September
‘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.
- Alastair Gale and Yuki Hagiwara
- Exclusive
- Asia-Pacific
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.
- James Curran
- Opinion
- World politics
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.
- Shiro Armstrong
August
- Updated
- World politics
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.
- Updated
- Tim Kelly and Sakura Murakami
July
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”.
- Updated
- Mari Yamaguchi
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.
- Yukiko Toyoda and John Geddie
May
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.
- Hyonhee Shin
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.
- Soo-Hyang Choi and Yoshiaki Nohara
April
- Opinion
- AUKUS
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.
- Updated
- Michael Smith
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.
- Updated
- Michael Smith
- Analysis
- Analysis
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.
- James Curran
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.
- Updated
- Matthew Cranston
February
- Opinion
- East Asia Forum
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.
- Richard Katz
January
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.
- Isabel Reynolds
- Opinion
- World politics
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.
- Updated
- Ruchir Sharma
Japanese plan to test missiles in Australia revealed
Defence Department confirms Australia is collaborating with Japan on long-range guided weapons.
- Updated
- Andrew Tillett
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.
- Isabel Reynolds
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.
- Jon Herskovitz and Mia Glass
Japan quake survivors face freezing rain, threat of landslides
Heavy rains were forecast in the quake-hit areas on Wednesday, raising fears of landslides, in what could further hinder efforts to free many more trapped under rubble.
- Kiyoshi Takenaka and Sakura Murakami
December 2023
- Analysis
- Trade wars
‘Third World’: Why locals don’t share investor enthusiasm for Japan
Japan is enjoying an investment and tourism boom, but many ordinary Japanese are struggling to make ends meet.
- Updated
- Michael Smith