CRUSHING DEFEAT POSSIBLE FOR RULING PARTY IN UPPER HOUSE ELECTION THIS SUMMER
The triennial election for the Upper House slated for July 10 ought to be a major concern for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. A total of 125 of the chamber’s 248 seats will be contested. If his rul…
ADOPTIONS FROM FORMER ROYAL HOUSEHOLDS WOULD STABILIZE IMPERIAL SUCCESSION
Japan must ready itself for an increasingly harsher international environment in 2022, the fourth year of Reiwa. In China, Xi Jinping will go all out to solidify his position as a lifetime empero…
FAMILY NURTURED LEGENDARY PATRIOT SHOIN YOSHIDA
On a recent lecture trip to Yamaguchi Prefecture, I came across a rare copy of The Thought and Life of Shoin Yoshida, which I found deeply moving. Published by a local bank in 1969 as part of its…
WILL KISHIDA PURSUE CHANCY PRO-CHINA FACTIONAL POLICY?
It is far too early to give an evaluation of the administration of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. However, its future already appears more than a little uncertain due to the indecisive and appeasi…
ABE’S TAIWAN WARNING ROCKS BEIJING
“I happened to have a meal with three gentlemen yesterday. They were all in great spirits and that made me very happy.” So remarked former prime minister Shinzo Abe on December 3 as he ap…
