October 2024
Japan’s new PM braces for election blow, as frustrated youngsters vent
Japanese voters headed to the polls in a snap election on Sunday that may weaken the ruling party of new prime minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Japan’s China paradox has lessons for Australia
Japan’s new prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, wants a more equal relationship with the US. That could spell trouble as Tokyo confronts the “deep threat” from China.
September 2024
‘Asian NATO’ backer to become Japan’s new PM
The country’s ruling party picked former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba as leader, setting him up to become prime minister, a move that risks irritating China.
Japan’s new ambassador has high hopes for closer ties
In an interview, Kazuhiro Suzuki says the two countries are “indispensable” to achieving peace and prosperity in a region where the shadow of China looms large.
Kishida was better on the foreign stage than at home
The outgoing Japanese PM strengthened international ties and was decisive on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, he missed the opportunity to fix the economy.
August 2024
Japanese PM quits, ending term marred by scandals
Japan will have a new leader after Fumio Kishida quit as Liberal Democratic Party head amid voter frustration over his handling of a slush-fund scandal.
July 2024
US boosts military command in Japan amid ‘provocative’ China
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin says an upgrade to the US command in Japan is “one of the most significant developments in the history of our alliance”.
Japan must strengthen NATO ties to safeguard global peace, PM says
Fumio Kishida also signalled concern over Beijing’s alleged role in aiding Moscow’s two-year-old war in Ukraine, although he did not name China.
May 2024
China hails ‘new beginning’ with US-allied South Korea, Japan
China, South Korea and Japan are trying to manage mutual distrust amid the rivalry between Beijing and Washington, and tensions over Taiwan.
China in high-stakes summit with Japan, South Korea
China and its US-allied neighbours are important trading partners to one another, and their cooperation is key to promoting regional peace and prosperity.
April 2024
Japan’s ‘cowardly’ media fails to take on corporate giants
As he leaves Japan as the AFR’s North Asia correspondent, Michael Smith reflects on a media that is often too scared to hold its government and CEOs to account.
Japan is finally waking up from its lost decades. Can it last?
The country is doing defence deals and its economy is powering up. But it has a fight on its hands to keep the momentum going given its structural challenges.
US and Japan build new Asia-Pacific defence ‘latticework’
With an eye to both China and a possible Trump presidency, Joe Biden and Fumio Kishida are writing another chapter in America’s Asian alliance architecture.
Australia, Japan, US agree to missile pact against ‘rising threats’
The three countries have agreed to co-operate on a networked air defence architecture to counter China’s aggression in the Pacific.
February 2024
Japan’s new entrepreneurs could save its economy
Today, talented young adults are more willing to risk leaving a big company, and good firms are more willing to make mid-career hires.
January 2024
Unpopular Japanese PM makes case for higher wages
Fumio Kishida underscored the need for pay rises to bolster the economy in a speech to parliament on Tuesday that laid out his agenda for the new session.
Why political leaders are so unpopular now
Politicians need to recognise that the connection between headline economic data and political support has broken. Voters are reacting to long-term decline, and are looking for fresh fixes.
Japanese plan to test missiles in Australia revealed
Defence Department confirms Australia is collaborating with Japan on long-range guided weapons.
Twin disasters add to Kishida’s challenges
Already battling a political fundraising scandal, record-low public disapproval and geopolitical risks, Japan’s PM finds himself overseeing a protracted rescue operation.
Japan makes last-ditch effort to find quake survivors
About 4600 personnel have been deployed to help in the rescue and relief efforts, but chances of finding more survivors are quickly diminishing.