Tokyo Report

The Korean Wave, or hallyu, has seen ups and downs in Japan, but could exert political influence over the long term.

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio's government plans to enact new laws to support the creation of a hydrogen supply chain.

Increasingly, many countries that have traditionally maintained a defensive and pacifist posture, like Japan, are having to reconsider their options. 

For the ninth year in a row, the budget draft set a new record for Japan’s national defense budget.

Japanese football plays a crucial supplementary role in Tokyo’s efforts to wedge itself between Southeast Asian states and China.

Aside from visits by high-ranking LDP politicians, there are equally important, if less high-profile, changes Japan can make.

The company, ispace, is one of the first private entities to attempt a moon landing. "This is the dawn of the lunar economy," its CEO declared.

The long-debated move comes alongside increased defense spending amid worries about Japan's security environment.

Kishida and the LDP may not face a national election until 2025, but the prime minister is already on shaky ground.

The Japanese defense ministry estimates that Tokyo will need to spend 48 trillion yen on defense over the next five years if it wants to achieve its security goals.

Japan is concerned about the weak yen, but its policy options for responding are limited as a global recession looms.

The Japanese prime minister held his first in-person meeting with China’s Xi Jinping, but he faces tight limits in how far he can push the relationship.