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Tokyo Report
Japan’s Police Struggle to Curb a Sharp Increase in Cannabis Use
By Thisanka Siripala
Despite harsh laws, celebrities embroiled in high-profile marijuana convictions highlight a new generation of social acceptance.
Is Human Trafficking in Japan Coming to an End?
By Thisanka Siripala
Pressure from the international community prompts a look at Japan’s prevention and eradication measures.
Japan Arrests 7 Chinese Suspects in Record Drug Smuggling Bust
By Mari Yamaguchi
In just one seizure, Japanese authorities found enough drugs to match the usual annual total.
Japan’s Peacebuilding Prowess: The Case of Marawi City
By Mark Manantan and Dahlia Simangan
It’s time for a new brand of diplomacy for Japan’s new era. Rebuilding Marawi in the Philippines is a good place to start.
Violent Stabbing Spree Near Tokyo Targets Elementary School Girls, Wounding Scores
By Thisanka Siripala
A mass stabbing at a bus stop in west Tokyo leaves Japan reeling.
High-Profile Pedestrian Fatalities Point Finger at Japan’s Aging Drivers
By Thisanka Siripala
A series of deadly car mishaps across Japan aims a spotlight at elderly drivers and inconsistent road safety policies.
US, Japan Downplay Differences During Trump's State Visit
By Daniel Hurst
North Korea, trade, and Iran all remain points of potential friction, but Trump-Abe bonhomie was the center of the trip.
Urban Leaders Gather in Tokyo to Urge Climate Action
By Daniel Hurst
30 mayors and governors from around the world asked Prime Minister Abe to prioritize climate change at the June G-20 summit.
Trump and Abe: The Odd Couple
By Weston S. Konishi
There's a clear strategic rationale for Abe's over-the-top efforts to cultivate a relationship with Trump.
The Heisei Paradox: Emperor Akihito and Japan’s Nationalist Regression
By Edward Danks
The paradox of a pacifist emperor amid rising nationalism politically is likely to continue in the Reiwa era.
Japan’s Once Powerful Criminal Underworld Hits Record Low Membership
By Thisanka Siripala
Hit hard by police crackdowns and aging, the number of people leaving Japan’s yakuza has reached a 15-year high.
Living History: Ushering in the New Imperial Era in Japan
By Spencer Cohen
The view from the crowd that gathered in early May to celebrate the rise of a new emperor.