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.
Tag Archives: Politics
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 (BREAK)
Information about the break I will be taking from the newsletter. I will be back for week May 16-20.
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: 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.
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.
The Weekly Observer: July 19-23
Thirteenth edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the spread of the “delta” variant, government efforts to resolve vaccine shortages, the Japan-U.S.-ROK deputy-level meeting, Japan-ROK relations, the opposition demands for out-of-session examinations, draft of the 2030 energy mix, the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, preparation for Lower House and LDP Presidential election, and more.