Tag Archives: Security

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.

The Weekly Observer: April 4-8

The 31st edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the possible “seventh wave” of COVID-19 cases, GOJ plans to encourage booster shots among the youth, the NATO/G7 foreign ministers’ meetings, Speaker Pelosi’s postponed trip to Japan, engagements before the Japan-Philippines “2+2” meeting, LDP plans to restructure the 3 security and defense documents, the Kishida Cabinet’s first six months, the emergency stimulus package, the bill promoting economic security, opposition disunity ahead of the House of Councillors election, macro and microeconomic statistics, GOJ commitments to COVAX, the Japan Business Federation’s digitization proposal, the restructured Tokyo Stock Exchange, JCP Chairman Shii’s quote on the JSDF’s role in a crisis, and more.

The Weekly Observer: March 28-April 1

The 30th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on Omicron variant taking over Japan, a new vaccine minister, the TICAD ministerial meeting, PM Kishida and U.S. Ambassador Emanuel’s visit to Hiroshima, the 2022 Diplomatic Bluebook’s contents, the scheduled “2+2” meeting with the Philippines and India, new MOD units, the proposed economic stimulus package, legislation passed this week, HoC election updates, the ruling coalition-DPP discussion on responses to rising oil prices, the BOJ Tankan survey, new systems in place in the new FY, the BOJ’s maneuverings to manage the long-term interest rate, Bain Capital’s bid to privatize Toshiba, and more.

The Weekly Observer: March 21-25

The 29th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on Japan a week after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, a possible fourth vaccination, the G7 summit, the Japan-U.S. alliance, North Korea’s latest ICBM launch, former PM Abe’s meeting with President Tsai, the Japan-Cambodia summit, the legislation establishing security clearance, the FY 2022 budget, electoral cooperation between the opposition parties and the DPP, the extended oil supplier subsidy, the prime minister’s vision for a sustainable and resilient economy, the Monthly Economic Report, the new bill rate to promote renewable energy use, the GOJ’s first-ever power supply warning, SMBC Nikko’s market manipulation incident, and more.

The Weekly Observer: March 14-18

The 28th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the GOJ’s decision to lift all pre-emergency measures, Japan’s booster shots, the Japan-India summit, the Japan-Australia-India trilateral supply chain resilience initiative, Japan-U.S. joint exercises, North Korea’s missile test, Chinese incursions into Japanese waters, MOD’s new cyber and space units, the 89th LDP Convention, the FY 2022 budget vote, ruling and opposition parties preparing for the HoC election, progress on unfreezing the trigger clause on the gas tax, the BOJ’s monetary easing policy, latest on the Kawai bribery scandal, the earthquake, the pensioners’ cash handout, and more.