Visible Minorities: Gaijin Card Reader App Obliterates Privacy
Violations of the privacy rights of Japan’s foreign residents are routine, and the new Gaijin Card reader app could make things much worse.
Questioning Victoria’s Brown Hydrogen Development
Australia’s investment in brown hydrogen is facing criticism from some environmentalists due to its alleged cost ineffectiveness and negative impacts on the fight against climate change.
Candidate Disqualifications Shape Iranian Presidential Race
The next Iranian presidential election is set to take place on June 18—this Friday—and more than ever, politicians and analysts have been expressing opinions about republicanism and the crucial role of people in the electoral process.
Playful Pup Prevents Pandemic Panic
Taiwan’s pandemic success is faltering, but the Health Ministry’s spokesdog can do no wrong.
Cash Incentives for Covid Tests
The government of Victoria, Australia, is offering a cash incentive of A$450 (US$348) for workers who undergo Covid testing. With my health and the money in mind, I went to get tested under this program.
Working Timeline of the Moritomo Gakuen Scandal
The Moritomo Gakuen school affair was the first of the major scandals that shook the government of Shinzo Abe beginning in February 2017. This a working timeline which the Shingetsu News Agency intends to fill out and update in the weeks and months ahead.
Bread & Roses: Overhaul Japan’s Immigration System
During a May 30 demonstration in front of central Tokyo’s JR Takadanobaba Station, my labor union, Tozen Union, called upon the Japanese government to overhaul its immigration system and to protect the human rights of foreigners.
Mythbusting Japan’s Low Poverty Rate
Although Japan is commonly thought to have one of the lowest poverty rates among G7 nations, the actual figures tell a different story, puncturing a myth that remains dear to some Japanese conservatives and other observers.
Human Rights Watch Slams “Abusive” Japan Transgender Law
Human Rights Watch has released a 43-page report that urges the Japanese government to revise what activists and experts call an “outdated” and “abusive” transgender recognition law.
Debating Marijuana Laws in Japan
While some voices are calling on Japan to consider the legalization of marijuana use, the government is currently weighing legislation to tighten the criminalization approach, even as it contemplates the possibility of more complex policies.