Japan's right-wing fringe is no MAGA or reform movement
But the narrative has instead been dominated by a fringe group and its chatter about the nation's growing cohort of foreign residents.
A spike in the polls for the right-wing Sanseito has alarmed mainstream parties and shifted the debate to its anti-immigration policies. Leader Sohei Kamiya denounces "globalism' and wants fewer overseas workers. The party's "Japanese First' slogan intentionally riffs on Trump. It won three seats in last year's Lower House vote and three more in Tokyo's recent assembly election.
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Kyodo News
an hour ago
- Kyodo News
Kyodo News Digest: July 18, 2025
TOKYO - The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News. ---------- Japan's core consumer prices in June rise 3.3% on year TOKYO - Japan's core consumer prices in June rose 3.3 percent from a year earlier, government data showed Friday. The increase in the nationwide consumer price index, excluding volatile fresh food, followed a 3.7 percent increase in May. The inflation data has remained at or above the Bank of Japan's 2 percent target since April 2022. ---------- Trump diagnosed with chronic vein insufficiency after leg swelling WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency after he noticed minor swelling in his lower legs, the White House said Thursday. Disclosing the diagnosis at a press briefing, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Trump recently underwent an extensive examination and it was found to be a "benign and common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70." ---------- Japan protests South Korean military drills near disputed islets TOKYO - Japan's government said Thursday it lodged a strong protest with South Korea over military drills conducted in waters near remote islets in the Sea of Japan that are controlled by Seoul but claimed by Tokyo. Masaaki Kanai, head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, told the South Korean Embassy in Tokyo that the exercises were "totally unacceptable and extremely regrettable," the government said. ---------- Japan to fund visits by Japanese descendants in Philippines in August MANILA - Second-generation descendants of Japanese nationals, who were left behind in the Philippines and have been stateless since World War II, will visit Japan next month, with the Japanese government paying for their trips, their support group said Thursday. The decision to shoulder the costs of the visits of Jose Takei, 82, and Leonora Uehara, 85, comes after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba earlier this year expressed his willingness to do so. ---------- Japan temple's foreigner-only entrance fees spark debate, criticism FUKUOKA - A temple in southwestern Japan is drawing controversy and criticism for its recent decision to charge admission only to foreign tourists, at a time when issues related to people from abroad are gaining attention in the national election. Since May, Nanzoin in Fukuoka Prefecture, known for its 41-meter-long reclining Buddha statue, has been charging foreign visitors 300 yen ($2) to enter, saying the funds are needed to address nuisance behavior. ---------- China's latest nuclear report omits radioactive material release data BEIJING - China's latest report on its atomic power industry omitted data on radioactive materials released from domestic nuclear plants, in what may be an effort to avoid figures that could undercut Beijing's opposition to the Fukushima Daiichi wastewater discharge. The move followed reports by overseas media last year that Chinese nuclear power plants in 2022 released wastewater containing tritium at levels up to nine times higher than the annual discharge limit set for the substance at Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear complex. ---------- "Demon Slayer" manga series tops 200 million copies sold worldwide TOKYO - Popular Japanese manga "Demon Slayer" has sold over 200 million copies across all 23 volumes worldwide, its publisher said Thursday, a feat achieved by only a handful of titles under its wing. The number of copies in global circulation of the hit series by Koyoharu Gotoge has hit 220 million, including digital editions, according to Shueisha Inc. Video: Parade of "yamahoko" floats at Gion Festival in Kyoto
Japan Times
an hour ago
- Japan Times
Ukraine reshuffles Cabinet with wartime economy struggling
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered the biggest government shake-up since Russia's full-scale invasion as the country faces a pressing need to find more money for its defense following failed diplomatic efforts to end the war. Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko was appointed as the new premier in a Cabinet stacked with presidential loyalists, many with experience of working with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Svyrydenko helped broker a landmark minerals deal with Washington earlier this year. Ukrainian lawmakers approved Svyrydenko's nomination and will vote on the entire Cabinet overhaul later on Thursday. Serhiy Marchenko and Andrii Sybiha were nominated to continue their roles as finance minister and the country's top diplomat. The reshuffle reflects Ukraine's effort to increase spending on its war effort and to strengthen — at times — strained relations with Trump administration. "The two main challenges are weapons and money,' said Volodymyr Fesenko, head of the Penta Research Institute in Kyiv. "How effectively the government can respond to them will largely determine whether we can withstand the Russian invasion next year.' Trump this week pledged fresh weapons supplies to Kyiv that would be paid for by NATO allies, mainly from Europe. He also threatened harsh economic penalties on Russia if President Vladimir Putin doesn't end his war within 50 days. The announcement offered hope of stronger support following a series of massive Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian cities. On Wednesday, Ukraine's parliament backed a bill amending the 2025 budget to boost defense spending by 412 billion hryvnia ($10 billion) this year. The country faces a $40 billion shortfall to cover social spending, including next year's salary and pension payments, for which it needs external financing. Svyrydenko has gained clout from previous work with the U.S., which puts her in a good position to spearhead Ukraine's drive for more economic support, Fesenko said. Zelenskyy also proposed Olha Stefanishyna as envoy to the U.S., praising her "successful work' in building ties with Washington in her role as Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration. Like Svyrydenko, she also worked on the minerals deal with the U.S. The reshuffle regroups Ukraine's arms industry under the Defense Ministry, which will now be led by former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. The newly expanded Defense Ministry remit reflects the growing importance of Ukraine's domestic arms production, which currently covers 40% of what its forces use on the battlefield. While defense procurement budget is around $12 billion, the country's industry has the capacity to produce military hardware worth three times that amount. But it lacks sufficient funding. Ukraine's domestic weapons production must increase to make up 50% of the military's equipment during the first six months of the new government, Zelenskyy said in a social media post on Wednesday. Weapons production will remain a key driver of growth, but a major challenge will be to stimulate economic growth in non-military sectors during wartime, said Olena Bilan, chief economist at the Kyiv-based investment bank Dragon Capital. "I view it positively that technocrats who have proven their effectiveness in previous roles are being promoted,' Bilan said of the government's reshuffle, pointing to the urgent need to guarantee continued external financing.
