North Korea Signals Interest in Building Tokyo Ties
North Korea has been clearly signaling an interest in improving relations with Japan, although there remain far more questions than answers.
Tag Archives: New Years
Visible Minorities: Positive Steps for Non-Japanese
This month’s column will offer my impressions about how much Japan has changed regarding the issues that have always been on my radar screen—society’s openness to newcomers. On that score, I have some positive developments to report.
Bread & Roses: Same Work, Same Pay, Same Scam
The Supreme Court ruled in three separate cases that Japan Post illegally discriminated against its contingent employees in comparison with its regular staff. At first glance, this seems a victory for workers that will raise all boats, but a closer look suggests it’s part of a design to sink all boats.
Bread & Roses: Scenes from a Coronavirus Crisis Village
The coronavirus continues to rampage through society, but 2021 has begun. Unnoticed by some, several coronavirus crisis villages (sodan mura) sprang up around Japan’s capital city in recent weeks. The pandemic has devastated people’s livelihoods as well as public health.
Taiwan’s President Tsai Sworn in for Second Term
The second inauguration ceremony for President Tsai Ing-wen was held today, marking the start of Tsai’s second term as president after her January 2020 election victory.
Covid-19 Mismanagement Puts Abe Regime on the Ropes
A roundup of the most significant news stories from Japan reported in the last half of February 2020.
Bread & Roses: Warm Meals to Tackle Poverty in Japan
When did poverty become normal? Conventional wisdom had it that poverty didn’t exist in Japan; that the miracle recovery during the country’s rapid growth period had given birth to a middle class of 100 million people.
Ghosn Unchained
A roundup of the most significant news stories from Japan reported in the first half of January 2020.
Ghosn Lawyer Takashi Takano on Japan’s Legal Injustice
Carlos Ghosn defense lawyer Takashi Takano has written a blog post in Japanese language, dated January 4, expressing his outrage at the prosecution of his client Carlos Ghosn.
Shinzo Abe’s Diplomatic Isolation on North Korea
As anticipation builds up for a second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, now expected to take place in late February, another closely interested figure is sitting out cold on the sidelines—Shinzo Abe.
