Category Archives: Tokyo Observer

The 148th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on the GOJ expert panel recommendations for “active cyber defense,” the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting, Ishiba’s possible visit to South Korea next year, Saudi Arabia’s reported acceptance into GCAP, PM Ishiba’s policy speech, the FY 2024 supplementary budget, the upcoming FY 2025 tax system reform talks, the FY 2023 political funding reports, the Ishiba-Tamaki “summit,” the implementation guidelines for the security clearance system, ex-MOF bureaucrat Kanda Masato’s election as ADB president, the Monthly Economic Report, and more.

The 147th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on Ishiba’s participation in the G20 summit, Nakatani’s attendance at the ADMM+, China’s decision to resume short-term visa waivers, deepening Japan-U.S.-Australia defense ties, the GOJ’s economic stimulus package, the LDP’s political reform bill proposal, ongoing LDP-Komeito-DPFP talks on economic policy, GOJ’s funding scheme for Rapidus, reported developments in Japan’s Basic Energy Plan formulation, machinery order statistics, and more.

The 146th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on Ishiba’s first diplomatic trip, Foreign Minister Iwaya’s engagements at APEC, reported plans by the U.S. Military to relocate functions to Tokyo city center, Ishiba surviving the PM confirmation vote, the upcoming extraordinary Diet session, prospects for political reform, support for the AI and chip industry in the stimulus package, main opinions from the BOJ’s October monetary policy meeting, the current account surplus in the first half of 2024, and more.

The 145th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on Ishiba congratulating president-elect Trump, movements to restart policy talks on active cyber defense, the ongoing LDP-Komeito-DPFP talks, growing discontent within the LDP over the election loss, the upcoming Ishin leadership race, Kioxia’s plans for an IPO, the volatile foreign exchange market, the record-low number of newborn babies in 2024, and more.

The 144th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on the deepening Japan-EU security partnership, the latest North Korean missile launch, the results of the Lower House election, the LDP and Komeito seeking a new partner, post-election fallout in domestic politics, the BOJ’s decision to maintain rates, GOJ financial support for domestic chipmaking, record yen depreciation pace in October, the MHLW’s wage hike survey, and more.

The 143rd edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on the Japan-PRC high level maritime dialogue, progress on GCAP, the run-up to the Lower House election, a brewing new political scandal, government support for Rapidus, Japan’s nomination for ADB president, and more.

The 142nd edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on the Japanese defense minister’s first attendance at the NATO defense ministerial meeting, Japan-U.S.-ROK trilateral diplomatic engagements, the schedule for LDP discussions on the defense tax hike, the Lower House election preview, Ishiba’s meeting with families of victims abducted by North Korea, additional industry investment in Rapidus, the yen’s depreciation, Japan’s trade deficit in the first half of FY 2024, and more.

The 141st edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on new Prime Minister Ishiba’s first diplomatic visit to Southeast Asia, Foreign Minister Iwaya’s phone conference with China’s Wang Yi, Japan-U.S. defense engagements, Ishiba’s decision to dissolve the Lower House, the LDP’s decision to not endorse twelve candidates over the slush fund scandal, the Upper House by-election in Iwate, the GOJ’s latest plan to support Rapidus, the G7 Industry and Technology Ministers’ meeting, the latest Economy Watchers Survey, and more.

The 140th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on new Prime Minister Ishiba’s first diplomatic actions, his controversial “Asian NATO” idea, the Ishiba Cabinet lineup, Ishiba’s first policy speech to the Diet, Ishiba’s instructions to form a supplementary budget, SBI Holdings and Taiwan’s PSMC’s scrapping of a chip facility in Miyagi, Ishiba’s remarks over further rate hikes, the BOJ’s TANKAN, and more.

The 139th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on Prime Minister Kishida’s final diplomatic trip, Foreign Minister Kamikawa’s visit to New York, Kamikawa’s meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the JMSDF vessel navigating through the Taiwan Strait, the new CDP leadership team, additional funding for Rapidus, the GOJ’s new anti-dumping duties, average private sector salaries in 2023, and more.