NDI Warns of Japan Risk from US-China War
New Diplomacy Initiative (NDI), Japan’s only progressive think tank, has issued its latest report on Japanese foreign and domestic affairs, and the challenges the world faces in the coming decades.
Anti-Vax Olympians Sending Unwelcome Message
For most of the world, the Olympic Games serve as a point for celebration and national unity. This time, however, many Japanese are gripped by worries about how the Games may serve to intensify the pandemic, and the fact that some of these athletes are promoting anti-vaccination ideology only deepens these concerns.
The Olympics as a Nationalist Loyalty Test
Sports fans around the planet are beginning to sit around their televisions to watch the world’s greatest athletes compete head-to-head in Japan’s capital. However, as the Olympic Games launch, the linkages between this international sports event and nationalism must be discussed, especially in the context of promoting a vibrant culture of democracy.
Visible Minorities: The Tokyo Olympics Trap
On the eve of the Tokyo Olympics, let’s talk about the mess, both its impact on our minorities and the International Olympic Committee’s responsibility for scamming Japan.
Hunger Killing More People Than Covid
As many as eleven people around the world are dying of hunger and malnutrition every minute—outpacing Covid deaths—according to a report published Friday by the international charity Oxfam.
Bicycle Delivery Service Workers Left Out In the Cold
While bicycle delivery services have become an integral part of Japan’s human infrastructure amidst the Covid pandemic, Japan’s estimated 90,000 bicycle delivery workers have been left with few labor protections while performing a sometimes dangerous job.
Japan Poised to Benefit From Restoration of Iran Nuclear Deal
Even during the Trump administration, when the United States withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions, Japan has maintained cordial relations with the Persian Gulf nation. Should the nuclear agreement be reestablished in the coming weeks or months, Japanese firms are particularly well-positioned for investments and other economic links in the new era.
Bread & Roses: Should Progressives Celebrate Ibuski’s Hero Award?
On July 1, the US State Department cited Attorney Shoichi Ibuski as one of seven heroes in its 2021 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report for his long years of work fighting for the rights of foreign workers caught up in Japan’s technical intern program.
Explained! Nippon Kaigi
This video in our Explained! series presents an overview of Nippon Kaigi, a Japanese rightwing organization with strong links to the government.
The Gender of Japanese Poverty
Japan is increasingly struggling with income inequality and poverty, but the burden is not shared equally between the genders; impoverished women suffer the most.