Tokyo Review
Politics
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Leading from the Kantei: Japan and the Quad
On Tuesday, October 6, Japan will be hosting the second Australia-India-Japan-U.S. “quad” foreign ministers’ meeting in Tokyo against the backdrop of rapidly...
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5.9KThe Abe – Trump Bromance: Not a Question of Wins and Losses
Former prime minister Abe Shinzo’s relationship with Donald Trump has been dissected in terms of its “wins” and “losses” but the only way...
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The Future of Japan’s Defense Is More Complicated than it Looks
The threat of ballistic missile attacks from North Korea and the increasing Chinese incursions into the Diaoyu / Senkaku Islands has reignited debate on...
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Abe’s Resignation and Japan’s New Normal
After eight years in office – the longest tenure in Japanese history, Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has dominated national elections, commanded overwhelming...
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How Maritime Realism Explains Japanese Security Policy
The ongoing global health crisis has placed economic resilience at the center stage of national strategy. At the same time, Japan’s own...
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Can Japan Weather a China-U.S. Cold War?
The smartest thing Henry Kissinger wrote was that, in describing the Soviet Union and United States during the Cold War, “The superpowers...
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Japan Can’t Count on a Return to Normal in the U.S. Election
It’s almost impossible for Japanese observers to follow a presidential election in the United States without feeling that they have a stake...
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8.5KTokyo’s 2020 Election Devolves into Circus
Celebrity wannabes and influencers are treating Tokyo’s election as a cheap way to market themselves - and their antics are drowning out...
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ISDS: A Litmus Test for Japan’s Liberal Leadership
If the acronym “ISDS” sounds familiar, it probably strikes a negative connotation. Investor-state dispute settlement mechanisms are legal provisions in investment treaties...
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5.6KAbe Shinzo Enters the Polling Danger Zone
Public discontent has driven support for Abe's cabinet below 30% - but in the absence of a challenger, the Prime Minister's position...
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16.6KTime to Give Japan Credit for its COVID-19 Response
While other nations are praised for controlling the virus, Japan's low COVID-19 death toll is often treated as a mystery at best,...
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6.4KCOVID-19, Collective Action, and Japan’s Constitution
Claims that Japan's Constitution forbids a strict lockdown are simply untrue - and such falsehoods provide support for the LDP's revision agenda.