The veiled cause of Abe's legislative predicament
The national debate over the security bills as been limited to constitutional issues but it should also focus on Japan's significantly enhanced responsibilities in the U.S. defense guidelines.
Should SEALDs student activists worry about not getting hired?
Japanese labor law effectively allows companies to discriminate against prospective employees based on their beliefs.
Thousands protest Abe, security bills at Diet rally
In one of the strongest signs of public frustration over controversial security bills likely to be passed by lawmakers next month, thousands of people surrounded the Diet building Sunday afternoon to protest their enactment and call for the resignation of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Organized ...
SEALDs student group reinvigorates Japan's anti-war protest movement
Wearing shorts and a baggy T-shirt and clutching a microphone, Aki Okuda stands before a crowd, the pyramid-shaped roof of the Diet building lit up against the night sky behind him. "No War," "Protect the Constitution," "Abe — Quit!," he chants in a hip-hop rhythm, ...
Students launch hunger strike to protest security bills
Sitting upright across from the Diet building, the protesters say they know their fight against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government is going to take a heavy toll on them. But they say they have to do it nonetheless. Determined to foil an attempt to bulldoze ...
Japanese voters need to punish politicians who ignore the Constitution, but first a viable alternative to the LDP must be established.
Nakatani defends Joint Staff security bills document
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani admitted Wednesday that the ministry's Joint Staff Office created an internal document in late May about expanding overseas operations of the Self-Defense Forces, based on the assumption that security legislation currently under debate in the Upper House would be enacted. Nakatani, ...
Myanmar ruling party leaders to meet Monday before parliamentary showdown
Myanmar's ruling party has called a hastily arranged leadership meeting on Monday to prepare for a showdown with their ousted party chairman in parliament this week, two senior party members said on Sunday. Rivalry between two of Myanmar's most powerful establishment figures — party chairman ...
Survey finds 44% in Japan view Abe war statement positively; Cabinet support rises
Around 44 percent of Japanese voters have a favorable view of the prime minister's statement on the 70th anniversary of World War II's end, according to a Kyodo News poll.
Japanese young people are becoming passionate about the importance of constitutionalism, democracy and human rights, in sharp contrast with the usual stereotype of passive, disinterested youths stuck in front of their video games.
Abe is wrong to rush toward militarization
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's push to militarization could have dangerous unforeseen consequences for peace in the Asia-Pacific region.
Abe's nationalism reflected in conservative political movement, but polls show voter dissent
The hot political season is back as the nation observes Aug. 15, which is always an emotional date as it marks Japan's surrender in World War II — and this year is the 70th anniversary of that fateful event.
