Japanese Hawks Lifted by Donald Trump
Donald Trump’s comments about the potential need for the United States to retract its responsibility to defend Japan helps conservative Japanese politicians bolster this East Asian nation’s military posture.
Donald Trump: What’s the Rumpus?
Host Michael Penn interviews scholar Nancy Snow about the persuasive techniques of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
Japan Deepens Military Ties with the Philippines
The Republic of the Philippines is seeks and receives military aid from Japan amid rising tensions in the South China Sea.
Reporting from Kumamoto
A personal memoir of the Kumamoto earthquake, reflecting both on the challenges of one-man reporting as well as the experience of being there.
Terrorism: What’s the Rumpus?
Host Michael Penn interviews professor Christopher Hobson to discuss the concept and potential threat of terrorism.
Japanese Opposition Parties: What’s the Rumpus?
Host Michael Penn interviews Rob Fahey about the prospects for and the challenges ahead of the Japanese opposition parties, led by the Democratic Party.
Infringing the Freedom to Hate
The ruling party makes belated and unconvincing efforts to legislate against the rise of hate speech.
Red-Baiting in 2016
A recent attempt by the Liberal Democratic Party to brand the Japan Communist Party as violent has sparked a new debate on the political history of Japan, but it seems to be primarily a cynical political ploy.
Drones: What’s the Rumpus?
Host Michael Penn interviews journalist and book author Tim Hornyak and learns about the development and purposes of drones.
Shinzo Abe and the Yakuza
The crackdown on yakuza, including the group called the Kudokai, which is registered as an especially dangerous criminal gang under Japanese law, has recently reached abnormal levels. However, the fact that the Kudokai is also an organization reported to have once had connections with Shinzo Abe before he became prime minister eludes most people.