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Tokyo Report
Intensifying China-US Rivalry Imperils the ‘Yoshida Doctrine’
By Jio Kamata
Yoshida wanted to retain historical ties with China and obtain security guarantees from the U.S. That balance looks increasingly unlikely today.
Fukushima Nuclear Plant to Start Releasing Treated Radioactive Wastewater Into Pacific Ocean
By Mari Yamaguchi
The release of treated but still radioactive water could start as early as Thursday, despite opposition at home and abroad.
How Will China’s Rare Earth Export Controls Impact Japan?
By Nicolas Velez
Access to gallium, in particular, is crucial for Japan’s defense and energy priorities.
India and Japan: Connecting the Connectivities in the Bay of Bengal
By Titli Basu
Can Japan emulate its success story of Southeast Asian economic corridors in the Bay of Bengal?
Growing Japan-Italy Ties Emphasize Tokyo’s Pressing Need for Assistance
By Mark S. Cogan
The European nation forms an increasingly important part of Japan's goal of consolidating its security cooperation with like-minded Western nations.
Former Japan PM’s ‘Resolve to Fight’ Remark Over Taiwan Causes Ripples at Home and Abroad
By Takahashi Kosuke
Aso Taro, currently the VP of Japan’s ruling party, stoked controversy by calling for Japan to show “strong deterrence” at a forum in Taipei.
Osaka 2025 World Expo Plagued by Rising Costs and Construction Delays
By Thisanka Siripala
The Osaka World Expo is rushing to prevent an exodus of international participants as construction costs surge.
The Case for a More Autonomous Japanese Foreign Policy
By Jio Kamata
A recent report by a group of Japanese foreign policy researchers calls for diplomacy at a time when few seem to understand its value.
Typhoon Khanun Forecast to Turn Back to Southern Japanese Islands
By Mari Yamaguchi
The typhoon already injured 41 people and knocked out power for nearly a third of homes on Okinawa. Now it’s expected to return.
With Visits to Sri Lanka, Maldives, Japan Seeks to Shore up Indian Ocean Presence
By Mina Pollmann
Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa visited the Indian Ocean island states in his latest foreign tour.
Japan’s LGBTQ Community Battles Tradition and Ultraconservative Politics
By Thisanka Siripala
Securing legal protections for sexual minorities is agonizingly slow in a country playing catch-up.
With Eyes on Taiwan, Okinawan Islands Seek Shelter
By Mina Pollmann
As tensions around Taiwan increase, remote Okinawan islands look to prepare for a possible conflict by investing in evacuation shelters and other defensive infrastructure.