WHY ARE JUNIOR LDP LAWMAKERS SUPPORTING KONO?
The presidential election of the ruling Liberal-Democratic Party (LDP) slated for September 29 will be a close race among three candidates—Taro Kono (58), incumbent minister in charge of administ…
NEW BOOK URGES JAPAN TO BOLSTER INTELLIGENCE CAPABILITIES
Japan has long been viewed as a “paradise for spies.” I am afraid it still remains so today despite some changes that have been made over the years. The US—Japan’s vital Pacific ally—ha…
HEALTH MINISTRY BLAMES HIV-TAINTED BLOOD SCANDAL FOR FAILED COVID-19 COUNTERMEASURES
I recently heard similar perturbing remarks from two different public figures concerning the reluctance of the Japanese government to approve home-made vaccines for the coronavirus. Both said the…
FALL OF AFGHANISTAN MAY PROMPT RENEWED US-CHINA COOPERATION
Virtually the whole of Afghanistan has fallen under the control of the Taliban. As Taliban forces closed in on Kabul on August 15, a succession of US military cargo aircraft departed from Hamid K…
SOUTH KOREAN MBC TV’S ASTOUNDINGLY LOW-GRADE “INVESTIGATIVE” NEWS SHOW
On August 10, South Korea’s MBC TV aired a purportedly investigative documentary with a catchy title: “PD Notebook: Shady Deals between Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) and Japan’s Rig…
