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Tokyo Report
How Abe Shinzo Broke Japanese Politics
By Jio Kamata
With snap elections and sniping at the opposition, Abe eliminated any possible challenge. Without a viable opposition, some pursue extreme measures to bring about change.
A Look at Japan’s Latest Hydrogen Strategy
By Daisuke Akimoto
The Kishida administration last month announced its new hydrogen strategy, a key thrust in efforts to achieve decarbonization, a stable energy supply and economic growth.
IAEA Chief Visits Fukushima Before Radioactive Water Is Released
By Mari Yamaguchi
The Japanese government has been trying to gain credibility for the water release, which still faces persistent opposition in and outside Japan.
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?