The Weekly Observer: April 4-8

Note from the compiler:

Greetings and thank you to anyone who reads this weekly newsletter!

I hope this is a helpful resource to stay abreast of the latest developments in Japan and an entertaining list of news that interests a wide range of readers. My aim has been to be both informative and professional in the way I compile the news every week.

Here is this week’s newsletter. Be sure to check this week’s special edition (updated April 8) on Ukraine too!

As usual, the longer version has bookmarks so you can skip over sections that are not of interest.

The lineup:
1. COVID-19 Cases Rebounding, Especially Among Younger Generations
2. Government to Encourage Younger Generations to Get Booster Shots
3. Foreign Minister Participates in the NATO/G7 Meetings
4. Japan-U.S. Developments (Hayashi-Blinken meeting; Speaker Pelosi’s postponed trip to Japan)
5. Japan-Philippines Defense Ministers’ Meeting
6. Defense/Security Developments (LDP to propose creation of “National Defense Strategy”; defense budget debate; ASDF spots first Chinese Y9 electronic warfare aircraft)
7. Kishida Cabinet at Six Months
8. Prime Minister Says Stimulus Package to be Funded By Reserve Funds
9. Bill Promoting Economic Security Passes Lower House
10. Opposition to Compete in Upper House SMDs
11. State of the Economy (Japan’s reserve assets; IMF projects Japan’s 2022 GDP growth; assets of Japan’s 3 megabanks outweighs GDP)
12. February Economic Statistics (BoP data; Nikkei’s current account balance projection for FY 2022; Feb.’s index of business conditions; household consumption expenditure)
13. Other Political Developments (PM announces new COVAX contributions; Diet amends law to relax male childcare leave restrictions; GOJ to move forward with “Asia Zero Emission Community” initiative; Japan Business Federation calls for bold reforms for digitization)
14. Other Noteworthy News (TSE Restructured; JCP Chairman Quote on JSDF Causes Stir)
15. Yomiuri Shimbun Poll (4/4)

–Rintaro Nishimura

Image: Captain76 (CC BY-SA 3.0)