Latest news with #Osaka
Japan Times
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Japan Times
DPP backers abandoned party for Sanseito in Upper House poll, analysis shows
The opposition Democratic Party for the People and Sanseito won the same number of seats in Sunday's Upper House contest —but an analysis of voter trends in both parties in the months leading up to the election indicates a significant shift by those who previously voted for the DPP to Sanseito this time. Thirteen proved to be the lucky number for both parties. The DPP went into the election contesting four seats and finishing with 17, for a total of 22 Upper House seats, including five seats not up for election. Sanseito, a populist right-wing party, increased its Upper House total from one to 14 seats. A survey conducted between February and July by the Asahi Shimbun and Asako Miura, a University of Osaka professor who has written about how psychological behavior on social media toward news spreads, showed that while the DPP increased its seat total, it lost support over the six month period as Sanseito gained more backing. The percentage of survey respondents who preferred the DPP rose from 13.7% in the February to March period to 15% in April to May but had dropped to 10.1% by July 18. The survey showed 20% of those who had said they favored the DPP in April to May later changed their preference to Sanseito. Combined with those who shifted from the DPP to other parties, the DPP ultimately lost one-third of its total support. On the other hand, the percentage of those who said they intended to vote for Sanseito stood at 1.2% in February to March, rising slightly to 1.4% in April to May. But the figure surged to 7.4% as of July 18 — a 5.3-fold increase. Half of Sanseito's increase came from those who previously supported the DPP. The decrease in support for DPP was a blow for a party that had quadrupled its seat total from seven to 28 in last October's Lower House election. The DPP currently has 27 seats in that chamber. Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki delivers a campaign speech ahead of the July 20 Upper House elections in Tokyo on July 3. | AFP-JIJI In May, however, the DPP faced criticism over the nomination of candidates for the Upper House election. Although it decided in June not to endorse certain candidates, that failed to silence the party's critics. The scandals played a role in souring views of the DPP. But voters who moved away from them also seemed attracted to Sanseito's message, the University of Osaka's Miura said. 'Many seem to have been attracted to the party's 'Japanese First' slogan,' she said. 'In fact, when asked about their impressions of the party, it was significant that those who gave it a high favorable rating mentioned this keyword more often than those who gave it a low or moderate favorable rating,' The survey also showed respondents who favored the DPP and Sanseito the most got a significant amount of news and information from YouTube and social media. They had a strong distrust of the mainstream media, government and university experts, though Miura said there was no survey data as to the specific reasons. 'However, there appears to be a high level of distrust toward established systems and authority figures in general,' she said.
RNZ News
5 hours ago
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Trump announces 'massive' Japan trade deal including 15 percent tariff
An extra edition of Japanese daily newspaper is published reporting that the United States of America and Japan had agreed on a 15 percent tariff in Osaka City. Photo: AFP / Takumi Harada US President Donald Trump has announced a "massive" trade deal with Japan, cutting a threatened 25-percent tariff to 15 percent ahead of a 1 August deadline. Trump has vowed to hit dozens of countries with punitive tariffs if they don't strike a deal with the United States by next month. So far, Trump has only announced pacts with Japan, Britain, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia, while talks continue with other trade partners. "We just completed a massive Deal with Japan, perhaps the largest Deal ever made," Trump said on his Truth Social platform. Trump said that under the deal, "Japan will invest, at my direction, $550 Billion Dollars into the United States, which will receive 90% of the Profits." He did not provide further details on the unusual investment plan, but said the deal "will create Hundreds of Thousands of Jobs." Japanese imports into the United States were already subject to a 10-percent tariff, which would have risen to 25 percent on August 1 without a deal. Duties of 25 percent on Japanese autos - an industry accounting for eight percent of Japanese jobs - were also already in place, as well as 50 percent on steel and aluminum. