Tag Archives: Elections

The Weekly Observer: July 4-8

The 36th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on former Prime Minister Abe’s assassination, latest news on the Upper House election, the G20 foreign ministers meeting, Kishida and Kishi’s calls with Biden and Austin the Japan-U.S.-South Korea trilateral foreign ministers meeting, Ukraine-related developments, Russian and Chinese naval activities around Japan, the rise in COVID-19 cases, the KDDI network outage, the record-high tax income, economic stats from this week, and more.

The Weekly Observer: June 6-10

The 35th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the North Korea’s latest missile launch, the Japan-U.S.-ROK trilateral vice ministers meeting, the scheduled Shangri-La Dialogue, Japan’s election to a non-permanent seat on the UNSC, the planned Japan-U.S.-ROK trilateral defense ministers meeting next week, the GOJ’s Basic Policy 2022, the PM’s vision for “new capitalism,” the vote of no confidence against the Kishida Cabinet, the Upper House election day, the BOJ governor’s insensitive statement, the impact of a sliding yen, the impacts of the war in Ukraine, inflation and sliding yen on the economy, Japan’s limited reopening of borders, and more.

The Weekly Observer: April 25-29

The 34th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the long holiday and COVID-19, the PM’s message to younger generations to get a booster shot, scheduled Japan-U.S. meetings next month, the Japan-Germany summit, the South Korean policy consultation delegation, the PM and FM’s trips, the LDP proposal on revising the security documents, the GOJ’s official response to inflation and rising crude oil prices, the GOJ and “New Capitalism,” the BOJ’s offer to continue buying bonds, GDP stats and inflation effects, House of Councillors election updates, the IR bid, the tour boat incident in Shiretoko, the by-election in Ishikawa, and more.

The Weekly Observer: April 18-22

The 33rd edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the GOJ’s decision to balance concerns for the “XE” strain with economic activity, GOJ plans for fourth vaccinations, the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors’ meeting, an array of Japan-U.S. engagements, the 2022 Diplomatic Bluebook, the MOFA public opinion poll on Japan’s diplomacy, the ROK delegation coming to Japan next week, planned visits to and from Japan by key ministers, the Japan-New Zealand summit, the LDP’s proposal for revising the three defense/security documents, ad regulations during a national referendum to amend the Constitution, the BOJ’s decision to buy government bonds, the trade deficit in 2021, House of Councillors election updates, METI’s plans to support the battery and material industries, the Ishikawa by-election, Wakayama’s IR bid, and more.

The Weekly Observer: April 11-15

The 32nd edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the rising number of COVID-19 cases, GOJ plans to encourage booster shots among the youth, Japan-U.S. engagements, the first Japan-Philippines “2+2” meeting, Japan’s 2021 ODA statistics, Prime Minister Kishida and Foreign Minister Hayashi’s proposed trips to Southeast Asia and Central Asia, the LDP proposal to revise the three defense/security documents, the ASDF’s 2021 scramble statistics, the LDP proposal to respond to rising cost of living, the PM’s plans for “New Capitalism,” the legislation changing the monthly lawmaker allowance, the weakening yen, electoral updates, worrying population data, possible excess COVID-19 spending, SMBC Nikko’s market manipulation scandal, and more.

The Weekly Observer: February 21-25

The 25th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the latest COVID-19 situation, Shionogi’s oral drug approval, Japan-U.S. meetings on Ukraine, the GOJ’s formal protest over a diplomat’s arrest in China, Japan and “enemy base strike capabilities”, the FY 2022 budget and the DPP, electoral strategy ahead of the summer election, the GOJ raising subsidy amounts for oil suppliers, the Emperor’s 62nd birthday address, the GOJ’s university fund, and more.

The Weekly Observer: January 31-February 4

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.

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.