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November 22, 2024
 

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Michael MacArthur Bosack

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Michael MacArthur Bosack
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida awaits the results of a vote on a no-confidence motion in the Lower House against his Cabinet on Wednesday over the ongoing party financing scandal.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 14, 2023
Kishida tries to clean up the Liberal Democratic Party house
A political event of the magnitude of the LDP-funding scandal bears close observation of what happened, why and what comes next.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s future is uncertain as a fund-raising scandal casts a shadow over who will lead the Liberal Democratic Party. 
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 8, 2023
Unpacking the scandal rocking the LDP to its core
What may be termed as the “faction parties scandal” is a shock to the system that will have deep implications for the Japanese political landscape.
Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida take part in a news conference in September 2021 in the lead-up to the Liberal Democratic Party presidential race.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 15, 2023
Takaichi makes another play to become the next PM
With the creation of a new study group, Cabinet minister Sanae Takaichi aims to build support for her bid for the top political job.
Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa meets Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo on Oct. 21.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 8, 2023
Explaining Japan's nuanced approach to the Israel-Hamas war
Japan has the potential to influence the conflict due to its distinctive position within the international community.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attends an extraordinary session at the Lower House of parliament in Tokyo on Oct. 23.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 31, 2023
Prime Minister Kishida and a month of misery
The challenges Fumio Kishida faces are eroding confidence in his leadership and are likely to influence policy decision-making.
Members of the Ground Self-Defense Force disembark from a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during a live fire exercise in Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture, in May 2022.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 23, 2023
Kishida's proposed tax cuts put higher defense spending on hold
The plan to raise defense spending partly through tax hikes has been put on ice. In fact, it was never likely to deliver fast results.
Japan faces tough choices amid the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas. The issue now is how Tokyo will navigate the conflict.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 12, 2023
Hamas tests the limits of Japan's Israel-Palestine policy
Japan is the lone outlier in the Group of Seven, condemning the Hamas attacks but also expressing concern over potential casualties in the Gaza Strip.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's administration faces discontent within the ruling coalition, mounting frustration from conservative elements in the LDP and persistently low public approval ratings.
COMMENTARY
Oct 10, 2023
As cracks form, Kishida’s political ship takes on water
The Kishida administration faces discontent within the ruling coalition, frustration from LDP conservatives and and low public approval ratings.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and members of his new Cabinet at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Wednesday
COMMENTARY / Japan
Sep 14, 2023
More flash than substance in Kishida’s Cabinet reshuffle
The reshuffle was consistent with past Liberal Democratic Party practices and portends a continuation of status quo policies and initiatives.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 24, 2023
Why a snap election might be looming for Japan
Kishida has denied that he is considering a snap election; but then again, so does every Japanese prime minister when asked about the timing for such a vote.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 19, 2023
The significance of the new Japan-China defense hotline
In a dire situation with great danger and/or worsening conditions, the Japan-China hotline is important because nobody wants to figure out who to call or have to search for the right number.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 10, 2023
Stronger Japan-NATO ties were bound to happen
Russia’s war in Ukraine and regional Chinese aggression have accelerated the maturation of the Japan-NATO relationship, but the wheels were set in motion following the fall of the Soviet Union.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 25, 2023
Japan’s political landscape after the unified elections
The ruling LDP and its junior coalition partner saw most of their candidates succeed across the country in Sunday's unified elections. The exception is where Nippon Ishin no Kai surged.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 15, 2023
Questions mount as Kishida attack brings sense of deja vu
While the incident occurred without the same tragic consequences of the assassination of Shinzo Abe last year, the shocking event leaves many unanswered questions.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 22, 2023
Kishida breaks new ground in visit to Ukraine
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has effectively paved the way for future Japanese leaders to demonstrate Japanese leadership abroad with his visit to Ukraine.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Mar 10, 2023
Preparing the SDF for tomorrow’s fight and today’s needs
How does the SDF balance between posturing for the combat operations of tomorrow and the disaster relief missions of today?
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Mar 2, 2023
The paradox that is Fumio Kishida’s leadership
Lucky for Prime Minister Kishida, the Japanese public does not see a viable alternative to the LDP for running the government.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 16, 2023
Fumio Kishida is succeeding abroad but failing at home
Kishida's polling numbers remain in the “caution area,” and there seems to be little opportunity for him to turn things around before local elections in April.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 17, 2023
Key takeaways from Japan-U.S. talks worth noting
The fact that Japan and the U.S. do not require continuous renegotiation of their standing agreements is an important one, and shows the strength of the alliance.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 5, 2023
Prime Minister Kishida’s 2023 survival strategy
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has a tough road ahead, but he is politically savvy and has been adept at making the moves necessary to remain in office so far.
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Ishiba aggravates his own political failures with diplomatic faux pas
Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba is greeted at the APEC summit in Lima by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. The Japanese leader was criticized for remaining seated while meeting several world leaders at the event.
Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

Podcast

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

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?
By Kathryn Wortley

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