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Wednesday in Tokyo that the autos levy was cut to 15 percent. "We are the first (country) in the world to reduce tariffs on automobiles and auto parts, with no limits on volume," he told reporters. "We think it is a great achievement that we were able to get the largest cut (in tariffs) among countries which have trade surpluses with the US," he said. This sent Japanese auto stocks soaring on Wednesday, including Toyota which rocketed more than 12 percent. US-bound shipments of Japanese cars tumbled 26.7 percent in June, stoking fears that Japan could fall into a technical recession. Last year vehicles accounted for around 28 percent of Japan's 21.3 trillion yen (NZ$241.2 billion) of exports to the world's biggest economy. To Trump's annoyance, US-made cars sell poorly in Japan, with only hundreds sold annually for the likes of General Motors, compared to millions of Toyotas bought by US motorists. The US president also wanted Japan to increase imports of rice, the price of which has soared in recent months in the Asian giant, and of US oil and gas. But Trump said Tuesday that Japan has agreed to "open their Country to Trade including Cars and Trucks, Rice and certain other Agricultural Products, and other things". Rice imports are a sensitive issue in Japan, and Ishiba's government - which lost its upper house majority in elections on Sunday - had previously ruled out any concessions. Ishiba, whose future is uncertain following the election, said on Wednesday that the deal does not sacrifice Japan's agricultural sector. Trump has been under pressure to wrap up trade pacts after promising a flurry of deals ahead of his 1 August tariff deadline. Earlier on Tuesday, he announced a deal had been reached with the Philippines which would see the country face 19 percent tariffs on its exports. The White House also laid out details of a deal with Indonesia, which would see it ease critical mineral export restrictions and also face a 19 percent tariff, down from a threatened 32 percent. Indonesian goods deemed to have been transshipped to avoid higher duties elsewhere, however, will be tariffed at 40 percent, a US official told reporters Tuesday. After an escalatory tit-for-tat with China, the two major economies agreed to a temporary lowering of tariffs, with another round of negotiations expected next week in Stockholm. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has imposed a sweeping 10 percent tariff on allies and competitors alike, alongside steeper levels on steel, aluminum and autos. Legal challenges to Trump's non-sectoral tariffs are ongoing. - AFP
The National
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Arigato from Japan: Emirati guides win fans at Expo 2025 Osaka
Under tall columns that replicate palm trees, beaming Emirati guides invite millions of Japanese visitors to the popular UAE pavilion at the Expo 2025 Osaka. Emiratis who have mastered the Japanese language strike up long conversations with Japanese residents in Osaka that go well beyond warm greetings of konnichiwa (hello), yokoso (welcome) and arigato (thank you). The UAE pavilion at the world's fair has welcomed more than two million visitors since it opened in the Japanese port city in April. A small team of Emiratis are the driving energy behind the pavilion and represent the country as youth ambassadors through the six-month global event that ends in October. Meznah Al Ansaari, 24, said immersing herself in Japanese culture connects her with the country. She learnt the language in 2019 when she spent more than a year in Tokyo and went on to study for a bachelor's degree in international relations. 'Japanese is one of the most difficult languages in the world but very fun to learn which eases the process,' said the Emirati who graduated from Tokyo's Waseda university a few weeks before the Expo opened in Japan. 'The reason I chose Japanese is because, growing up like many Middle Eastern child, I watched a famous Japanese animation called Spacetoon. For people who want to speak on a more advanced level, I suggest a technique called immersion which is basically immersing yourself in the language through listening. One of the ways I did that was by re-watching the Spacetoon anime in Japanese.' She enjoys bringing the UAE pavilion to life by talking to visitors from all across Japan about traditional architecture, food and culture. 'This pavilion is a multisensory experience. When you enter, you see towering pillars, you also smell a pleasing scent bakhoor and smell the palm trees. You can touch sand and taste Emirati food in the restaurant. I tell people welcome, we are waiting for you.' Japanese fans The guides wear the traditional Emirati kandura or abaya and are a crowd favourite with many Japanese families asking them to be part of group photographs. Visitors are often surprised to hear Emirati guides speak fluent Japanese. They ask detailed questions about hand-carved incense burners, listen intently and ask for more information about exhibits from a black and white traditional loom to the UAE's space programme. 'I like their enthusiastic energy and confidence in speaking Japanese,' said Hayase Okuhira, an accountant from Kyoto. 'We took lots of photos with them and we do want to visit UAE now.' 'It's really cool that they are so young and speak Japanese so well,' Eri Sachi, a Tokyo mother of three. 'My children asked so many questions and they learnt a lot because the guides could explain in Japanese with so much description.' Emirati Alia Aleissaee, 29, enjoys expanding people's knowledge about the Emirates. 