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CNBC
an hour ago
- Politics
- CNBC
No swift end to US-Japan tariff dispute regardless of Japan's Prime Minister: Expert
Keio University's Tomohiko Taniguchi — also a special adviser to former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe — says the weekend Upper House election in Japan complicates tariff negotiations with the U.S., but thinks it is unlikely that Tokyo will yield to Washington's terms.
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Japan's political turmoil sparks nostalgia for Shinzo Abe
Three years after the assassination of Shinzo Abe , Japan's longest-serving prime minister, his legacy continues to cast a long shadow over a struggling ruling party and an embattled successor, fuelling a wave of public nostalgia ahead of Sunday's crucial upper house election. Abe, remembered as a polarising yet dominant figure who shaped Japan's modern conservative identity, was gunned down on July 8, 2022, while campaigning in the city of Nara. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba quietly observed this year's anniversary by laying flowers at the site of Abe's murder, in what some saw as an effort to tap into his predecessor's enduring public appeal. In Abe's hometown of Nagato in Yamaguchi prefecture, his widow Akie placed flowers on his grave, telling reporters: 'He was able to work hard for the country, feeling at ease thanks to the support he received in elections.' Japanese Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba lays flowers at a memorial for former prime minister Shinzo Abe in a cemetery in the western Japan city of Nara on Tuesday, the third anniversary of his assassination in the city. Photo: Kyodo She was joined by Sanae Takaichi, a former cabinet minister who was once widely seen as Abe's natural heir on the nationalist right. 'I feel frustrated when I hear people wondering how the world would have changed and how Japan would have been if Abe had been alive,' Takaichi said.
Tokyo Weekender
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Tokyo Weekender
Japan To Ban Foreign Tourists From Converting Driver's Licenses
In this week's news roundup we report on the revised law banning foreign tourists from converting their driver's licenses in Japan. Human rights nongovernmental organizations condemn the rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric ahead of the House of Councillors election. Donald Trump says Japan and South Korea will be hit with 25% tariffs . Mourners pray for Shinzo Abe on the third anniversary of his assassination. Two Americans are rescued on Mount Fuji before the Shizuoka trails open. And in rugby, Japan defeat Wales 24-19. List of Contents: Foreign Tourists Will No Longer Be Able To Convert Driver's Licenses The Rise in Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric Ahead of the House of Councillors Election Trump Hits Japan and South Korea With 25% Tariffs Mourners Pray for Shinzo Abe on the 3rd Anniversary of His Death Two Americans Rescued on Mount Fuji Before Shizuoka Trails Opened Japanese Players on the Move Related Posts Foreign Tourists Will No Longer Be Able To Convert Driver's Licenses in Japan From October 1 On Thursday, Japan's National Police Agency (NPA) announced that it will be implementing stricter procedures for converting foreign driver's licenses into Japanese ones. Under the new regulations, applicants must provide a valid address in Japan. Currently, foreign tourists can declare their hotel or the home of an acquaintance as their place of residence. The test on Japan's traffic rules will also become harder, increasing from 10 to 50 questions. The NPA plans to start operating the revised system from October 1, after soliciting public opinion. From that date, foreign tourists can only drive in Japan with an International Driving Permit (IDP). Drivers from countries such as China, Brazil and Vietnam that haven't signed the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic are excluded. Recent high-profile accidents caused by foreign nationals have led to growing calls for tighter regulations for foreign license conversion. In May, a Chinese man was arrested following a hit-and-run incident involving four children in Saitama Prefecture. That same month, a Peruvian man was apprehended after driving in the wrong direction on the Shin-Meishin Expressway. Original Image: Wikimedia Commons, edits