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Tokyo Report
October 24, 2022
Japan’s Ruling Coalition Debates Future Defense Policies
By Mina Pollmann
The LDP and its junior coalition party, Komeito, are at odds over issues like Japan's counterstrike capability and defense budget increases.
October 19, 2022
Without Abe, Japan’s Conservatives Are at a Crossroads
By Jio Kamata
Throughout his political career, former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo was at the center of Japanese conservative politics. With him gone, how will the conservative movement go forward?
October 18, 2022
Japan and Russia Lock Horns Over Diplomats, Sanctions, and Rockets
By Thisanka Siripala
Relations between the two nations have reached their lowest point amid further unprecedented Japanese sanctions against Russia.
October 17, 2022
Japanese Prime Minister Orders Probe of Unification Church Problems
By Mari Yamaguchi
In an apparent move to calm continued public outrage, Kishida ordered an investigation into the Unification Church.
October 14, 2022
Japan Sees Rise in Fighter Scrambles Against Chinese Aircraft
By Kosuke Takahashi
In the first half of 2022, Japan witnessed a 14 percent increase in scrambles triggered by foreign military aircraft approaches.
October 12, 2022
Japan and Taiwan, 50 Years Later
By KAWASHIMA Shin
It is 50 years since Japan and Taiwan broke off diplomatic relations.
October 08, 2022
Abe Shinzo’s Political Faction to Select a New Leader
By Mina Pollmann
The former prime minister still headed up the LDP's largest legislative faction at the time of his assassination. Can the next leader keep the group intact?
October 07, 2022
Taiwan and the ‘Origin’ of the Normalization of China-Japan Relations
By KAWASHIMA Shin and KAWASHIMA Shin
Why the current issues in the relationship can be traced to the 1970s.
October 05, 2022
‘Condolence Diplomacy’ and Australia-Japan Relations
By Daisuke Akimoto
The Australia-Japan “special strategic partnership” was once again on display during former Prime Minister Abe’s funeral.
September 29, 2022
History Overshadows Japan-South Korea Rapprochement
By Kosuke Takahashi
Why are Japan and South Korea, both U.S. allies and East Asian democracies, continuously at odds over everything from their territorial dispute to wartime labor compensation?
September 27, 2022
Abe’s Militaristic Funeral Captures Japan’s Internal Divisions
By Foster Klug
20,000 police officers and more than 1,000 soldiers were on patrol as thousands of protesters took to the streets.
September 27, 2022
The Mixed Legacy of Abe Shinzo’s ‘Panoramic’ Foreign Policy
By Rena Sasaki
Abe’s state funeral is a farewell for his all-encompassing diplomatic approach as Japan transitions toward a more values-based foreign policy.