The Noto Peninsula earthquake that struck the Noto region on New Year’s Day recorded a maximum seismic intensity of 7, causing extensive human and material damage. The following day, a tragic accident occurred on the runway of Haneda Airport, where a Japan Coast Guard aircraft carrying relief supplies for the disaster-struck area collided with a Japan Airlines plane, resulting in the death of five coast guard personnel. Amidst a turbulent start to the year, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s inadequate disaster response has rapidly drawn increasing criticism. The Political Landscape and Kishida’s Response Some LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) insiders suggested that the Noto Peninsula earthquake presented an opportunity for the Kishida...

Introduction Ibaraki Prefecture’s Tokai No.2 Nuclear Power Plant, surrounded by a population of 920,000 within a 30-kilometer radius, recently made headlines with the release of a “radiation dispersion simulation” in November last year. The simulation results have raised concerns about the preparedness and the adequacy of evacuation plans in the event of a severe nuclear incident. The Simulation and Its Implications Based on calculations by Japan Atomic Power Company, the simulation showed that in the event of a northeast wind, cities such as Mito downwind could see up to 170,000 people needing evacuation. This number surpasses the 160,000 people evacuated during the Fukushima nuclear disaster and could swell significantly when...

The Communist Party of Japan, a political mainstay for over a century, is poised for its first leadership change since 2000, with Tomoko Tamura, the 58-year-old policy chief, set to make history as the party’s first female leader. Amidst dwindling support for opposition coalitions and organizational weakening, this surprising appointment could be a strategic move to revitalize the party’s influence. Tamura’s rise to prominence was sealed at the 10th Central Committee General Assembly, where she took the helm from Kazuo Shii, the incumbent leader, to propose a draft resolution for the party’s 29th Congress in January 2024. Her powerful closing speech, echoed by the party’s newspaper, ‘Shimbun Akahata,’ marked a...

October 2023 marked a significant moment in the global defense industry with the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Industry Exhibition. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol proudly declared the nation’s transformation from a defense importer to an advanced fighter jet exporter. With ambitions to secure a 5% share in the global arms market by 2027, South Korea’s defense exports in 2022 reached approximately 2.59 trillion yen, ranking around the world’s top 10. In contrast, Japan’s approach to defense equipment transfer, as outlined in the recently approved security documents, focuses on strategic foreign policy and nurturing the defense industry’s growth. However, discussions between Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito have been...

Amidst an unrelenting disaffection towards Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, widely nicknamed ‘Tax-Hike Kishida’ on the internet, a substantial economic package exceeding 17 trillion yen was announced, aiming to counteract his image with income tax cuts. However, these tax reductions have stirred criticism not just from opposition parties but also within his own Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), leading to a further decline in cabinet approval ratings. The situation within the LDP appears especially fraught, with internal criticism hinting at a struggle for leadership ahead of a potential general election, stirring up speculations about Kishida’s successor. A critical point was the Senate plenary session on October 25th, following Kishida’s policy speech. The...

The situation in the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian territory, is deteriorating daily. In October 2023, a child died every seven minutes, a rate ten times higher than the child fatalities in the first year of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This staggering statistic paints a grim picture of what might be one of the world’s most tragic and unjust scenes. I offer an analysis and report on the current situation in Gaza, drawing from my experience in humanitarian aid in Gaza, as well as in Lebanon and Syria. Gaza City, the largest city in the Gaza Strip located in the north, is a densely populated hub of homes and shops....

In the intricate tapestry of international relations, few threads are as entangled and as enigmatic as those between Japan and North Korea. This deep dive into the veiled history of Japan-North Korea negotiations not only unveils the roots of this complex relationship but also critically examines the twists and turns it took under the administration of Shinzo Abe. We also explore the subsequent inertia in the diplomatic efforts of Fumio Kishida’s government, a legacy of his predecessor’s policies. This article sheds light on the complex historical and contemporary dynamics of Japan-North Korea relations, with a particular focus on the diplomatic strategies under Shinzo Abe and the subsequent direction under Fumio...

In the ever-evolving landscape of Japanese politics, the former Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party, Shigeru Ishiba, is garnering renewed attention. Ishiba’s blog, known for its incisive commentary, has reinvigorated his political presence, positioning him as a potential candidate for the next Prime Minister. His straightforward and unvarnished opinions have resonated with a broad spectrum of the electorate, including the non-aligned voters. Ishiba’s blog, rivaling the vigor of opposition voices, offers profound insights and critiques of the current political status quo. He fearlessly criticizes government economic policies and opposition stances, providing a unique perspective that breaks free from conventional political boundaries. Amidst the waning support for Prime Minister Kishida’s administration,...