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July 24, 2024
 

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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
Continuity in Asia: Harris' policies likely to assuage concerns in Japan
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.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
U.S.-Japan security talks to cover 'extended deterrence' for first time
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.
JAPAN / Politics
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Justice Ministry is considering helping Ukraine improve laws and regulations.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 14, 2024
Japan to help Ukraine improve laws to support reconstruction
The move is intended to support Ukraine's negotiations for EU membership and create an environment good for Japanese companies to enter the Ukrainian market.
Kenta Izumi, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, holds a news conference Friday.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jul 14, 2024
Japan's CDP in dilemma over election cooperation with JCP
Both the DPP and the Japanese Trade Union Confederation have repeatedly called for the CDP-JCP cooperation to end.
Maritime Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff Adm. Ryo Sakai says during a news conference Friday that he will step down on July 19 to take responsibility for a string of scandals involving MSDF members.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 14, 2024
Crisis grips Japanese government over Defense Ministry scandals
Some believe such scandals may influence the debate over tax hikes that were proposed to finance the five-year defense spending boost through fiscal 2027.
Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa speaks at a news conference on Friday over sexual assault incidents involving U.S. service members.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 14, 2024
Japan lawmakers criticize U.S. for failing to report military assault cases
Meanwhile, the Japanese government has not protested the failure or demanded improvements, saying there was no problem with the U.S. side.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speak to reporters in Berlin on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jul 13, 2024
Japanese and German leaders deepen ties with new economic security framework
By Gabriel Dominguez
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and German Chancellor Olaz Scholz agreed on the new mechanism during the Japanese leader's first visit to the country as PM.
Hyogo Gov. Motohiko Saito bows at a news conference at the prefectural government office in Kobe on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 13, 2024
Hyogo vice governor to resign over death of prefectural official
Vice Gov. Yasutaka Katayama's resignation comes after the death of an official who distributed a document about alleged harassment by Gov. Motohiko Saito.

South Korea couple beat same-sex barriers to parenthood
South Korean lesbian couple Kim Kyu-jin (left) and her wife, Kim Sae-yeon, pose with a "pregnant woman" badge during an interview in Seoul last month.
Japan unveils new overtourism countermeasures
The majority of tourists in Japan tend to stay in Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto, resulting in overcrowding in popular tourist spots and a strain on transportation systems.
Opportunities await the bold in the Year of the Wood Dragon
2024 marks the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac, with the year predicted to be a good time for fresh starts.
Japan pharma startup developing world-first drug to grow new teeth
A new tooth is seen in a ferret's mouth after it was administered a drug to stimulate the growth of tooth buds.
Don’t worry about global population collapse
Most projections show the world will hit peak humanity in the 21st century as people choose to have smaller families and women gain power over their own reproduction.
As climate extremes intensify, Japan embraces ancient weather rituals
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.
Biden drops out of presidential race, endorsing Kamala Harris
U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House in Washington on July 4.
Why Japanese researchers are looking to submarine cables for faster tsunami warnings
Lamposts and other signs throughout Hirogawa, Wakayama Prefecture, display warnings, evacuation routes and measurements of height above sea level. The town has been hit by eight tsunami in its recorded history.
Akatsuki Japan believes it can 'surprise the world' in Paris
Mai Yamamoto drives to the basket during an Olympic tune-up game against New Zealand in Tokyo on July 4.
How to prevent and respond to heatstroke in Japan this summer
A passerby holding a parasol wipes her face as she walks on the street amid a heatstroke alert in Tokyo and other prefectures, in Tokyo on July 9.

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

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