Death Toll Mounts in Iran Protests
Demonstrations against Iran’s authoritarian regime have continued for nearly two months in spite of the rising number of people killed by state forces and the Iranian parliament’s recent vote to execute protesters.
Tag Archives: Norway
Japan Travel Ban Still Putting Lives on Hold
Despite the drastic decrease of new Covid cases in recent weeks and more than two-thirds of the population having become fully vaccinated, the Japanese government has still given no explanation why it is continuing to refuse to let international students and some foreign workers back into the country.
European Union Sets Standard for Vaccination Passports
The European Union (EU) is preparing to launch its own vaccination passport system on July 1, while many other nations are considering similar initiatives.
Bold Steps Needed for Post-Covid Relations Between Japan and the Russian Far East
A promising trend in relations between Japan and the Russian Far East has been put on ice by the coronavirus pandemic. As soon as the health emergency is under control, Tokyo should be bold in resuming ties with the region that is Japan’s closest geographic neighbor.
The Abe Climate COP Out
A roundup of the most significant news stories from Japan reported in the first half of December 2019.
Japan’s Drug War: The Case of Ingrid Martinussen
On November 20, 2019, Tokyo police arrested a drug suspect. This time it was a 32-year-old Norwegian university student named Ingrid Martinussen, who is autistic. This case is a crystal clear example of Japan’s irrational approach to its war on drugs and of a legal system which has spun out of control.
Resumption of Commercial Whaling May Bring an End to the Industry
For the first time in 31 years, commercial whaling boats have returned to the Japanese ports with their first catch of minke whales, having set out on July 1. While conservationists around the world are appalled by the apparent revival of the industry, a lack of demand for the meat it produces may, in fact, lead to its ultimate demise.
LDP Strikes Out in House of Representatives By-Elections
A roundup of the most significant news stories from Japan reported on April 22, 2019.
Worker-Led Solutions for Anime and Manga Industry Labor Exploitation
Labor exploitation has reached epidemic proportions within both the anime and manga industries, and it may require bold—indeed radical—measures to truly address the roots of the problem.
Shinzo Abe’s “Way Forward” Is Step Backwards Towards Whaling
The Abe administration has called for the end of the whaling ban imposed by the International Whaling Commission in 1986. Instead, the government has proposed its “Way Forward” initiative, hoping to gain the support of other pro-whaling nations. A meeting taking place in Brazil this week will be discussing this topic with member states.
