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.
Tag Archives: North Korea
The Weekly Observer: August 2-6
Fifteenth edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the tightened COVID-19 countermeasures, policy to secure hospital beds amid a surge in coronavirus cases, latest on the vaccination drive, ASEAN-related foreign ministers’ meetings, the foreign ministry in action with South Korea and Russia, the defense ministry’s missile defense plans, the prime minister’s Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony speech, consumption expenditure in June, the LDP presidential race schedule and new candidates, a new money scandal in politics and more.
The Weekly Observer: July 26-30
Fourteenth edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the newly expanded COVID-19 state of emergency, expert predictions on the spread of the virus, AstraZeneca approval for those above forty, Japan-U.S. high-level meetings, the inaugural strategic dialogue between Japanese, American and Taiwanese lawmakers, Japanese reactions to the Russian prime minister’s visit to the Northern Territories, the IMF’s economic outlook for Japan, preparation for Lower House and LDP Presidential elections, the decision by a prosecution committee to reinvestigate ex-prime minister Abe’s cherry blossom scandal, the government’s decision to not appeal the Hiroshima “Black Rain” ruling, and more.
What Do North Korea’s Latest Moves Mean for Inter-Korean Relations?
This post will explain what led to heightened tensions between North/South Korea and what this means for reunification.
Examining Kim Jong-un’s New Year Speeches
This is a follow-up post to my article on The National Interest. In that article, I argued that regardless of COVID-19, North Korea would continue to launch missiles. This is because 1) Pyongyang uses these launches to test their missile capabilities, 2) it keeps them relevant in the world (particularly the US), and 3) theContinue reading “Examining Kim Jong-un’s New Year Speeches”
Rintaro Nishimura 