Political Pulse
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Opposition Seeks Quick Political Fix Via Tax Cuts; History Shows This Tactic Does Not Always Work
As the House of Councillors election approaches this summer, the debate over a consumption tax cu...
June 14, 2025
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2025 Expo ‘a Mirror of the Times’ That Highlights International Affairs
More than 50 days have passed since the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo began. Exhibits that evoke the fut...
June 7, 2025
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Armitage Strengthened Japan-U.S. Alliance; Late Statesman Saw Great Potential of Bilateral Ties
This spring, Japan and the Japan-U.S. alliance lost a pillar of support when former U.S. Deputy S...
May 31, 2025
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Japan Games Organizers Propose Major Reforms; Demography, Infrastructure Challenge Sports Festival
The Japan Sport Association (JSPO) convened an expert panel to discuss the future of the Japan Ga...
May 24, 2025
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Inflation Fires Up Populism, Erodes Political Stability; Rising Food Prices Bode Ill for Incumbent Government
Over 100 years ago in Japan, a shortage of rice and a steep rise in its price caused a great upro...
May 17, 2025
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Do You Have ‘Negative Literacy’ for This Digital Era? Tolerating Uncertainty Builds Resistance to Fake Data
Don’t understand something? Look it up yourself.
In school, students are taught that it i...
May 10, 2025
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Ishiba’s Political Fate Tied to Tariff Talks’ Outcome; For LDP, Upper House Election Also Hangs in Balance
In early April, when U.S. President Donald Trump announced he would impose a 10% tariff on almost...
May 3, 2025
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Japan-U.S. Talks May Foreshadow Global Economic Future; Trump’s Views on Tariffs, Trade Seem Stuck in Past
U.S. President Donald Trump is significantly trying to rewrite the rules of postwar international...
April 26, 2025
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Ishiba Should Let Bureaucrats Help Deal with Trump; President is Unpredictable; Diplomacy Not PM’s Forte
U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs have caused chaos around the world. Japan, an ally of the U...
April 19, 2025
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Students Develop Local Products; Learn About SDGs; Sustainability, Responsible Consumption Among Themes
You have probably heard the term SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). You may even recall specif...
April 12, 2025
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Will Japan’s Next Prime Minister Come from outside the LDP?
A crisis looms for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
In the House of Representatives electio...
April 5, 2025
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‘High-Value Guests’ May be Key to Sustainable Tourism; Big Spenders More Easily Accommodated than Big Crowds
The number of visitors to Japan in 2024 was 36.87 million, nearly 5 million more than the 31.88 m...
March 29, 2025
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‘Deliberative’ Diet Session a Debacle for Ishiba Cabinet; Ruling, Opposition Sides Both Shirking Responsibility
The atmosphere was far from uplifting when the Liberal Democratic Party held its annual conventio...
March 22, 2025
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Can Expo Show Bright Future and Recognize Dark Present? Event May Offer Chances for Dialogue Amid Intl Conflict
On April 13, the Osaka-Kansai Expo will begin a six-month run on Yumeshima, an artificial island ...
March 15, 2025
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Japan Must Stand Up for the Rule of Law; Trump Steering U.S. Away from This Key Value
On Feb. 24, the three-year anniversary of the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a...
March 8, 2025
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