TW Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric Rising Ahead of the House of Councillors Election On Tuesday, eight human rights nongovernmental organizations released a joint statement condemning the rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric ahead of the House of Councillors election. An example of this could be seen in front of JR Kakogawa Station in Hyogo Prefecture last Friday. NHK Party leader Takashi Tachibana began his stump speech by stating that he is 'afraid of foreigners.' He then added, 'It's scary when groups of Black people or people of Islamic background are gathered in front of the station.' The following day, Naoki Hyakuta, leader of the minor right-wing opposition Conservative Party of Japan, said that foreign people 'disrespect Japanese culture, ignore the rules, assault Japanese people and steal their belongings. In northern Kanto you see many towns like this that are no-go zones. If we don't do something about it; Japan's public safety will be threatened.' The right-wing populist party Sanseito, meanwhile, has been gaining a lot of attention due to its 'Japanese First' approach. The party is known for its stance against immigrants and coronavirus measures. Trump Hits Japan and South Korea With 25% Tariffs Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba described Donald Trump's letter to Japan as 'truly regrettable.' He added that his country would not waver in defending its national interests in future talks. A day earlier, the US President announced that the United States' 'reciprocal tariffs' on both Japan and South Korea would be raised to 25% effective August 1 unless they reach a trade deal. He publicly released the near-identical letters that were sent out to the two nations on Truth Social. The president concluded the letter with a warning. 'If for any reason you decide to raise your Tariffs, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added onto the 25% that we charge. Please understand that these Tariffs are necessary to correct the many years of Japan's Tariff, and Non-Tariff Policies and Trade Barriers, causing these unsustainable Trade Deficits against the United States. This Trade Deficit is a major threat to our Economy and, indeed, our National Security!' Shinzo Abe | Anthony Quintano Mourners Pray for Shinzo Abe on the 3rd Anniversary of His Death On July 8, mourners gathered in front of Kintetsu Railway's Yamato-Saidaiji Station in Nara Prefecture to pay their respects to Shinzo Abe on the third anniversary of his death. A flower stand was set up there by a local volunteer group two days earlier. 'I came with the hope that this would be the last time a politician would die during an election,' a 21-year-old student who traveled from Kyoto to the site told The Asahi Shimbun . A memorial service was also held at Choanji temple in Nagato, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Abe was gunned down while giving a stump speech. Flown to Nara Medical University Hospital, the former prime minister was pronounced dead five and a half hours after he was shot. The assassin, Tetsuya Yamagami, was quickly detained at the scene. He told investigators that he targeted Abe because of his links to the Unification Church, a religious organization that allegedly caused financial ruin for his family. The first hearing for Yamagami's trial is scheduled for October 28. According to sources , he's not planning to contest the murder charge. Two Americans Rescued on Mount Fuji Before Shizuoka Trails Opened The three trails on the Shizuoka Prefecture side of Mount Fuji opened on Thursday. Before entering, climbers must apply in advance, pay a fee of ¥4,000 and complete a short test, which covers safety issues and environmental protection. Introduced this year, it is hoped that this test will help to protect the mountain's fragile ecosystem and make accidents less likely. Unfortunately, there are still some climbers who feel they don't need to follow the rules, including two Americans who recently needed rescuing. Last Friday, a 69-year-old man fell ill while camping on the seventh station. Suffering from hypothermia, he was allegedly wearing sandals when the rescue team arrived. The following day, another American citizen needed saving. This time, it was a 59-year-old woman, who reportedly made it to the top but then got lost while making the descent. Panicking in the dark, she got through to the