Speakeasy: The Massive Explosion in Beirut, Lebanon
This SNA Speakeasy features May Shigenobu on the theme of “The Massive Explosion in Beirut, Lebanon”
Pacific Sogo Bribery Case Potentially Major Political Scandal
An ongoing corruption probe into a group of pan-Green and pan-Blue politicians accused of taking bribes in a case related to the ownership of the Pacific Sogo department store chain has the potential to be a major scandal faced by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and for the Tsai Ing-wen administration.
Abe Maintains Do-Nothing Policy on Covid Second Wave
A roundup of the most significant news stories from Japan reported in the last half of July 2020.
Speakeasy: Security Implications of the Japan Space Program
This SNA Speakeasy features Kazuto Suzuki on the theme of “Security Implications of the Japan Space Program”
The Political Parody of Mad Amano
Japanese parodist Mad Amano explains the purpose of political parody and describes Shinzo Abe’s efforts to suppress his work.
Taiwan Mayoral Candidate Hit by Plagiarism Scandal
New Bloom (Taipei) — Nationalist Party (KMT) Kaohsiung mayoral by-election candidate, Jane Lee, also known as Li Mei-jhen, has come under public scrutiny after accusations that she plagiarized her master’s thesis. Lee’s master’s degree was from National Sun Yat-sen University and she currently serves as
Speakeasy: Covid Countermeasures and Japanese Politics
This SNA Speakeasy features Koichi Nakano on the theme of “Covid Countermeasures and Japanese Politics.”
Local Politicians Scheme Sex Trade Zone for Conservative Taiwanese County
Changhua is a county of contradictions. It’s Taiwan’s largest by population but doesn’t have a single department store. It’s full of farms and conservative values, and will also be home to Taiwan’s only legal red-light district if local councilors get their way.
Aegis Ashore and Japan’s Defense Policy Dysfunction
On June 15, Defense Minister Taro Kono announced a suspension of the deployment of the Aegis Ashore missile interception system—a suspension that ten days later became a cancellation. The progression from deciding to deploy Aegis Ashore, to cancelling it, to considering alternatives, reveals policy formation fraught with dysfunction.
Visible Minorities: A Despotic Bridge Too Far
How bad does it have to get? I’m talking about Japan’s cruelty and meanness towards its Non-Japanese residents. How bad before people think to step in and stop it? With Covid-19, we might have an answer.