Tag Archives: COVID-19

The 48th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on the reported new security declaration between Japan and Australia, the inaugural council meeting between the LDP and Komeito on revising the three national security documents, the Japan-U.S.-ROK deputy-level trilateral next week, MOD’s plan to bolster defense, the PM’s economic policy plans, the confusion surrounding the GOJ’s investigation into the Unification Church, the LDP’s recommendations for the October comprehensive economic package, the LDP’s revision of its governance code, the yen’s historic depreciation and reported GOJ/BOJ intervention in the forex market, BOJ Governor Kuroda’s defense of monetary easing, RENGO’s target wage increase demands, September’s CPI and record trade deficit, and more.

The 47th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on the G7 condemnation of Russia’s missile attacks in Ukraine, the G7 finance ministers meeting, North Korea’s repeated missile launches, Foreign Minister Hayashi’s trip to Singapore and Malaysia, the eleven commodities proposed as critical to economic security, diplomatic exchanges with China, South Korea and Australia, the proposed “national defense” budget, the LDP-Komeito leaders’ summit, next week’s Diet Q&A with members of the Cabinet, the GOJ’s worker retraining program, the “nationwide travel support” program, further weakening of the yen, the merger of the health insurance card with the My Number Card, the Economy Watchers Survey, and more.

The 46th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on the DPRK’s missile launches, diplomacy between Japan, the U.S. and ROK in response to the launches, the Japan-U.S.-Australia defense ministers meeting, Commander Aquilino’s visit to Japan, the GOJ’s retaliatory actions against Russia for expelling its consular officer, the latest Chinese and Russian naval activities around Japan, Kishida’s policy speech to the Diet, early developments from the extraordinary session of the Diet, the GOJ’s discussions on the direction of the October comprehensive economic policy package, former PM Noda’s decision to deliver a eulogy for former PM Abe, the BOJ Tankan, GOJ efforts to encourage households and businesses to save energy in the winter, August economic indicators, and more.

The 45th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on the PM’s “funeral diplomacy,” the G7 condemnation of Russia’s illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory and Kishida’s meeting with Zelenskyy, North Korea’s four missile tests, the 50th anniversary of Japan-PRC diplomatic ties, the arrest of a Japanese consular officer in Russia, the Kishida-Harris meeting, Japan-U.S.-ROK naval exercise in the Sea of Japan, the GOJ’s guidelines for economic security policy, the first expert panel meeting to discuss Japan’s defense capabilities and budget, the first Japan-Germany air exercise, the removal of the COVID-19 testing requirement upon arrival, the comprehensive economic package, the extraordinary session of the Diet next week, the content of the PM’s policy speech next week, Abe’s state funeral, Hamada’s first meeting with Okinawa’s governor, Kuroda’s defense of the GOJ/BOJ forex market intervention last week, LNG-related developments, September’s Monthly Economic Report, and more.

The 44th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on the PM’s UN General Assembly speech, the Quad and G7 foreign ministers meetings, the first summit-level “Friends of the CTBT” meeting, the first RCEP ministerial, economic security policy, bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the UNGA, GOJ considerations to bolster defense, the announcement that Japan will further loosen its entry restrictions, Kishida’s “new capitalism” speech at the NYSE, the ¥3.5 trillion package to combat rising cost of living, the LDP’s decision to release an additional report on Unification Church ties, the security-linked land regulation act, CDP-JIP cooperation at the extraordinary session of the Diet, the GOJ/BOJ’s intervention in the forex market, the BOJ’s unscheduled bond buying operation, the BOJ’s inflation rate projections, the GDP gap for April-June, and more.

The 43rd edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on the IPEF ministerial, the G7 trade ministers’ meeting, the Japan-U.S. defense ministers meeting, the plan for a “national defense budget,” the PM and FMs schedules for diplomacy next week, the GOJ’s plan to possibly build shelters in Okinawa in anticipation of a Taiwan contingency, the removal of travel restrictions to Japan, the economic package scheduled to be finalized next month, the extraordinary session of the Diet next month, the Okinawa gubernatorial race, the reelection of Yamaguchi Natsuo as leader of Komeito, the possibility of a BOJ intervention in the foreign exchange market, METI’s human rights due diligence guidelines, possible power shortages in the winter, a record trade deficit, and more.

The 42nd edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on the Japan-India “2+2”, G7 virtual meeting on Ukraine, Japan and the U.K.’s plan to jointly develop the next-gen fighter jet, updates on IPEF ministerial, MOFA’s ODA strategy, the first senior level defense talks between Japan and the ROK, further measures to relax COVID-19 restrictions, additional measures to combat inflation, the LDP report identifying 179 lawmakers’ ties to the Unification Church, the PM’s justification for holding former PM Abe’s state funeral, the proposed schedule for an extraordinary Diet session, GOJ-BOJ concerns over the historically weakening yen, another postponement of the Rokkasho reprocessing plant’s completion, key economic indicators, and more.

The 41st edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on the naming of G7 host cities, TICAD 8, the UN NPT Conference, Japan-U.S. officials’ meetings, Japan-U.S.-ROK trilateral advisors meeting, the defense budget for FY 2023, new COVID-19 measures, the rollout of Omicron-targeting vaccines, the FY 2023 budget, the LDP’s efforts to defuse the Unification Church issue, opposition demands for a Diet session, the schedule for nationwide local elections, the FSA’s proposal to make financial literacy a national strategy, the G7 agreement to impose a cap on Russian oil imports, a very weak yen, and more.

The 40th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on the defense budget request, the upcoming IPEF meeting, the upcoming TICAD 8, Fujitsu’s quantum computer, defense upgrades in line with the budget request, Japan’s loosened border measures, new domestic COVID-19 measures, FY 2023 budget drafts, police chief’s decision to resign over the Abe assassination, the Okinawa governor’s race, the LDP’s decision to compile a report on lawmaker relationships with the Unification Church, the GOJ’s consideration of reversing its nuclear policy, energy-related developments, the Monthly Economic Report and CPI stats, and more.

The 39th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on the top Japanese and Chinese diplomats meeting, JSDF exercises, defense minister’s first calls with U.S. officials, defense updates including on the next-gen fighter jets, the National Ceremony for the War Dead, opposition demands to convene an extraordinary Diet session, the Japan Innovation Party’s leadership election, Abe’s state funeral, the GOJ’s latest COVID-19 policies, the PM’s plans to tackle inflation, METI’s FY 2023 budget request, the latest on Sakhalin-2, the CPI, trade balance, GDP recovery, and more.