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November 21, 2024
 

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Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba takes part in the summit of the Group of 20 major economies in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Ishiba ends South America tour with results and challenges
There was no concrete progress with China's leader on some issues, including the detention of Japanese nationals.
JAPAN / Politics
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
The package will include cash handouts to lower-income households and subsidies to help families cope with rising utility bills.
JAPAN / Politics
Ishiba vows to conclude talks on policy activity funds soon
The Liberal Democratic Party aims to finalize its draft of a planned revision of the political funds control law on Thursday and begin discussions with other parties.
Motohiko Saito speaks at a news conference in Kobe on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 19, 2024
Reelected Hyogo governor vows to serve with a 'humble heart'
Motohiko Saito returned for the first time in more than a month after being ousted from office over allegations of workplace harassment.
Komeito chief Tetsuo Saito says the party needs to "return to where it started so as to regain power" during a news conference in Hiroshima on Saturday.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Nov 19, 2024
Komeito's clean, pacifist image fades after 60 years
Komeito has faced a conundrum in choosing between upholding its founding philosophy and staying in the coalition government.
Four candidates vying to lead Nippon Ishin no Kai — from left, former Kanagawa Gov. Shigefumi Matsuzawa, party Deputy Secretary-General Ryuna Kanemura, Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura and Lower House member Seiki Soramoto — gather for a stump speech in Osaka on Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 18, 2024
Four candidates vie for leadership of Nippon Ishin no Kai
By Eric Johnston
The leadership race follows the resignation of incumbent leader Nobuyuki Baba over the party's lackluster performance in the Oct. 27 general election.
The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Hyuga sail in formation with 16 other ships from the U.S. Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force as aircraft from the U.S. Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force fly overhead in formation during the Keen Sword exercise in the Philippine Sea on Nov. 8, 2018.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Nov 18, 2024
Japan, Australia and U.S. boost collective deterrence efforts amid China concerns
By Gabriel Dominguez
The coordination will see the Ground Self‑Defense Force take part regularly in annual amphibious training drills in Australia involving U.S. Marines.
Motohiko Saito makes a speech following his reelection Sunday as governor of Hyogo Prefecture, a position he lost after the prefectural assembly unanimously passed a no-confidence vote against him in September.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 18, 2024
Hyogo governor reelected following ouster by assembly over harassment
By Francis Tang
Motohiko Saito garnered popular support despite strong opposition from political parties and a majority of Hyogo’s city mayors.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba shakes hands with Peruvian President Dina Boluarte in Lima on Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 18, 2024
Peru and Japan strengthen ties with defense and mining agreements
Peru is one of the world's top copper producers, while Japan is a major consumer of the key industrial metal.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba waves upon arrival for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, in Callao, Peru, on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 17, 2024
Ishiba delays meeting with Trump, citing legal restrictions
By Kathleen Benoza
According to Ishiba, Trump’s team explained that no meetings with foreign leaders will take place before the inauguration due to legal constraints
Troops from the Ground Self-Defense Force's Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade take part in a marine landing drill as a part of the country's nationwide 05JX military exercises in Kagoshima Prefecture in November of last year.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 17, 2024
Elite GSDF troops to regularly deploy for drills in Australia
By Kathleen Benoza
Tokyo will begin the deployments of the GSDF’s elite Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade to the city of Darwin starting next year.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday during their meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 17, 2024
Ishiba and Xi hold first in-person talks amid Japan-China tensions
By Francis Tang
The two countries' ties remain tense over a ban on Japanese seafood exports, China's military moves near Japan and the safety of Japanese nationals in China.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomes Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya before their meeting in Kyiv on Saturday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 17, 2024
Top Japan diplomat makes surprise visit to Ukraine
By Jesse Johnson
The trip comes amid growing fears about the conflict’s expansion following North Korea’s dispatch of troops to Russia for combat operations.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday during their meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 17, 2024
Ishiba and Yoon unite on 'strong concerns' over North Korean troops in Russia
By Jesse Johnson
Tokyo and Seoul have stressed that, with the involvement of North Korea in the Ukraine war, the conflict has expanded to include Asia.
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel makes a speech aboard the USS George Washington aircraft carrier during Freedom Edge trilateral exercise between the United States, Japan and South Korea in the East China Sea on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 16, 2024
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel weighs bid for DNC chair: report
By Jesse Johnson
Such a move would come as the Democratic Party tries to regroup after an election that saw Republicans win control of the White House, Senate and House.
Democratic Party for the People head Yuichiro Tamaki speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Nov. 8.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 15, 2024
DPP leader clashes with governors over tax-free income limit
By Eric Johnston
Prefectural governors fear that raising the ¥1.03 million limit would means less central government tax money for local services.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the Prime Minister's Office on Thursday
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 15, 2024
LDP eyes larger tax breaks for individual political donations
The move is designed to lower the share of political donations from companies and organizations, which have been subject to public criticism.
Administrative Reform Minister Masaaki Taira at an autumn review session for national programs on Thursday in Tokyo.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 14, 2024
Reform minister says Japan will monitor Musk's approach to government efficiency
"We will closely follow the approach and incorporate it into our administrative reform efforts," Administrative Reform Minister Masaaki Taira noted.
The Japanese government and the ruling coalition led by the Liberal Democratic Party are discussing a plan to set the date for convening an extraordinary session of parliament on Nov. 28.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 14, 2024
Japan eyes extraordinary session of parliament from Nov. 28
The session will be convened to discuss a fiscal 2024 supplementary budget that will finance a planned economic package.
Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito (left) urged Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to resolve the slush funds scandal during their meeting on Saturday at the Prime Minister's Office.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 14, 2024
Upper House LDP members hope to face ethics panel over scandal
LDP lawmakers in the Lower House are generally opposed to such moves.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (third from left in the front row) posing for a commemorative photo with vice ministers of the second Ishiba Cabinet at the Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 14, 2024
No scandal-tainted LDP lawmakers appointed to senior government posts
The exclusion of lawmakers involved in the slush fund scandal is apparently aimed at avoiding criticism from the opposition camp and the public.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks at a meeting on political reform at the Liberal Democratic Party's headquarters in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Nov 14, 2024
Ishiba faces tightrope walk with minority government
As the opposition is seen ramping up pressure on the government, a single mistake could put the administration into jeopardy.
The Lower House plenary session on Monday
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 13, 2024
Ishiba in for a bumpy ride as CDP takes Budget Committee post
By Himari Semans
In a rare move, the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, Komeito, conceded the Budget Committee post to the opposition.

Ishiba delays meeting with Trump, citing legal restrictions
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba waves upon arrival for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, in Callao, Peru, on Friday.
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.
Rising sex tourism exposes loopholes in Japan's anti-prostitution law
While financial misfortunes during the COVID-19 pandemic may have driven some women to work the streets, others simply want more money to spend — or want to pay off their debts — at host clubs.
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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