Blog
Tokyo Report
June 27, 2023
Japan Will Reinstate South Korea as Preferred Trade Nation as Two Sides Improve Ties
By Mari Yamaguchi
Japan’s tightening of trade controls against Seoul in 2019 was widely seen as retaliation for a South Korean court ruling on World War II-era forced labor.
June 20, 2023
Victims of J-pop Talent Agency Speak Out About Sexual Abuse
By Thisanka Siripala
Japan has been rocked by allegations that the late J-pop music mogul Johnny Kitagawa was a serial sexual predator.
June 16, 2023
Abe’s Unfinished Business: Japan’s Agriculture Reform
By Zhuoran Li
Abe Shinzo is often considered Japan’s most powerful prime minister. But he faced steep political opposition in one of his primary goals.
June 13, 2023
Japan’s Lower House Passes Bill to Promote LGBTQ Awareness, But Not Guarantee Rights
By Mari Yamaguchi
Japan is the only member of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations that does not have LGTBQ legal protections.
June 12, 2023
The Fukushima Wastewater ‘Discharge’: What’s in a Name?
By Maxime Polleri
Japan is very carefully shaping the narrative around its release of radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean.
June 10, 2023
Japan’s New Security Strategy, Part 3: The View From Japan’s Neighbors
By Pascal Lottaz
What does Japan's changing security policy mean for South Korea, Taiwan, and China?
June 09, 2023
How the Silent Majority in Japan Is Hindering Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage
By Jio Kamata
Polls consistently show a majority of Japanese favor same-sex marriage – but not enough to apply political pressure. Opponents, however, are vocal.
June 08, 2023
Japan’s New Security Strategy, Part 2: The Ongoing Debates
By Pascal Lottaz
Within Japan, there are debates as to how new – and how hawkish – the 2022 National Security Strategy really is.
June 06, 2023
Japan’s New Security Strategy, Part 1: The Historical Context
By Pascal Lottaz
Since the end of World War II, Japan has been struggling to strike the right balance between pacifism and productive security engagement with the world.
May 30, 2023
Planned Fukushima Water Release Adds a New Wrinkle to Japan-South Korea Ties
By Thisanka Siripala
As Japan prepares to release treated water from the tsunami-crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, it battles harsh criticism from South Korea.
May 24, 2023
The Hiroshima G7 Summit and Japan’s Evolving Security Identity
By Yukari Easton
Kishida’s biggest achievement thus far may be showing Japan that sitting out on all conflicts is perhaps no longer an option.
May 19, 2023
World Leaders Land in Hiroshima for G7 Meeting, With Ukraine War High on Agenda
By Adam Schreck
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio kicked off his summit diplomacy by meeting with leaders from the U.S. and U.K.
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