Country
Japan
Without Abe, Japan’s Conservatives Are at a Crossroads
By Jio Kamata
Throughout his political career, former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo was at the center of Japanese conservative politics. With him gone, how will the conservative movement go forward?
Japan and Russia Lock Horns Over Diplomats, Sanctions, and Rockets
By Thisanka Siripala
Relations between the two nations have reached their lowest point amid further unprecedented Japanese sanctions against Russia.
Japanese Prime Minister Orders Probe of Unification Church Problems
By Mari Yamaguchi
In an apparent move to calm continued public outrage, Kishida ordered an investigation into the Unification Church.
Japan Sees Rise in Fighter Scrambles Against Chinese Aircraft
By Kosuke Takahashi
In the first half of 2022, Japan witnessed a 14 percent increase in scrambles triggered by foreign military aircraft approaches.
How Japan Got the Pandemic Right – and Wrong
By Trevor Incerti and Hikaru Yamagishi
As Japan reopens, a look back at its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic from the beginning.
Japan Launches Third Taigei-Class Submarine for JMSDF
By Kosuke Takahashi
The newly launched Jingei SSK is expected to enter service in March 2024.
Abe Shinzo’s Political Faction to Select a New Leader
By Mina Pollmann
The former prime minister still headed up the LDP's largest legislative faction at the time of his assassination. Can the next leader keep the group intact?
Myanmar Junta Sentences Japanese Journalist to 10 Years in Prison
By Sebastian Strangio
Kubota Toru, 26, was arrested in July while photographing and filming an anti-coup protest in Yangon.
US Air Force Will Deploy MQ-9 Reapers to Japan for the First Time
By Kosuke Takahashi
Starting in late October, the USAF will station the UAVs on Kyushu, a move designed to strengthen Japan’s maritime surveillance.
North Korean Missile Overflight Drives Home Japan’s Need to Strengthen Missile Defense
By Liang Tuang Nah
With Pyongyang’s most recent missile launch over Japan, beefing up Japanese missile defense becomes a politically and economically justifiable imperative.
‘Condolence Diplomacy’ and Australia-Japan Relations
By Daisuke Akimoto
The Australia-Japan “special strategic partnership” was once again on display during former Prime Minister Abe’s funeral.
History Overshadows Japan-South Korea Rapprochement
By Kosuke Takahashi
Why are Japan and South Korea, both U.S. allies and East Asian democracies, continuously at odds over everything from their territorial dispute to wartime labor compensation?