Category Archives: Tokyo Observer

The 112th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on the G7 digital and tech ministerial meeting, the Third Summit for Democracy, ruling coalition approval of relaxed defense export rules, the LDP party convention, the ruling and opposition party battle over scandal-related testimony, by-election related updates, the BOJ’s historic decision to end negative interest rate policy, the Nikkei Stock Average rebound, record-high household financial assets, and more.

The 111th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on the LDP-Komeito agreement on defense equipment exports, IAEA Director General Grossi’s visit, the resumption of Osprey aircraft flights, the thirteenth year since 3.11, the Upper House Political Ethics Committee hearing, the bill establishing a new talent development program for foreign workers, historically high wage hikes, the hardening U.S. position over Nippon Steel’s acquisition of U.S. Steel, the IPEF ministerial, projected business outlook in FY 2024, and more.

The 110th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on the LDP-Komeito compromise on the defense equipment exports, the Japan-India foreign ministers’ meeting, possible LDP-Ishin policy discussions on security, the LDP’s governance code reform plan, the Upper House’s scheduled Political Ethics Hearing Committee session, rumors of an April snap election, the historic high of the Nikkei Stock Average, chip export controls, the LY Corporation personal information leak, real wage decline and consumer spending, and more.

The 109th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on Japan’s new sanctions on Russia, the establishment of the Defense Innovation Technology Research Center, the Lower House Political Ethics Hearing Committee sessions, the FY 2024 budget passage in the Lower House, the security clearance system bill, the Nikkei Stock Average reaching record-highs, the alarming decline in births per year, and more.

The 108th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on the Japan-Ukraine Conference for Promotion of Economic Growth and Reconstruction, the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the G7 virtual summit marking the second year since the onset of the Ukraine war, LDP-Komeito talks on relaxing defense export rules, agreement on convening the Lower House Political Ethics Hearing Committee next week, the failed no-confidence motion against the education minister, progress on the LDP’s political reform plan, the record-high Nikkei stock average, more subsidies for TSMC, the inaugural Japan-U.S.-ROK trilateral export control dialogue, the Monthly Economic Report, and more.

The 107th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on Japan-ROK and Japan-DPRK developments, the Japan-Ukraine economic recovery and reconstruction meeting, LDP-Komeito discussions on defense exports to third countries, the back-and-forth on a Political Ethics Hearing Committee session, the LDP’s surveys on the political fundraising scandal, the Nikkei 225 and weak yen, chip-related developments, the LDP proposal of a hard AI law, Germany overtaking Japan in nominal GDP, and more.

The 106th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on Kishida’s summit meetings with the leaders of Kenya and Italy, news of Chinese hacking of diplomatic servers, Diet debates on political reform, the LDP’s hearings with Diet members over the political scandal, MEXT Minister Moriyama’s alleged ties to the Unification Church, TSMC’s second plant in Kumamoto, Kioxia and Western Digital’s investment plan to produce advanced chips, record-high stock performances, the current account balance and trade patterns, and more.

The 105th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on the GOJ’s plans to assist Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction, Defense Minister Kihara’s expected first visit to Okinawa, the government’s policy speeches to the Diet, the opposition’s demands for a list of LDP lawmakers who underreported kickbacks, the future of the LDP’s factions, indictments and resignations over political scandals, speculation that the BOJ may end negative interest rate policy, details on the security clearance bill, the proposed “digital nomad” visa, continued overpopulation in the greater Tokyo area, and more.

The 104th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on confirmation about Kishida’s state visit to the United States, Japan-ROK developments over the court cases, Defense Minister Kihara’s first meeting with Okinawa Governor Tamaki, the start of the ordinary Diet session, the LDP’s interim report on political reform, internal LDP politics as factions dissolve, the health of Japanese public spending, the BOJ’s decision to maintain monetary policy, the Japanese business delegations’ visit to China, critical infrastructure related to economic security, the inaugural Japan-China Export Control Dialogue, the GOJ’s Monthly Economic Report, and more.

The 103rd edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on news of the Kishida-Biden summit in April, defense-related contracts, the increased reserve fund for the Noto Peninsula earthquake response, the disbandment of three LDP factions, prosecutors indicting faction accountants, the upcoming Diet session, the expert panel report on the security clearance system, the employees’ pension insurance disbursement, Japan falling behind Germany in terms of nominal GDP, and more.