authorities via her cell phone provider. The rescue team managed to locate her after a three-hour search. Original Image Courtesy of JLEAGUE Japanese Players on the Move It's been a busy week of transfers for Japanese soccer players. Kota Takai completed his move from Kawasaki Frontale to Tottenham Hotspurs. Kyogo Furuhashi and Kanya Fujimoto joined Birmingham from Rennes and Gil Vicente respectively. Hayato Inamura left Albirex Niigata for Celtic. Keigo Tsunemoto signed for FC Basel from Servette. Sota Kawasaki arrived at Mainz from Kyoto Sanga. Junnosuke Suzuki left Shonan Bellmare for FC Copenhagen. And Yuki Kobayashi joined Jagiellonia Białystok from Portimonense. In women's soccer, Hikaru Kitagawa signed for Everton from Hacken. In rugby news, Japan defeated Wales 24-19 in a match played in extremely humid conditions in Kitakyushu. The away side led 19-7 at the break but wilted in the heat in the second half. Halatoa Vailea completed the comeback win for Eddie Jones' side with a 71st minute try. It was a record 18th successive Test defeat for the Welsh team. If they lose to the Brave Blossoms again on Saturday, they'll become the first tier one rugby nation in history to lose 19 successive international games. Related Posts Sanseito Leader Says 'Japanese First Approach Is Not Based on Xenophobia Nearly 500 Earthquakes Rattle Japan's Tokara Islands Taichi Kokubun of Tokio To Be Suspended for Compliance Violation
Japan Times
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Police double staff who help prevent lone-wolf attacks after 2022 Abe shooting
Japanese police have doubled their personnel who deal with cases of lone wolves, or those who conduct terrorist attacks without belonging to any organization, since former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot dead in July 2022. The assassination highlighted threats from such offenders, whose moves are difficult to detect. "We will uncover invisible enemies by gathering small pieces of information," a senior official of the National Police Agency said. Lone wolves carry out the attacks — including planning, preparations and execution — without having links to groups based on political ideology or religious beliefs. Recognizing that the assassination of Abe and a case in April 2023 of an attack on former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida were conducted by lone offenders, the NPA has strengthened cyber patrols to find threatening posts on social media and collect information about suspicious individuals. To prevent attacks by lone wolves, police must gather information without sticking to particular regions or divisions. Aiming to enhance command functions, the NPA set up in April a permanent section in charge of dealing with such offenders. Meanwhile, Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department has launched a third public security division specializing in lone-wolf investigations, while other prefectural police departments have set up specialized squads or assigned officers for such crimes. The number of police personnel across the country dealing with lone offenders has nearly doubled since the fatal shooting of the former prime minister. Under the strengthened systems, chiefs of security sections at each police station sort through small pieces of information collected by sections other than security through their regular police activities. The NPA gathers and shares such information with police departments nationwide for use in countermeasures. In May, the Tochigi Prefectural Police department found a post on social media that gave notice of an attack on an opposition party executive who planned to give street speeches in Tokyo. The NPA asked the MPD to reinforce its security and spotted the poster on the day. The Osaka prefectural police department, responsible for the area where the poster lives, contacted the perpetrator and gave a warning. With suspicious posts and possible attacks by lone wolves tending to increase during election campaign periods, the NPA has set up a temporary center to consolidate information about threats from such offenders for the July 20 Upper House election. By beefing up personnel, the NPA aims for rapid information analysis and quick responses. "If terrorist attacks occur, it means our defeat," the NPA senior official said. "By putting ourselves in the shoes of lone offenders, we will nip threats in the bud one by one."
