters
The move comes after posters unrelated to the Tokyo gubernatorial election were displayed on official election billboards during the election campaign period.
An election observer (on the screen) remotely monitors early voting for the Kofu mayoral election in Kofu, Tottori Prefecture, on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 19, 2024
Tottori town becomes first in Japan to monitor voting online
Polling stations are decreasing as it is getting harder to find observers due to depopulation, and online monitoring is viewed as a possible solution.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and the Cook Islands' Prime Minister Mark Brown shake hands during 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting on Thursday in Tokyo.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jul 18, 2024
With eye on China, Japan deepens ties with Pacific islands at Tokyo summit
By Gabriel Dominguez
Collaborations have been agreed in seven fields, including technology and connectivity, climate change, people-centered development and security.
House of Representatives lawmaker Manabu Horii, 52, quit the Liberal Democratic Party on Thursday after his offices were raided by prosecutors. He said last month that he will not run in the next Lower House election.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 18, 2024
Prosecutors raid offices of LDP lawmaker Manabu Horii
He is being investigated over allegations that he gave funeral money to voters in his constituency in Hokkaido.
Indian Ambassador Sibi George says one of his main tasks in his post is to boost Japanese public and private investments the South Asian powerhouse.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 18, 2024
India’s envoy in Japan calls for boosted supply chain and defense cooperation
By Gabriel Dominguez
The ambassador’s remarks come after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to continue prioritizing ties with Japan.
Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi holds a news conference at the Diet on July 2.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 17, 2024
Speculation rising over possible end to Yamaguchi's Komeito reign
Natsuo Yamaguchi, 72, is currently serving his eighth term as Komeito chief.
When Renho (center) announced her candidacy for the Tokyo gubernatorial election on May 27, the head of the Japanese Communist Party's secretariat, Akira Koike (far left), was also in attendance.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jul 17, 2024
Cutting ties with JCP not easy for CDP despite Renho's defeat
By Eric Johnston
Despite calls to end the relationship, there is still pressure on the CDP to seek interparty cooperation to avoid splitting the opposition vote.
Hyogo Gov. Motohiko Saito speaks to reporters on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 16, 2024
Hyogo governor stands firm on not resigning despite official's death
By Kathleen Benoza
Gov. Motohiko Saito said he has "responded within the necessary scope" of his duties in relation to allegations of power harassment against him.
Koichi Hagiuda, former policy chief of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, speaks to reporters at the party headquarters in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 16, 2024
LDP's Hagiuda to resign as head of Tokyo chapter
"I had great responsibility as the person who oversaw" the party's by-elections campaign, Hagiuda told reporters.
People lay flowers before the two year anniversary of the shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the city of Nara on July 7.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 16, 2024
Trump shooting reminds Japan of similar attacks on politicians at home
By Francis Tang
The attack on the former U.S. president evoked memories of similar incidents involving Japan's prime ministers.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 15, 2024
Can Kishida's diplomacy boost support at home?
Facing calls to step down even from within the LDP, the Prime Minister apparently hopes to shore up support through his latest meetings overseas.

Japan's population continues to fall even as foreign resident count rises
The number of residents in Tokyo as of Jan. 1 rose by 0.03% from a year before, data shows, marking a year-on-year increase for the first time in three years, while the country's other 46 prefectures saw their populations continue to decline.
Japan’s minimum wage set for record ¥50 hike in major boost
Demonstrators rally to demand a big hike in minimum wages in Tokyo last week.
One dead, three missing as heavy rain batters Tohoku
Camera footage shows the Mogami River bursting its banks in Tozawa, Yamagata Prefecture, on Friday morning.
Yen melt-up nudges Japanese stocks into correction territory
Japanese stocks are down 10% from their July peak as the yen strengthens.
Yen rally could help end crushing wage decay in Japan
Some economists say a sticky weak yen trend would have a negative impact on Japan's real wage growth.
Japan’s minimum wage set for record ¥50 hike in major boost
Demonstrators rally to demand a big hike in minimum wages in Tokyo last week.
Japan loses top spot on strongest passport list to Singapore
Japan had the strongest passport for six years running from 2018, before being dethroned by Singapore on the 2024 list.
Why Japan's mysterious stash of classified funds escapes scrutiny
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi (right) during a meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Terunofuji, as he tends to do, returns to stamp his authority on sumo pretenders
Terunofuji (left) throws down Kirishima on Tuesday to build on his perfect record at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.
Japanese startups advised to internationalize to get some global mojo
Entrepreneurs who participated in the Beyond Japan Zero to X program last year share their experiences in the United States during a meeting in May in Tokyo.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Traditional folk rituals like Mizudome-no-mai (dance to stop the rain) provide a sense of agency to a population that feels largely powerless in the face of the climate crisis.
As climate extremes intensify, Japan embraces ancient weather rituals
By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

mission sustainability vol.8: Omron Corp.Omron helping firms achieve carbon neutrality
mission sustainability vol.8: Omron Corp.Omron helping firms achieve carbon neutrality

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