This Month
- 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
October 2023
The bizarre story behind Shinzo Abe’s assassination
Since the former prime minister was fatally shot, his killer’s claims about the influence of “the Moonies” cult group on Japanese politics have been substantiated.
August 2023
- Opinion
- Trade deals
High digital stakes in new China-ASEAN deal
The danger with the digital alignment between China and ASEAN is that the rules governing cross-border data movement come to be as confusing and as restrictive as Beijing’s.
- Ken Heydon
June 2023
- Opinion
- World politics
Japan’s post-war doctrine redundant in today’s Pacific
A weakened Japan cannot imagine any other option but to embrace the US, especially in dealing with China’s rising power.
- Yusuke Ishihara
May 2023
10 long reads for the weekend
Welcome to the weekend. To start off your day, we’ve curated 10 great reads to enjoy. Have a great AFR weekend.
The pacifist from Hiroshima rebuilding Japan’s defences
Doubling down on a security agenda that hawkish former leader Shinzo Abe could only dream of, Fumio Kishida is increasing military spending and concentrating on security pacts.
- Michael Smith
April 2023
Investors take fresh look at Japanese stocks but doubts persist
An equity market foreign investors have ignored since 2018 may now represent an opportunity they cannot afford to miss.
- Leo Lewis
Japan PM safe after targeted by smoke bomb
A man is in custody after throwing an apparent smoke bomb at Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
- Michael Smith
February 2023
BoJ’s new ‘dark horse’ governor sends shockwaves
Economist and academic Kazuo Ueda, a surprise appointment, will face strong market pressure to abandon the central bank’s aggressive monetary easing.
- Kana Inagaki and Leo Lewis
January 2023
- Opinion
- Monetary policy
Japan must start culling its zombie companies soon
The Bank of Japan’s decision to maintain ultra-loose monetary policy for now merely defers the euthanasia of persistently unprofitable companies.
- Leo Lewis
December 2022
Japan lawmaker says China threat calls for more military spending
Koichi Hagiuda, the LDP’s policy chief and a former industry minister, cited China’s massive increase in military spending, as well as North Korean missile tests, as reasons for Japan to raise its defence budget.
- Ben Blanchard
- Analysis
- Defence
From enemy to ally: Japan takes on new role in the region
Japan is reversing decades of postwar pacifism by partnering with former enemies, Australia and the United States, to take on new threats.
- Michael Smith
October 2022
- Analysis
- Japan
Low-inflation Japan a relative oasis in a troubled world
As global recession fears intensify, Japan’s stagnant economy increasingly looks like a haven from the world’s inflation woes.
- Michael Smith
September 2022
Japan farewells Shinzo Abe with mixed emotions
World leaders gathered for the funeral embark on a diplomatic blitz as thousands of people hold protests.
- Michael Smith
- Analysis
- Japan
Shinzo Abe’s complex legacy clouds state funeral
As Anthony Albanese and three former Australian prime ministers head to Tokyo to farewell Shinzo Abe, public opposition to the former Japanese leader’s state funeral is growing.
- Michael Smith
Morrison declines offer to attend Shinzo Abe’s state funeral
Scot Morrison, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard have declined an offer to attend the state funeral of Shinzo Abe later this month.
- Phillip Coorey
Kishida defends decision on state funeral for slain Abe
Fumio Kishida’s decision to hold the funeral on September 27, to be paid for by the state, has aroused widespread public opposition.
- Sakura Murakami and Chang-Ran Kim
- Opinion
- Inflation
Why central banks got inflation so wrong
A former Bank of Japan governor says central banks took the wrong lessons from Japan’s long-term experiment with ultra-loose monetary policy – causing them to underestimate inflation.
- Jennifer Hewett
- Opinion
- Foreign relations
Kishida navigates around Abe’s foreign policy legacy
The Japanese PM claims that his disposition in foreign policy is essentially liberal. But in practice, he looks to have inherited the conservative agenda of the late prime minister.
- Yoshihide Soeya
July 2022
Australia ‘resisted, did not provoke’ China: Morrison
The former PM says the Quad needed to show liberal democracies could deliver benefits against autocracies’ challenge to the world order.
- Andrew Tillett