Politics
U.S. State Department OKs possible $23 bil sale of F-35s to Japan
The U.S. State Department says it has approved the possible sale of 105 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets to Japan at an estimated cost of $23 billion. The Japanese request included 63 F-35A and 42 F-35B aircraft, 110 Pratt and Whitney F135 engines, and related equipment, it said, and implementation… Read
U.S. envoy, after Seoul visit, reassures Japan of alliance
A U.S. envoy reassured top Japanese officials Friday of the importance of their alliance in dealing with regional security threats, just as the North Korean leader's sister expressed low expectations of a summit between her brother and President Donald Trump this year. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun is… Read
Abe, Australian PM discuss China, Hong Kong in virtual summit
Japan and Australia expressed "grave concern" Thursday about China's imposition of a national security law on Hong Kong, saying the region's autonomy has been eroded. During their first virtual summit, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison agreed that the two nations will step up preparations… Read
European Parliament urges Japan to revamp child custody rules
The European Parliament adopted a resolution Wednesday urging Japan to improve its child custody rules, under which European parents in Japan have little recourse in the event of domestic child abduction by a Japanese spouse. Members of the parliament are "concerned over the high number of parental child abduction cases… Read
Koike urged to take lead in raising women representation in politics
Now that Yuriko Koike, the first female governor of Tokyo, has won re-election in a landslide, gender experts hope she will take the lead in better reflecting women's views in government and increasing female representation in Japan's male-dominated politics. Given that coronavirus and the postponed Olympics and Paralympics were the… Read
Japan's ruling party calls for government to cancel Xi visit
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling party adopted a resolution on Tuesday urging the government to cancel a visit to Japan by Chinese President Xi Jinping following Beijing's imposition of a new national security law for Hong Kong. "Under the current situation where grave concerns have been expressed from the… Read
Koike may shoot for premiership after Tokyo Olympics
The re-election of Tokyo Gov Yuriko Koike may provide short-term relief to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, with the shared goal of a successful Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics next year holding the longtime rivals together. Koike is expected to play it safe as she enters her four-year second-term, and continue to… Read
U.S. deputy secretary of state to visit Japan this week
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun will visit Japan this week to hold discussions with senior government officials on North Korea and the China-Hong Kong situation, the Foreign Ministry said Monday. Biegun will go to South Korea on Tuesday before arriving in Japan on Thursday for a two-day stay… Read
Koike, Abe say they'll cooperate on virus, Olympics
Tokyo Gov Yuriko Koike and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed Monday to cooperate on handling the coronavirus outbreak to safely hold the Olympics next year. Koike met with Abe a day after she won her second term representing the Japanese capital in an overwhelming election victory buoyed by public support… Read
Koike wins 2nd term as Tokyo governor
Tokyo Gov Yuriko Koike has won a second term to head the Japanese capital, propelled to an election victory Sunday by public support for her handling of the coronavirus crisis despite a recent rise in infections that has raised concerns of a resurgence of the disease. In her victory speech,… Read
