The 22nd edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the COVID-19 situation, Rahm Emanuel’s meeting with the prime minister and foreign minister, a host of bilateral and trilateral meetings with the U.S. and South Korea, Japan’s possible role in the Ukraine situation, Japan’s response to North Korea’s frequent missile tests, the Diet resolution on human rights, the economic security bill draft, tensions among ruling and opposition parties ahead of the summer election, former Tokyo governor Ishihara’s death, five ex-PMs’ controversial anti-nuclear letter to the EU, Japan-ROK tensions over a UNESCO heritage site recommendation, and more.
Author Archives: Rintaro Nishimura
The Weekly Observer: October 18-22
The 21st edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the House of Representatives election, Rahm Emanuel’s nomination hearing for the ambassadorship to Japan, an annual poll on Japan-China relations, North Korea and China’s military advancements, the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, the Kishida Cabinet’s response to rising oil prices, Japan’s latest climate change response plan, the G7 Trade Ministers’ Meeting, September trade statistics, an ex-justice minister’s prison sentence, and more.
The Weekly Observer: October 11-15
The 20th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the impending House of Representatives election, Prime Minister Kishida’s Diet battles, the LDP and CDP’s campaign manifestos, Kishida’s other policy actions, the Cabinet’s first diplomatic phone calls, TSMC’s first chip plant in Japan, Nippon Steel’s lawsuit against Toyota and Baoshan, and more.
Policy Document: LDP Presidential Election 2021 (自民党総裁選2021)
Special edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This edition focuses on the LDP Presidential Election (Sept. 29) and the policies of the candidates running in the race.
The Weekly Observer: September 6-10
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.
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。
Rintaro Nishimura 