Politics
Hong Kong activist Agnes Chow thanks Japanese for support
Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow, released on bail after her arrest under the new National Security Law, has thanked Japanese people for their outpouring of support, urging them to not to forget the city amid a crackdown by Beijing. Chow, 23, a fluent Japanese speaker dubbed the "goddess of… Read
Gov't appeals court order to recognize 'black rain' victims
Japan's government and the city of Hiroshima have appealed a court ruling ordering them to certify dozens of people who were exposed to radioactive “black rain” in the aftermath of the 1945 U.S. atomic bomb attack. The appeal comes after the Hiroshima District Court for the first time on July… Read
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Japan faces end of World War 2 anniversary in shadow of coronavirus
In a 4 1/2-minute radio speech on Aug 15, 1945, Emperor Hirohito announced Japan's surrender in World War Two, telling his subjects he had resolved to pave the way for peace by "enduring the unendurable". Seventy-five years later, the unresolved legacy of the conflict haunts Tokyo's ties with China and… Read
Japanese show support for Hong Kong activist Agnes Chow
People across Japan on Tuesday showed their support for Agnes Chow, the pro-democracy activist who was arrested in Hong Kong Monday night for allegedly breaching a sweeping national security law imposed by China. The hashtag #FreeAgnes was trending on Japanese Twitter in an outpouring of support for the 23-year-old, who… Read
Opposition party to split as merger talks hit impasse
Some members of Japan's Democratic Party for the People will not participate in a merger with a larger opposition party due to disagreements over policy, its leader said Tuesday. The party's leader Yuichiro Tamaki said he is among the lawmakers choosing to splinter off rather than meet up with the… Read
Suga says it is important to maintain G7 framework
Japan's top government spokesman, Yoshihide Suga, said on Tuesday it was extremely important to maintain the framework of Group of Seven (G7) meetings. The comment comes after U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that he has not decided whether to invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to this year's summit… Read
Japan's legacy of forced labor haunts ties with neighbors
For years, Yeom Chan-soon was haunted by the cracking sound of a leather belt eating into the flesh of a fellow Korean mine worker being punished for trying to escape from forced labor in Japan. That dark chapter in Japan’s history, when hundreds of thousands of people were brought from… Read
Japan signs ¥36.6 bil deal with Vietnam for 6 patrol ships
Japan has signed a 36.6 billion yen ($345 million) loan agreement with Vietnam to provide the Southeast Asian country with six patrol boats to boost its maritime law enforcement capabilities, as Beijing steps up its claims in the South China Sea. The deal comes as the United States has toughened… Read
Abe to avoid visit to Yasukuni Shrine on 75th anniversary of war's end: report
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will refrain from visiting Yasukuni Shrine for war dead on Aug 15, the 75th anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War Two, Jiji news agency said on Sunday, but will make an offering on the emotive day, as he has done in the past. The shrine,… Read
Japan unsuccessful in lifting auto tariffs early in UK trade deal
Japan and Britain agreed to lift auto tariffs for a post-Brexit trade agreement in 2026 despite Japan's push to lift the tariffs earlier, the Nikkei Asian Review reported on Sunday. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi is currently in negotiations with British Trade Minister Liz Truss in London. British Trade Minister… Read
