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July 21, 2025
 

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT

JAPAN / FOCUS
May 1, 2023
LGBTQ+ 'familyship' systems expand in Japan amid absence of national law
Such systems add recognition of same-sex partners’ children as family members, enabling access to public services typically offered to married couples and families.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 28, 2023
A small Japanese town sets new precedent for women in politics
Among the country’s city councils and assemblies, men held more than 80% of the total seats as of 2021. But in Ebetsu, more than 40% of the city council members are women.
JAPAN
Apr 25, 2023
Ashiya's new mayor stands out in a local politics dominated by old men
Ryosuke Takashima has grabbed headlines since becoming the youngest city chief ever elected in Japan.
JAPAN
Apr 20, 2023
Yokosuka becomes Japan's first city to use ChatGPT for administrative tasks
Roughly 4,000 municipal employees at Yokosuka’s city office began using the artificial intelligence-powered chatbot for a one-month trial in an effort to improve operations.
Japan Times
JAPAN / FOCUS
Apr 20, 2023
Despite hurdles, more political candidates hit campaign trail with young children
Politics in Japan has long been considered the domain of those who are capable of committing to the duty 24/7, marginalizing the voices of families with young children.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 16, 2023
Campaigning starts for second half of Japan's unified polls
The official campaign period has kicked off for the second half of Japan's unified local elections slated for April 23.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Apr 3, 2023
Rising number of uncontested seats in Japan sparks calls for change
A quarter of candidates in 41 prefectural assembly elections ran unopposed — the second highest ever — prompting even the winners to call for reforms.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 26, 2023
Mayoral races in six major Japanese cities officially kick off
The mayoral elections, part of the first round of unified local polls next month, are set for April 9.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / Japan Pulse
Mar 23, 2023
Tokyo gets on board the virtual YouTuber hype train
The local government's move to recruit Gawr Gura, Mori Calliope and Miko Sakura to help promote tourism speaks to just how big the VTuber industry has become in Japan.
JAPAN
Mar 22, 2023
Japan sets date for launch of new children's agency
Beginning operations on April 1, the Children and Families Agency will adopt an integrated approach to tackling issues such as the falling birthrate, child abuse and bullying.
Japan Times
JAPAN / History / THE LIVING PAST
Mar 18, 2023
When Emperor Meiji opened Japan, a little democracy sneaked in
Inspiration was drawn not from liberal Britain but from authoritarian Germany. The parliament was partly appointed, partly elected — by an electorate of wealth.
JAPAN / Society
Mar 8, 2023
Would gender quotas for lawmakers work in Japan?
Experts both at home and abroad say quotas are the fastest way to achieve gender equality in politics, but there are many factors at play, both legally and culturally.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 6, 2023
Japan tackles shortage of regional assembly candidates
In 375 town and village assembly elections held as part of unified local polls in 2019, 93 saw no competitive races, with the share of uncontested seats hitting a record high of 23.3%.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 25, 2023
In graying Japan, local governments look to enact bold child-rearing support measures
While the local government moves might appear to be an encouraging step toward improvement, they are also giving rise to concerns about regional gaps in support measures.
JAPAN
Feb 24, 2023
No Japanese cities cut ties with Russian peers
According to to officials, 43 Japanese officials have sister-city or friendship city arrangements with Russian partners — unchanged since the war in Ukraine began.
JAPAN
Feb 15, 2023
Momentum behind same-sex partnership systems continues to build in Japan
A survey found that 245 municipalities and 10 of the country's 47 prefectures had same-sex partnership systems as of Jan. 10.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 5, 2023
Disaster subsidy issue found in claims made by Miyagi Prefecture city
The city of Kurihara, Miyagi Prefecture, is alleged to have made inappropriate applications for disaster recovery subsidies.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Feb 3, 2023
Osaka city assembly vice speaker arrested on molestation charges
Kentaro Inoue, 54, is suspected of touching the bodies of four girls age 10 to 11 at a sleepover hosted by Inoue in September 2020.
BUSINESS
Jan 25, 2023
Social impact bond program spreading among Japan's local governments
The system, while curbing fiscal spending, enables administrative bodies to improve the effectiveness of their services by encouraging companies involved to come up with creative ideas.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
May 29, 2021
Creative solutions (and confusion) abound as regional governments carry out a national vaccination plan
Japanese press outlets focus on individual stories amid the start of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout in Japan.
Japan ruling bloc loses majority in Upper House after election drubbing
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who serves concurrently as president of the Liberal Democratic Party, leaves at the party's headquarters following announcement of Upper House election result projections in Tokyo early Monday.
Polls open for key Upper House election that could shake Japanese politics
People vote during Japan's Upper House election at a polling station in Tokyo on Sunday.
Sunken WWII Japanese warship Teruzuki found off Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands. A team from the U.S. nonprofit Ocean Exploration Trust has discovered the Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Teruzuki on the deep seabed off the Solomon Islands as the 80th anniversary of the war's end approaches.
Japan team finds ancient ocean full of squids
The ancient ocean was full of squids, whose population exceeded that of fish or ammonites, a Japanese research team mainly from Hokkaido University has found through a new method using technology.
Voters in Tokyo reflect shifting political views across Japan
Pedestrians walk in front of an election notice board displaying posters of candidates in Tokyo on Sunday.
‘Noto Democracy’ and the slow work of civic change
Yukio Iokibe’s “Noto Democracy" centers on Motoyuki Takii, a former junior high school teacher who publishes a handwritten newspaper every month to encourage the residents of Anamizu, Ishikawa Prefecture, to engage in local politics.
In microbes we trust: Embracing the nature of fermented food
You don't need an oven to make Kenji Morimoto's easy and delicious Miso Sticky Toffee Crepe Cake.
Touring the Silk Road — without leaving Tokyo
One of the entrances to Pao Compound, a nine-story Silk Road-inspired complex in Tokyo's Higashinakano neighborhood
The self as a muse: Leonard Foujita's world in paintings and photos
One of Leonard Foujita’s biggest muses was himself. He painted self-portraits, often with a cat on his side, looking back at the viewer. He posed for photographers throughout his life, the displayed photos showing he retained his signature bowl cut and round glasses.
Japan's rice farmers are confounded by Shinjiro Koizumi’s policies
Kiyoshi Shibata stands in front of one of the rice paddies in Murayama, Yamagata Prefecture, where he produces the prefecture's signature rice brand Tsuyahime.

Podcast

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

Longform

In 2020, 38% of all households were single-person. That figure is projected to rise to 44.3% by 2050.
The rise of AI companionship in a lonely Japan
By Alex K.T. Martin

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