The 27th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the new guidelines for lifting the COVID-19 pre-emergency measures, the GOJ’s push for a fourth vaccination, the latest plan to admit up to 100,000 foreign students in May, PM Kishida’s phone talks with ROK President Yoon, special envoy Abe’s trip to Malaysia, the PM’s statement regarding nuclear sharing with the U.S., Russia’s naval pressure near Japanese waters and North Korea’s latest missile test, the DPP’s counter-bill to the economic security legislation, LDP-Komeito endorsements in the HoC election, Komeito supporting unfreezing the trigger clause, a plethora of economic stats, super cities, 11 years since the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, gender equality in Japan, and more.
Tag Archives: Tokyo
The Weekly Observer: February 28-March 4
The 26th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the re-extended COVID-19 pre-emergency measures, the GOJ’s push for booster vaccination, the GOJ raising the daily entry cap to 7,000, U.S. reactions to GOJ measures against Russia, Japan-Ukraine summit, former PM Abe’s statement regarding nuclear sharing with the U.S., North Korea’s latest missile test, Diet resolutions condemning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, new GOJ measures to suppress rising oil and gas prices, ruling coalition and DPP talks on unfreezing the trigger clause, February’s Consumer Confidence Survey, LDP-DPP talks on reforming the Lower House electoral system, Japanese companies halting production in Russia, Sony-Honda partnership to develop EVs, and more.
The Weekly Observer: February 21-25
The 25th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the latest COVID-19 situation, Shionogi’s oral drug approval, Japan-U.S. meetings on Ukraine, the GOJ’s formal protest over a diplomat’s arrest in China, Japan and “enemy base strike capabilities”, the FY 2022 budget and the DPP, electoral strategy ahead of the summer election, the GOJ raising subsidy amounts for oil suppliers, the Emperor’s 62nd birthday address, the GOJ’s university fund, and more.
The Weekly Observer: February 14-18
The 24th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the GOJ’s decision to extend pre-emergency measures in 17 prefectures, the GOJ’s vaccine distribution plan, the decision to raise the daily cap on entry to Japan, the latest on Japan’s response to the situation in Ukraine, the Japan-U.S.-ROK trilateral foreign ministers’ meeting, the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting over the weekend, Japan and “enemy base strike capabilities”, the FY 2022 budget vote, economic statistics, the yen’s weakening external purchasing power, rising oil prices, METI’s human rights guidelines, and more.
The Weekly Observer: February 7-11
The 23rd edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the GOJ’s decision to extend pre-emergency measures, the Pfizer pill approval, the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, U.S. tariff removal on Japanese aluminum, Japan-U.S. joint exercises, the Ukraine situation and energy policy, Taiwan’s removal of the Fukushima food ban, the Japan-U.S.-ROK Defense Ministers’ Meeting, the BOJ’s temporary bond buying program, the three-step implementation of the economic security bill, GOJ measures to keep oil prices in control, the LDP proposal to strengthen measures against human rights violations, the scandal that threatens to derail the economic security bill, and more.
The Weekly Observer: January 31-February 4
The 22nd edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the COVID-19 situation, Rahm Emanuel’s meeting with the prime minister and foreign minister, a host of bilateral and trilateral meetings with the U.S. and South Korea, Japan’s possible role in the Ukraine situation, Japan’s response to North Korea’s frequent missile tests, the Diet resolution on human rights, the economic security bill draft, tensions among ruling and opposition parties ahead of the summer election, former Tokyo governor Ishihara’s death, five ex-PMs’ controversial anti-nuclear letter to the EU, Japan-ROK tensions over a UNESCO heritage site recommendation, and more.
The Weekly Observer: October 18-22
The 21st edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the House of Representatives election, Rahm Emanuel’s nomination hearing for the ambassadorship to Japan, an annual poll on Japan-China relations, North Korea and China’s military advancements, the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, the Kishida Cabinet’s response to rising oil prices, Japan’s latest climate change response plan, the G7 Trade Ministers’ Meeting, September trade statistics, an ex-justice minister’s prison sentence, and more.
The Weekly Observer: October 11-15
The 20th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the impending House of Representatives election, Prime Minister Kishida’s Diet battles, the LDP and CDP’s campaign manifestos, Kishida’s other policy actions, the Cabinet’s first diplomatic phone calls, TSMC’s first chip plant in Japan, Nippon Steel’s lawsuit against Toyota and Baoshan, and more.
The Weekly Observer: September 6-10
The 19th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the extended COVID-19 state of emergency, updates on quarantine requirements for vaccinated travelers, Suga’s scheduled visit to the U.S. for the Quad summit, Japan’s Afghanistan response, HMS Queen Elizabeth’s port call to Japan, the FY 2022 budget request, economic indicators of the week, Prime Minister Suga’s reflection of the past year, updates to the LDP presidential candidate profiles, the opposition policy agreement between four parties, an ex-official’s prison sentence over the casino bribery scandal, and more.
The Weekly Observer: August 30-September 3
The 18th edition of the weekly newsletter aggregating news on Japanese politics! This week focuses on the improving COVID-19 case numbers, updates on the vaccination drive, John Kerry’s trip to Japan, the SDF’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Japan Pacific Islands Defense Dialogue, opposition demands for an extraordinary Diet session, the FY 2022 budget request, Prime Minister Suga’s decision to nor run for reelection, a timeline of developments regarding the LDP presidential and House of Representatives elections, a profile on the potential candidates replacing Suga, opposition plans to retake the Lower House, Kishida’s coronavirus policies, the inauguration of Suga’s Digital Agency, and more.
Rintaro Nishimura 