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July 24, 2026
 

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Eric Johnston

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Eric Johnston
Liberal Democratic Party's policy chief Takayuki Kobayashi speaks at a ruling parties meeting in Tokyo on July 17.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics
Jul 23, 2026
Parliament extension grounds some lawmakers from overseas travel
The Lower House¡¯s rules committee turned down requests from senior Liberal Democratic Party officials so they would be available to respond to questions during the extension.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is facing growing criticism over the lack of unity between her Liberal Democratic Party and ruling coalition partner Japan Innovation Party.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics / FOCUS
Jul 22, 2026
Takaichi faces growing headache over LDP and JIP¡¯s lack of unity
Poor communication and mistrust were major sources of governance problems and parliamentary chaos that led to an extension of the current session of the Diet.
Two Ainu men sit in front of an altar during a memorial service for Ainu people killed by <i>wajin</i> (ethnic Japanese) in a 15th-century battle in Kaminokuni, Hokkaido, in 2019.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Regional Voices: Hokkaido
Jul 20, 2026
With lawsuit over remains, Ainu continue fight for cultural recognition
The Shibechari Ainu Tribe in Hokkaido hopes the lawsuit will set a legal precedent that helps address the injustices stemming from the removal of Ainu remains from their graves.
The current session of parliament has been extended for eight days through July 25.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics
Jul 17, 2026
Parliament extends current session through July 25
The extension will allow further discussion on a bill to establish the concept of a secondary capital.
A bill on establishing a backup capital clears the Lower House plenary session on Wednesday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics
Jul 16, 2026
Parliament likely to seek extension as time runs out on backup capital bill
The ruling bloc is expected to submit a request for an extension ¡ª up to 10 days ¡ª by Friday.
The 139-kilometer extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line is expected to take around 26 years to complete.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society
Jul 15, 2026
LDP and JIP decide on Kyoto route for Hokuriku Shinkansen line extension
The 139-kilometer extension, which will run through eastern Kyoto Prefecture and will have its own stop near Kyoto Station, is expected to take around 26 years to complete.
The Upper House on Monday passed a bill to establish a new disaster management agency and legislation aimed at curbing the online spread of election-related misinformation and defamation.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics
Jul 13, 2026
Upper House passes bill to set up disaster management agency
Bills aimed at curbing the spread of election-related misinformation and defamation on social media and the internet were also passed on Monday.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and the Japan Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura meet in Tokyo on Tuesday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics
Jul 8, 2026
LDP and JIP agree to delay bill to reduce Lower House seats
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and JIP chief Hirofumi Yoshimura decided to postpone debate on the bill to a later session of parliament.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attends a meeting of the Upper House audit committee in Tokyo on Monday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics
Jul 7, 2026
Controversial bills threaten to push parliament session into overtime
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is caught between honoring a promise to the Japan Innovation Party and the reality that it will be difficult to pass the bills in the Upper House.
Wind turbines generate energy from strong easterly winds on the Shonai Plain in Yamagata Prefecture. Despite the oil crisis caused by conflict near the Strait of Hormuz, and concerns instability in the region could continue to impact supply and the price of imports, the administration of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi does not seem to be drawing on the war as a pretext to hasten progress toward Japan&#039;s renewable goals.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society / FOCUS
Jul 3, 2026
51³Ô¹ÏÍø exposed, but hasn¡¯t changed, Japan¡¯s reliance on imported oil
Japan received over 93% of its oil imports through the Strait of Hormuz last year before it was effectively closed.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks at a Lower House committee session in Tokyo on June 22.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics
Jun 30, 2026
Will Takaichi invoke 60-day rule to pass controversial bills?
The ruling coalition aims to pass bills to trim Lower House seats and establish the concept of a secondary capital in the current session of parliament, which ends in three weeks.
Japan Innovation Party head Hirofumi Yoshimura speaks to the party&#039;s local members in the city of Osaka on Tuesday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics
Jun 24, 2026
Backup capital progress shows Takaichi is listening to JIP despite LDP concerns
A deal on the matter gave Takaichi the needed votes to become prime minister and form a ruling coalition.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Monday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics
Jun 23, 2026
Takaichi and JIP agree to pass bill on backup capital this parliamentary session
The Japan Innovation Party has long sought a backup capital plan, agreeing to join the ruling coalition last year in exchange for passing legislation on it.