The Diplomat
2 hours ago
- The Diplomat
Trump's Tariffs and the Risk of Reverse Friendshoring
Under pressure from U.S. tariffs and protectionism, what if firms, rather than moving away from China, begin repositioning themselves closer to it? Over the past few years, the United States has embraced the concepts of nearshoring and friendshoring – relocating supply chains away from China and toward the U.S., its allies, or nearby countries. The goal was to reduce dependence on a strategic rival, strengthen domestic industry, and align supply chains with geopolitical partners. Initially, this strategy showed promise. Investments flowed into Mexico, Vietnam, and India as Washington offered incentives and business executives recalibrated risk maps. But now, with the resurgence of tariff wars and mounting protectionist pressure, especially under President Donald Trump's renewed rhetoric, this strategy faces a paradoxical risk: a reversal. In other words, what if companies begin to do the opposite of what the U.S. intended? What if firms, rather than moving away from China, begin repositioning themselves closer to it? There is a growing concern among multinationals that the U.S. market may become more volatile and less accessible if tariffs persist. If the cost of operating or exporting into the United States rises significantly, some companies might start to see Asia not only as a manufacturing base but as the main market to bet on. In this context, companies may decide to expand operations near China, taking advantage of mature supply chains and the opportunity to serve a vast, growing consumer market. Several cases already hint at this trend. One major firm that previously relied on U.S. ports to access North America shifted its operations to Canada to avoid compounded tariffs. Another company had invested heavily in Mexico as part of its strategy to reduce exposure to China. However, when Mexico was suddenly targeted by new Trump-era tariffs, the firm pivoted. Rather than using its Mexican facility to serve the U.S., it redirected its exports to Latin American and South American markets. The logic is simple: when the U.S. becomes a bottleneck, companies diversify away from it. The unintended consequence is a reverse friendshoring, one that pushes supply chains back toward Asia. This phenomenon is more than a tactical response. It could represent a structural shift in global trade. If U.S. tariffs become a long-term reality, many multinationals will strengthen their presence in Asia, including in China-adjacent economies. This would be a strategic setback for the United States, which originally aimed to 'decouple' from Chinese influence. It's worth remembering that this aggressive protectionism is not historically American. For decades, especially after World War II, the U.S. championed open markets, leading the creation of GATT, the WTO, and free trade agreements across the globe. It saw liberal trade as a source of strength and leadership. The shift toward 'America First' protectionism, especially under Trump, disrupted this legacy. And while some short-term political gains were achieved, the long-term costs, especially in credibility and stability, are becoming more visible. Protectionism may offer a temporary illusion of control, but in the long run, it risks pushing businesses away. If global firms come to see the U.S. as unpredictable or commercially hostile, they will turn to where predictability and demand still thrive. Asia, with its integrated supply chains and pro-business environments, becomes the natural alternative. But there's a deeper irony. By pushing companies back toward Asia, especially China, the U.S. may be reinforcing the very dependency it sought to undo. While relocating closer to China may offer efficiencies, it also strengthens Beijing's strategic hand. China has long made it clear: its goal is to make the world more dependent on it while reducing its own vulnerabilities. That's a dangerously asymmetric relationship. As Europe learned with Russian gas, overdependence on an authoritarian power can quickly turn into leverage used against you. This is why Southeast Asia and Central Asia are positioning themselves aggressively. Vietnam has already emerged as a winner of the China-U.S. trade war, becoming one of America's top trade surplus partners. Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia are rapidly improving infrastructure, workforce readiness, and regional trade deals like the RCEP to attract more industrial investment. Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, long dominated by Russia and China, now see an opening. By offering access to emerging supply corridors like the Trans-Caspian route, they aim to attract diversified Western investment. In short, if the United States doubles down on isolation, others will gladly step in. The global gameboard is shifting. Reverse friendshoring is no longer a hypothetical – it's a scenario being quietly sketched out in boardrooms from Singapore to São Paulo. The question is no longer whether the U.S. can bring supply chains back home. The question is: will its current posture drive them even further away?
