Blog
Tokyo Report
Japan Truckmaker Hino Says Emissions Data Faked for 20 years
By Yuri Kageyama
Teams that were developing engines knew they couldn't meet targets and felt so pressured they falsified test results.
Tackling Japan’s Inflation Shock
By Thisanka Siripala
Rising global energy prices are intensifying cost of living pressures and thwarting Japan’s post-COVID economic recovery.
Japan’s Record-Breaking Summer COVID-19 Surge
By Thisanka Siripala
The government has shifted its focus from prevention to priority treatment for the severely ill amid strains on the healthcare system.
Why Is Abe Shinzo’s State Funeral Stoking Controversy?
By Jio Kamata
Even in death, the former prime minister remains a polarizing figure.
Japan to Join Indonesia-Hosted Military Exercises for the First Time
By Sebastian Strangio
Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has confirmed that the Japan Self-Defense Forces will participate in next month's Garuda Shield military exercise.
What’s on the Agenda at the Japan-US ‘Economic 2+2’?
By James L. Schoff
The new forum, which expands the allies’ strategic coordination on economic issues, will have its first high-level meeting this week.
Abe Shinzo’s Towering Legacy in Africa
By Sena Voncujovi
Abe was a trailblazer in strengthening Japan-Africa relations during his tenure from 2012 to 2020. Can Kishida carry on his legacy?
Abe Leaves Behind Complex Legacy in Japan’s Neighborhood
By Hemant Adlakha
Much of the West is eulogizing the former Japanese prime minister. In China and South Korea, reactions are far less positive.
Japan Toughens Penalties for Cyberbullying
By Thisanka Siripala
The government’s crackdown on online abuse has been called out for its legal ambiguity and potential to curb freedom of expression.
Before Abe: A Brief History of Political Assassinations in Japan
By Dmitry Filippov
The assassination of a political leader in Japan is rare today, but that wasn't always the case.
Japan, South Korea Foreign Ministers Agree to Improve Ties
By Yuri Kageyama and Hyung-jin Kim
Park Jin became the first South Korean foreign minister to visit Tokyo since 2019.
Is Japan’s Postwar Pacifism Dead?
By Ulv Hanssen
Japan’s defense spending plan shows how far the state has departed from postwar pacifism.