A Lower House committee votes on a revised constitutional referendum bill in Tokyo on Thursday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics
Jun 19, 2026
Bill easing referendum procedures for constitutional amendments clears Lower House
While the bill addresses concerns about counting votes and public service announcements, the question of legislating internet and social media commercials about amendments remains.
The nonpartisan National Council discusses a consumption tax reduction in Tokyo on Wednesday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics
Jun 18, 2026
Takaichi acknowledges proposed cut of consumption tax on food to 1%
The plan has divided party members and raised concerns about its impact on financial markets.
Urea, ammonium phosphate, and potassium chloride ¡ª raw materials for chemical fertilizers ¡ª are almost entirely imported in Japan.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society / FOCUS
Jun 15, 2026
Fertilizer prices rise in Japan due to Strait of Hormuz squeeze
While shortages like those for naphtha have yet to emerge, warnings of an international shortage have been issued amid uncertainties in the Middle East.
Former Liberal Democratic Party President Yohei Kono, who had also served as Lower House speaker, during an interview in Tokyo in 2015. Kono was known as a dove in the party, and staunchly opposed revising the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics
Jun 11, 2026
Late LDP dove Yohei Kono widely known for landmark apology over ¡®comfort women¡¯
As chief cabinet secretary in 1993, he issued a statement expressing Japan¡¯s ¡°sincere apologies and remorse,¡± which sparked a domestic and international controversy.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says it is "more convenient to publicly recognize companies that cooperate" with releasing their inventory than to enforce anti-hoarding laws.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics
Jun 9, 2026
Takaichi reluctant to resolve naphtha bottleneck by enforcing laws
With naphtha-made products still in short supply, the prime minister¡¯s government is facing questions on using two laws to punish hoarders.
Japan received 93% of its oil via the Strait of Hormuz prior to the Feb. 28 start of the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society / FOCUS
Jun 5, 2026
How Japan created its naphtha supply bottleneck
With no end in sight for the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, supply chain bottlenecks for the oil-derived material are set to continue, prompting calls for government-enforced energy saving measures.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi answers a question during a House of Representatives budget committee session in Tokyo on Thursday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics
Jun 5, 2026
Takaichi still highly popular despite slide in approval ratings
The lower ratings in two of three recent media polls come amid concerns over rising prices and the availability of crude oil-derived naphtha due to the Middle East conflict.
Japan scientists identify clusters of protein believed to trigger Alzheimer¡¯s disease
A team of researchers said they found a ¡°seed¡± that accelerates the amyloid beta accumulation process in the brain, naming it ¡°Peak 1 amyloid beta,¡± as seen in a mouse&#039;s brain.
Indian brothers make manga debut in Japan
Two Indian brothers made their manga debut in Japan with "Kung Fu Kung Fool" ¡ª an action-comedy series that follows the adventures of a notorious thief and a young boy.
Japan weighs regulating Pokemon cards amid trading mania
A Pokemon event is held in Jakarta on July 11
Low-income families in Japan cut food and air conditioning during summer break
Yumiko Watanabe, the chairperson of nonprofit Kidsdoor, explains the results of a survey in Tokyo&#039;s Chiyoda Ward on July 1.
Iran strikes on CIA facilities prompt questions about possible Russian role
Iranian drones are displayed in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on Jan. 13, 2025.U.S. officials have acknowledged that Russia has ?provided targeting ?and other support for Iran in its drone strikes on U.S. targets in the Persian Gulf region.
Can Japanese comedy get laughs in English? Yoshimoto Kogyo lets the jokes rip
Wes-P has millions of followers and his viral clips made him recognizable out of Japan.
The 180-day locals: Life on Japan¡¯s digital nomad visa
Christopher Flinn works remotely from Tokyo earlier this month. Japan issued 646 digital nomad visas in 2025, but tourism officials are hoping to increase that figure in the coming years, with Japan&#039;s relatively cheap cost of living and the weak yen seen as potential draws for young professionals.
Japan reveals hint of new defense spending target in fiscal blueprint
The Self-Defense Forces&#039; Type 16 mobile combat vehicle fires during a joint live-fire drill with U.S. Marines as part of the annual Resolute Dragon exercises in Yufu, Oita Prefecture, on June 28.
Summer has arrived in Japan and so have hot sleepless nights
Amid the heat and humidity in Japan, a good night¡¯s sleep is growing increasingly elusive without the heavy use of air conditioning.
Maya Ongaku¡¯s DIY dream is getting bigger
The members of Maya Ongaku ¡ª (from left) Tsutomu Sonoda, Shoei Ikeda and Ryota Takano ¡ª grew up on the Shonan Coast south of Tokyo and have been friends since their school days.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo¡¯s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo¡¯s ¡®stadium of desire¡¯

Longform

For many people, utility poles and power lines have become such a familiar part of Japan¡¯s landscape that they often go unnoticed.
Why Japan¡¯s utility poles won¡¯t be disappearing anytime soon
By Alex K.T. Martin

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