The 198th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on Takaichi’s Taiwan contingency comment sparking bilateral tensions with China, the G7 foreign ministerial meeting in Canada, the upcoming G20 Summit in South Africa, the LDP and Ishin’s plans to kickstart talks toward revising the three security documents, the GOJ’s growth strategy discussions, the GOJ’s proposed economic stimulus package, LDP-Ishin tensions over domestic political priorities, other working level LDP-Ishin talks, plans to add more commodities to the ESPA list, plans to abolish the single-year primary balance targets, the latest trade statistics, and more.
Tag Archives: Japan
The Weekly Observer: November 3-7
The 197th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on Takaichi’s summit calls with Zelenskyy and Meloni, Takaichi’s remarks about Taiwan, the start of discussions around flagship government policies, the LDP and Ishin’s new consultative framework, the formal agreement between ruling and opposition parties on the provisional gasoline tax rate, preparations to amend ESPA, discussions on the latest AI Basic Plan text, Takaichi’s decision to begin talks toward revising the single year primary balance surplus target, the economic conditions report for September, and more.
The Weekly Observer: October 27-31
The 196th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on Takaichi’s diplomatic debut in Southeast Asia, the first Takaichi-Trump Summit, the APEC Leaders’ Summit, sideline meetings at the respective summits, Defense Minister Koizumi’s visit to Southeast Asia, the ruling and opposition parties’ agreement on scrapping the provisional gasoline tax rate, the LDP-Ishin policy consultation framework, the Nikkei Stock Average reaching a new milestone, the Bank of Japan maintaining policy interest rates, the “revival of science” plan, economic and finance ministerial meetings with the United States and China, the GOJ’s Monthly Economic Report for October, and more.
The Weekly Observer: October 20-24
The 195th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on Takaichi’s first phone call with President Trump, preparations for Takaichi’s diplomatic debut, new personnel appointments in the national security apparatus, Takaichi’s election as Japan’s first female prime minister, the rollout of the Takaichi Cabinet, Takaichi’s first Diet policy speech, the end of the Ishiba Administration, new capital investment in domestic shipbuilding, changes in Japan’s agricultural policy, Japan’s trade balance in the first half of FY 2025, and more.
The Weekly Observer: October 13-17
The 194th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on Chinese and Taiwanese oceanographic survey vessels entering Japan’s exclusive economic zone, the GOJ mulling export of used escort ships to Southeast Asia, the LDP and Ishin’s talks to form a new coalition government, party-to-party talks ahead of the extraordinary Diet session, the G7 and G20 finance ministers and central bank governors’ meeting in Washington, D.C., IMF projections that Japan will be overtaken by India as the fourth largest economy, and more.
The Weekly Observer: October 6-10
The 193rd edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on Ishiba’s post-war anniversary message, Trump’s congratulatory social media post for Takaichi, the MOD’s contracts for long-range counterstrike missile capabilities, Takaichi’s new LDP leadership team, Komeito’s withdrawal from the ruling coalition, the ruling and opposition parties’ efforts to win the PM designation vote, policy discussions ahead of the PM vote, the expansion of dual-use export controls, the “Takaichi effect” on financial markets, the current account surplus in August, and more.
The Weekly Observer: September 29-October 3
The 192nd edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on Ishiba’s last diplomatic act, Japan’s sanctions against Iran, the Japan-U.S.-Australia trilateral military exercise, Takaichi’s victory in the LDP presidential race, ruling and opposition party policy talks ahead of the LDP election, the Nikkei Stock Average’s climb to record highs, Rapidus’s application for METI subsidies, the G20 Digital Economy Ministers’ meeting, the BOJ’s September 2025 TANKAN, and more.
The Weekly Observer: September 22-26
The 191st edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on Ishiba’s UN speech, the U.S. tariffs on pharmaceuticals, Japan exploring participation in the Ukraine drone coalition, the LDP presidential election, the GOJ’s plans for rare earths drilling, METI Minister Muto’s visit to Malaysia for ASEAN-related meetings, real wages statistics, and more.
The Weekly Observer: September 15-19
The 190th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on Ishiba’s last diplomatic visit, the Trump Administration’s reduced auto tariff rate kicking in, defense expert panel proposals to fundamentally reinforce capabilities, the upcoming LDP presidential election, political maneuvering by both ruling and opposition parties to shape economic policy, the Nikkei 225 hitting new heights, the BOJ maintaining policy interest rates, the new Japan-EU battery supply chain partnership, the GOJ’s draft cybersecurity guidelines, MOFA appointing a new representative to the WTO, the August trade balance, and more.
The Weekly Observer: September 8-12
The 189th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on prospects for an Alaskan LNG deal, Japan’s defense ties with regional partners, additional sanctions on Russia, the establishment of a new GCAP consortium, Prime Minister Ishiba’s resignation, opposition demands for an extraordinary Diet session, the draft Basic AI Plan, the Board of Audit’s cybersecurity assessment report, the Japan-U.S. finance ministers’ meeting, August’s Economy Watchers Survey, and more.
Rintaro Nishimura 