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.
Tag Archives: Elections
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.
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.
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.
Rintaro Nishimura 