Tag Archives: Japan-U.S.

The Weekly Observer: August 15-19

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.

The Weekly Observer: July 18-22

The 38th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on the latest news about former Prime Minister Abe’s assassination, the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting, the South Korean foreign minister’s visit to Japan, the 2022 Defense White Paper, Russian and Chinese military activities around Japan, former PM Abe’s state funeral, the shortened quarantine period for “close contact” individuals, record COVID-19 numbers, the NRA’s decision to approve the water release plan at Fukushima Daiichi, the BOJ’s decision to maintain loose monetary policy, the GOJ’s economic security policy, the GOJ’s plan to avoid a winter power shortage, Japan’s tough economic situation, and more.

The Weekly Observer: July 11-15

The 37th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics. This week focuses on the aftermath of the 2022 Upper House election, former Prime Minister Abe’s assassination, Japan-U.S. finance ministers meeting, the Japan-U.S. joint exercise, PM’s vision for the near future, Abe’s legacy, the Abe faction’s regrouping, the COVID-19 “seventh wave,” TEPCO court ruling, Japan’s “embarrassing” gender gap ranking, the GOJ’s potential request to conserve gas, the Quad energy ministers meeting, economic statistics amid inflation and a historically weak yen, and more.

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.