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Japan
Kishida’s Struggle to Win Over Japan’s Conservatives
By Jio Kamata
Despite progress on key conservative priorities, the Japanese prime minister hasn’t been able to shake his liberal reputation.
After Leak, Safety Panel Urges Fukushima Nuclear Plant Operator to Communicate Better
By Mari Yamaguchi
Last week’s leak of highly radioactive water could have been prevented, experts said, urging TEPCO to “very quickly communicate to the public what happened and why.”
China’s Zombie East China Sea Policy
By Denny Roy
The decade-old approach is failing to gain any substantial benefit, while maximizing the chances of an accidental war that Beijing does not want.
The Osaka Expo Could Make or Break Nippon Ishin’s Political Future
By Jio Kamata
The success of Nippon Ishin as a national political force has originated from their effort to convince the voters of their competent governance in Osaka. The Expo is a major test.
Making the Most of Japan-US Defense Industry Cooperation
By Jonathan Dorsey and Jonathan Walker
Revamping Japan’s industrial base and beyond.
Japan’s Governing Party Is Engulfed by a Slush Fund Scandal. Will It Spur Political Reform?
By Thisanka Siripala
The government is facing intense pressure over fears of widespread corruption and financial misconduct.
Japan, Italy Agree to Further Strengthen Bilateral Defense Ties
By Takahashi Kosuke
Meeting in Tokyo, Prime Ministers Kishida Fumio and Giorgia Meloni discussed naval port calls, enlarged joint exercises, and expanded cooperation.
Japan’s Nuclear Follies
By Jeff Kingston
Nuclear energy may make sense in places where reactors can be operated safely, but Japan is a seismically active archipelago.
Leo Bosner on Japan’s Disaster Management
By Takahashi Kosuke
“Japan’s biggest problem in disaster response is not a lack of hardware, it’s a lack of planning, organizing, and interagency coordination.”
Admiral Yamamoto’s Practice for Pearl Harbor: Truth and Fiction
By Ronald Drabkin
Ahead of the surprise attack, Japanese pilots openly practiced torpedo bombing above a major Japanese city. How did it go unnoticed?
Kishida’s Unfinished Business: Political Economy of Wage Increases in Japan
By Hironori Sasada and Tadashi Iwami
The battle against wage stagnation, a key goal of Kishida’s Cabinet, cannot be won without empowering labor unions.
Jingu Gaien Redevelopment Sparks Outrage in Tokyo. Is the Backlash Too Little, Too Late?
By Paul Christensen
The Jingu Gaien construction project has sparked outcry over the loss of green space and historical sites. But other projects that operate with similar intentions passed nearly unopposed.