Japan Forward
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Japan Forward
Japan Has an Army — Here's How It's Different
Does Japan Have an Army? Ask around outside Japan, and you'll get a range of answers, from "No, they're pacifist" to "Sort of?" to "Isn't it just the United States protecting them?" The confusion is understandable. Japan is the world's third-largest economy and has one of the most advanced militaries, yet its Constitution renounces war and prohibits the maintenance of land, sea, and air forces. The reality is more nuanced. Japan does have a military — a large, well-equipped one. But it operates under strict legal constraints and a different name: the Self-Defense Forces (自衛隊, Jieitai). Established in 1954 from a US-designed police reserve, the SDF is structured into Ground, Maritime, and Air branches. It exists only for self-defense, disaster response, and peacekeeping. The legal basis for this posture is Article 9 of Japan's postwar Constitution. It "forever renounces war" and declares that Japan will "never maintain" armed forces. Successive governments have interpreted this to allow the minimum necessary for self-defense. For decades, this excluded offensive weapons and overseas combat. That began to shift in 2014, when then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration interpreted the law to permit collective self-defense, supporting allies under attack. Their analysis deemed that this was possible without formally amending the Constitution. Security laws passed later, in 2015–16, allow limited use of force abroad, but only under strict conditions. Namely, Japan must face an "existential threat," and any action must be proportionate and defensive in nature. Members of the Ground Self-Defense Force fire a 155mm howitzer FH70 during the Fuji General Firepower Exercise, August 25, 2019, at the Ground Self-Defense Force Higashifuji Training Range in Shizuoka Prefecture. (©Sankei by Yosuke Hayasaka) Shaped by this "defense-only" mandate, the SDF is nevertheless a modern force. It fields advanced equipment, like F-35 fighter jets, Aegis destroyers, and PAC-3 missile systems. Also, it is acquiring long-range counterstrike capabilities. However, its mission is strictly defensive — to intercept missiles, secure sea lanes, support allied forces logistically, and respond to attacks on Japanese territory. It cannot conduct independent combat operations abroad. International deployments remain limited to peacekeeping and disaster relief. In other words, even under the authority of collective defense, the SDF's use of force is tightly restricted. For example, its support of US forces cannot include frontline combat. Any deployment abroad must be justified under Japanese law, and offensive actions remain politically sensitive. Rising threats from North Korea and China have spurred public support for changes. Japan is increasing its defense budget dramatically, with spending reaching ¥7.7 trillion JPY ($48.5 billion USD) in 2024, about 1.6% of GDP. It plans to hit 2% by 2027. The SDF is also gaining new capabilities: counterstrike missiles, integrated missile defense, cyber forces, and advanced surveillance systems. Some argue this stretches the definition of purely defensive, especially as Japan looks to deter gray zone aggression, such as cyberattacks, air and maritime incursions, before they escalate. Nevertheless, the government firmly maintains that all new capabilities are consistent with its defensive posture and deterrence strategy. While Japan maintains a quasi-alliance with Australia and various defense-related agreements with other countries, its only true alliance is with the United States. It hosts major US bases for the region, and the two work closely on missile defense and joint operations. In 2025, Japan joined a new trilateral defense dialogue with the US and Australia. Furthermore, it welcomed the creation of a Joint Operations Command with America's Indo-Pacific Command. Japan is also increasing cooperation with NATO and has taken part in joint cyber and intelligence exercises. In addition, it has contributed aid and equipment to Ukraine. These moves also reflect growing concern over China's maritime aggression and North Korea's missile and nuclear programs. Japan cites these threats in its national security strategy to enable new spending and expanded roles for the SDF. Japan's defense model is rare: a major economy with advanced military capabilities but no formal "army" and no conscription. Its 250,000 active personnel operate under civilian control and are limited to non-offensive roles abroad. In some ways, this resembles Germany's postwar military, but Japan's constitutional constraints are even tighter. These are compounded by the country's postwar nuclear allergy, which has constrained serious debate about deterrence. Japan's adherence to the Three Non-Nuclear Principles has restricted its strategic options and limited the effectiveness of US-extended nuclear deterrence. As a result, Japan's current security posture may be inadequate in the face of growing nuclear threats from China, North Korea, and Russia. A JSDF member carefully transfers a mock shell into a blast-resistant container during an unexploded ordnance disposal drill. April 2024, Naha City (©Sankei by Naoki Otake). Despite its strength, the SDF cannot legally call itself a military and remains tightly bound to a self-defense posture. That makes Japan an outlier among advanced nations, balancing modern security needs with lingering postwar pacifism. This balance is under debate. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party has long supported revising Article 9 to explicitly acknowledge the SDF. In 2024, then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's party backed a proposal to clarify the SDF's legal status. A 2025 Asahi Shimbun poll found 53% of Japanese support constitutional revision. So, Japan does have a military — powerful, professional, and evolving — but it remains legally unique. Driven by external threats and shifting public opinion, the Self-Defense Forces are growing in strength and responsibility. Yet their role is still bounded by law, politics, and history. Whether Japan's defensive creed can adapt to modern challenges without losing its identity is one of the country's defining security questions. Author: Daniel Manning
