The 19th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the extended COVID-19 state of emergency, updates on quarantine requirements for vaccinated travelers, Suga’s scheduled visit to the U.S. for the Quad summit, Japan’s Afghanistan response, HMS Queen Elizabeth’s port call to Japan, the FY 2022 budget request, economic indicators of the week, Prime Minister Suga’s reflection of the past year, updates to the LDP presidential candidate profiles, the opposition policy agreement between four parties, an ex-official’s prison sentence over the casino bribery scandal, and more.
Author Archives: Rintaro Nishimura
The Weekly Observer: August 30-September 3
The 18th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the improving COVID-19 case numbers, updates on the vaccination drive, John Kerry’s trip to Japan, the SDF’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Japan Pacific Islands Defense Dialogue, opposition demands for an extraordinary Diet session, the FY 2022 budget request, Prime Minister Suga’s decision to nor run for reelection, a timeline of developments regarding the LDP presidential and House of Representatives elections, a profile on the potential candidates replacing Suga, opposition plans to retake the Lower House, Kishida’s coronavirus policies, the inauguration of Suga’s Digital Agency, and more.
The Weekly Observer: August 16-20
The 17th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the re-extension and expansion of the COVID-19 state of emergency, possible revisions to COVID-19 policy, the possibility of a third vaccine shot, news of a first-ever LDP-Taiwan ruling party strategic dialogue, the MOD’s budget request, the prime minister’s speech commemorating the 76th anniversary of the end of WWII, opposition demands for an extraordinary Diet session, increase in the number of bankruptcies, controversy over the decision to allow children to attend the Paralympic Games, the latest on the LDP and House of Representatives election, Japan’s response to the situation in Afghanistan, and more.
週刊オブザーバー 8/9-8/13
日本の政治に関するニュースを集めた連載第16号！ 今週は、新型コロナの新規感染者数の増加が止まらない点、緊急事態宣言の延長、ワクチン接種の最新情報、秋葉国家安全保障局長の就任後初訪米、岸防衛相の靖国参拝、菅首相・岸防相の海外メディアインタビュー、首相の長崎平和記念式典でのあいさつ、7月の景気ウォッチャー調査、オリンピック後の反応、自民党総裁選の最新情報、横浜市長選挙、出入国管理体制の改善などに焦点を当てます。
The Weekly Observer: August 9-13
Sixteenth edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the ever-increasing COVID-19 case tally, considerations for a COVID-19 state of emergency extension, latest on the vaccination drive, NSS Akiba’s first trip to the U.S., defense minister’s controversial visit to Yasukuni, Suga and Kishi’s interviews with foreign media, the prime minister’s Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony speech, the July Economy Watchers Survey, the aftermath of the Olympics, new developments in the build up to the LDP presidential race, the Yokohama City mayoral election, and more.
週刊オブザーバー 8/2-8/6
日本の政治に関するニュースを集めた連載第15号！ 今週は、新型コロナ対策の強化、病床確保のための政策の転換、ワクチン接種の進捗具合、ASEAN関連の外相会議、外務省の韓国・ロシア対応、防衛省のミサイル防衛計画、首相の広島平和記念式典でのあいさつ、6月の消費支出、自民党総裁選の日程と首相以外の立候補者、新たな「政治とカネ」の問題などに焦点を当てます。
The Weekly Observer: August 2-6
Fifteenth edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the tightened COVID-19 countermeasures, policy to secure hospital beds amid a surge in coronavirus cases, latest on the vaccination drive, ASEAN-related foreign ministers’ meetings, the foreign ministry in action with South Korea and Russia, the defense ministry’s missile defense plans, the prime minister’s Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony speech, consumption expenditure in June, the LDP presidential race schedule and new candidates, a new money scandal in politics and more.
週刊オブザーバー 7/26-7/30
日本の政治に関するニュースを集めた連載第14号！ 今週は、緊急事態宣言の地域拡大、専門家による感染拡大の予想、アストラゼネカ製ワクチンの40代以上への接種承認、日米間の会談、初の日米台「戦略対話」、ロシア首相の北方領土上陸に対する政府の反応、IMFによる日本の経済見通し、衆院選・総裁選に向けての各党の準備、検察審査会による「桜を見る会」をめぐる安倍前首相の「不起訴不当」の議決、政府の「黒い雨」判決に対する上告なしの決断などに焦点を当てます。
The Weekly Observer: July 26-30
Fourteenth edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the newly expanded COVID-19 state of emergency, expert predictions on the spread of the virus, AstraZeneca approval for those above forty, Japan-U.S. high-level meetings, the inaugural strategic dialogue between Japanese, American and Taiwanese lawmakers, Japanese reactions to the Russian prime minister’s visit to the Northern Territories, the IMF’s economic outlook for Japan, preparation for Lower House and LDP Presidential elections, the decision by a prosecution committee to reinvestigate ex-prime minister Abe’s cherry blossom scandal, the government’s decision to not appeal the Hiroshima “Black Rain” ruling, and more.
週刊オブザーバー 7/19-7/23
日本の政治に関するニュースを集めた連載第13号！ 今週は、「デルタ株」の感染拡大、政府のワクチン不足解消への取り組み、日米韓の次官級協議、日韓関係、野党の閉会中審査の要求、エネルギー基本計画素案においての2030年度電源構成、オリンピック開会式、衆院選・自民党総裁選に向けての準備などに焦点を当てます。
Rintaro Nishimura 