'When we mention the UAE, some people have an image that it's all desert, but actually we also have oases like we show in the pavilion. The theme is 'From earth to ether' and that represents how we aim for the sky while we are rooted in our culture and traditions,' said the sales engineer who works in a Japanese company in the UAE. She taught herself Japanese in the UAE and is upgrading her skills at the Expo. 'I never had the opportunity to talk with native Japanese speakers before I came to Osaka. I always wanted to live in Japan so this is a learning experience and I'm excited,' Ms Aleissaee said. 'Every day at the Expo I meet new people, learn new stories, share our culture and tradition.' Ties with Japan Many Emirati guides have deep educational ties with Japan having studied in the country. Ahmed Al Darei completed his bachelor and master's degrees at the Tokyo University of Technology. 'When I was young, I got really interested in Japanese culture, especially things connected to manga, ninja, samurai. I knew when I finished high school, I would go to Japan to study. This was my dream and I made it came true – now I'm speaking Japanese to the Japanese,' said Mr Al Darei, on a sabbatical from work at the UAE Space Agency. The question he gets asked most is about the 90 columns that replicate towering date palm trees spread across the glass-encased UAE pavilion. 'They ask, 'what is this made out of?' I tell them in Japanese how these beautiful columns are made out of date palm tree waste. I'm really lucky to be able to speak in Japanese and introduce our people, beautiful country and the amazing projects to visitors.' His advice to is for people to learn a few words of the language when visiting Japan. 'Even if you speak a little Japanese, the people are very warm and will open up to you. Start with greetings like – hello or konnechiwa and the magical thank you which is arigato. 'Learn to say your name or ask how much is this? Once the Japanese people see you are doing your best, they are happy and you will have a good time.'
Globe and Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
‘Mutually beneficial' trade deal with Japan still possible, U.S. Treasury Secretary says
A mutually beneficial U.S.-Japan tariff agreement is still possible, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Friday after meeting Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo. 'A good deal is more important than a rushed deal, and a mutually beneficial trade agreement between the United States and Japan remains within the realm of possibility,' Bessent said on social media. Bessent, the top U.S. tariff negotiator with Japan, met briefly with Ishiba as he is leading a presidential delegation to attend the U.S. National Day event on Saturday at World Expo 2025 in Osaka in western Japan. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Ishiba said he asked Bessent to continue 'active talks' with his top tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa. Akazawa, who also attended the meeting, confirmed to reporters that both sides agreed to maintain a productive dialogue. Bessent left Ishiba's office without speaking to reporters. Akazawa will receive the U.S. delegation on Saturday at Expo. Trump threatens higher tariffs on more than a dozen countries, but extends negotiating deadline Tokyo is hoping to meet an August 1 deadline to reach a deal to avert President Donald Trump's tariff of 25% on goods imports from Japan as part of the global trade shakeup he has unleashed since taking office in January. Bessent's visit comes at a delicate moment for Japan, as its fragile minority government is poised for another setback in an upper house vote on Sunday, an outcome that could complicate the tariff talks with the United States. Japan's Mainichi Shimbun daily reported on Friday evening that Akazawa has started making arrangements to visit the United States next week for further talks with Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
Japan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Japan Times
Lawyers file lawsuit to nullify Upper House election
A group of lawyers filed a lawsuit with Osaka High Court on Tuesday to nullify the results in six electoral districts, including Kyoto, Osaka and Hyogo, of Sunday's House of Councilors election, claiming that the election was unconstitutional in terms of vote-value disparities. Similar lawsuits are expected to be filed elsewhere in the country later on Monday. According to estimates by Jiji Press, the maximum vote-value disparity in the Upper House election was 3.13 times, between Fukui, which had 308,428 voters per Upper House seat, and Kanagawa, which had 965,500 voters. The figure was up from 3.03 times in the previous election three years ago. In the written complaint, the lawyers argue that the apportionment provisions for Upper House seats did not meet the constitutional requirement of population-based proportional representation. "Japan is the only major developed country that uses proportional representation not based on population," Hidetoshi Masunaga from the lawyer group told a news conference. "We hope the court will declare the election unconstitutional." In 2023, the Supreme Court deemed the disparities in the 2022 Upper House election constitutional, saying that there was not necessarily a significant expanding trend in the disparities, while noting that there had barely been concrete progress in efforts to correct them.
