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Tokyo Report

December 18, 2020
Japan-South Korea: The Limits of Outreach Without Trust
By Kimura Kan
Recent diplomatic activity on the Korean side will only go so far in rebuilding relations.

December 16, 2020
Masks Key to Keeping Japan’s COVID-19 Caseload Low
By Associated Press
Mask wearing and voluntary compliance with social distancing helped Japan avoid a full lockdown. But with cases climbing again, will Tokyo’s approach hold?

December 16, 2020
Tokyo Games Relay Opens in 100 Days With 10,000 Torchbearers
By Associated Press
Even after a year-long delay, there are questions about the safety of the massive relay effort – not to mention the Olympic Games themselves.

December 06, 2020
A Test of Japan–South Korea Relations
By Shin Kawashima
If the FOIP strategy is to succeed, the two countries have some work to do.

December 05, 2020
Japan’s COVID-19 Spike Raises Alarm for Elderly and At-Risk Groups
By Thisanka Siripala
The controversial “Go To” domestic tourism subsidy has come under the microscope for possibly facilitating the nation’s explosion of coronavirus cases.

December 05, 2020
Japan Spacecraft Approaches Earth to Drop Asteroid Samples
By Associated Press
The Hayabusa2’s samples are due to arrive home on Sunday, after a year-long journey back from the asteroid Ryugu.

November 25, 2020
Japan’s ‘Misunderstanding’ About a Biden Administration
By Shin Kawashima
Japan retains some lingering perceptions of Democratic Party policies on China.

November 25, 2020
Ex-PM Abe’s Office Investigated Over Cherry Blossom Party Scandal
By Associated Press
A scandal from 2018 continues to dog the former Japanese prime minister.

November 20, 2020
A Missing Piece in Japan’s Cyber Defense
By Eugenio Benincasa
The case for a government process handling “zero day” vulnerability disclosure in Japan.

November 18, 2020
Australia, Japan to Bolster Defense Ties Amid China’s Rise
By Associated Press
The two nations share dovetailing concerns about Beijing's growing assertiveness in the South and East China Seas.

November 17, 2020
How Will Japan Reach Its Landmark Zero-Carbon Goal?
By Thisanka Siripala
Decarbonization usually means boosting renewable energy, but Japan is also looking to push nuclear energy.

November 17, 2020
Assessing the Japan-UK Economic Partnership Agreement
By Michito Tsuruoka
Trade and beyond