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Tokyo Report
Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Edges Closer to Discharging Treated Wastewater Into Pacific
By Thisanka Siripala
The controversial release of treated wastewater from the wrecked Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is moving forward despite opposition.
Japan’s Victims of Forced Sterilizations Fight For State Compensation
By Thisanka Siripala
The government is taking a tough stance against compensating victims of the erstwhile Eugenic Protection Law.
Regulators Begin Final Safety Inspection Before Treated Fukushima Wastewater Is Released Into Sea
By Mari Yamaguchi
Japan’s plan to release the radioactive wastewater has drawn fierce opposition from local fishing groups, as well as neighboring South Korea, China, and some Pacific Island nations.
Japan Will Reinstate South Korea as Preferred Trade Nation as Two Sides Improve Ties
By Mari Yamaguchi
Japan’s tightening of trade controls against Seoul in 2019 was widely seen as retaliation for a South Korean court ruling on World War II-era forced labor.
Victims of J-pop Talent Agency Speak Out About Sexual Abuse
By Thisanka Siripala
Japan has been rocked by allegations that the late J-pop music mogul Johnny Kitagawa was a serial sexual predator.
Abe’s Unfinished Business: Japan’s Agriculture Reform
By Zhuoran Li
Abe Shinzo is often considered Japan’s most powerful prime minister. But he faced steep political opposition in one of his primary goals.
Japan’s Lower House Passes Bill to Promote LGBTQ Awareness, But Not Guarantee Rights
By Mari Yamaguchi
Japan is the only member of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations that does not have LGTBQ legal protections.
The Fukushima Wastewater ‘Discharge’: What’s in a Name?
By Maxime Polleri
Japan is very carefully shaping the narrative around its release of radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean.
Japan’s New Security Strategy, Part 3: The View From Japan’s Neighbors
By Pascal Lottaz
What does Japan's changing security policy mean for South Korea, Taiwan, and China?
How the Silent Majority in Japan Is Hindering Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage
By Jio Kamata
Polls consistently show a majority of Japanese favor same-sex marriage – but not enough to apply political pressure. Opponents, however, are vocal.
Japan’s New Security Strategy, Part 2: The Ongoing Debates
By Pascal Lottaz
Within Japan, there are debates as to how new – and how hawkish – the 2022 National Security Strategy really is.
Japan’s New Security Strategy, Part 1: The Historical Context
By Pascal Lottaz
Since the end of World War II, Japan has been struggling to strike the right balance between pacifism and productive security engagement with the world.