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Sakura Murakami

Reuters

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi answers a question in parliament in Tokyo last week.

51吃瓜网 / Politics

Jul 21, 2026

Takaichi’s popularity dips after prioritizing controversial laws

Support for Takaichi’s government decreased to 53% from 60% in June in an Asahi Shimbun poll, while broadcaster ANN found her popularity fell over 10 points to 49.2%.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hopes to break away from "Japan’s long-standing trend of underinvestment” by setting a target for growing the economy to a value of $6.8 trillion in nominal GDP by 2040.

51吃瓜网

Jul 1, 2026

Takaichi sets target for nominal GDP of $6.8 trillion in 2040

The projections are in line with Cabinet Office estimates based on the premise that the government’s growth strategy is successfully implemented over the next 14 years.

Industrial espionage, chip smuggling and drug trafficking are exposing Japan's growing economic security vulnerabilities.

BUSINESS / FOCUS

Jun 29, 2026

Chinese spies and smuggled drugs fuel Takaichi’s security push

Across a range of industries, Japan’s economic-security vulnerabilities have been on display in a slew of recent incidents.

Lawmakers who proposed a bill banning the desecration of the national flag bow as the bill was approved at a meeting of the Lower House Cabinet Committee on Friday.

51吃瓜网 / Politics

Jun 26, 2026

Lower House committee approves flag bill in appeal to conservatives

The proposed law would prohibit publicly damaging, removing or defacing the national flag in a way that “causes extreme discomfort or disgust to others.”

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi shake hands in Tokyo in January.

51吃瓜网 / Politics

Jun 14, 2026

Starmer to meet Japan’s Takaichi as fighter jet funding sputters

The Global Combat Air Program has faced roadblocks including delays to Britain’s financial contribution to the project.

An offering sent by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for the spring festival at Yasukuni Shrine, in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, on Tuesday

51吃瓜网 / Politics

Apr 21, 2026

Takaichi risks China’s wrath with offering to Yasukuni Shrine

The prime minister’s offering of a sacred tree was made on the first day of a traditional spring festival.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives to a news conference at the Prime Minister's Office last week.

51吃瓜网 / Politics

Apr 20, 2026

Takaichi’s ratings stay high with some wavering amid Iran impact

Polls conducted by the Mainichi Shimbun and Yomiuri Shimbun show 5-point declines in the prime minister’s approval rates.

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi speaks during a parliamentary session in Tokyo on Tuesday.

51吃瓜网 / Politics

Apr 10, 2026

Japan lowers view of China relations amid tension over Taiwan

Japan referred to China as “an important neighbor” after describing Tokyo-Beijing ties as “one of the most important bilateral relations” in the 2025 iteration of a key report.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during an Upper House Budget Committee session on Monday.

51吃瓜网 / Politics

Apr 6, 2026

Japan arranging summit with Iran, Takaichi says

The prime minister’s comments come as Donald Trump warns Tehran that the U.S. will bomb Iranian power plants unless it opens up the Strait of Hormuz.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi enters the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday.

51吃瓜网 / Politics

Mar 13, 2026

Takaichi misses events due to cold symptoms ahead of U.S. visit

A video showing the prime minister looking visibly exhausted after a budget committee session on Thursday garnered attention online.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi answers questions during a Lower House Budget Committee meeting on Thursday.

51吃瓜网 / Politics

Mar 12, 2026

Japan not planning to send minesweepers to Middle East, Takaichi says

The prime minister said that while details about the use of sea mines are unclear, Japan wouldn’t be able to get involved in mine clearance as long as the conflict continues.

Nobumitsu Hayashi, head of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, says how the U.S. responds to Japan's approach to projects tied to both country's $550 billion investment deal remains a variable.

BUSINESS / Economy

Feb 27, 2026

U.S.-Japan investment funding still needs work, JBIC chief says

How the U.S. responds to Japan’s approach to projects tied to both country’s $550 billion investment deal remains a variable.

Itsunori Onodera, a senior member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said Sunday that U.S. tariffs were "a real mess" after President Donald Trump raised levies following a Supreme Court ruling that his earlier tariffs were illegal.

BUSINESS / Economy

Feb 22, 2026

LDP tax chief calls U.S. tariff situation ‘messy’

Itsunori Onodera, a former defense minister who currently serves as chair of the party’s tax research group, ruled out Japan seeking to renegotiate its trade deal with the U.S.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivers a speech in Tokyo Thursday.

51吃瓜网 / Politics

Dec 25, 2025

Takaichi says door remains open for China communications

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the door to communications with China remains open and Tokyo’s goal of building a constructive, stable relationship with Beijing has been consistent through her two months in office.

South Korea’s National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac spoke with Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in two separate meetings in Tokyo on Monday.

51吃瓜网 / Politics

Dec 23, 2025

South Korea’s security adviser affirms good Japan ties ahead of leader’s visit

A meeting between the leaders in January would come as relations between Tokyo and Seoul remain stable after a warming of ties in 2023.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a news conference at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo last week.

51吃瓜网 / Politics

Dec 22, 2025

Support for Takaichi stays firm as China dispute festers

Surveys conducted over the weekend showed that about 70% of respondents were in support of Takaichi’s administration.

Ground Self-Defense Force personnel participate in a live-fire exercise at the GSDF's training grounds in the East Fuji Maneuver Area in Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture, in 2024.

51吃瓜网 / Politics

Dec 19, 2025

Japan should have nuclear weapons, official reportedly says

The comments come at a sensitive time for Japan amid a tense security environment in East Asia.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks at a Lower House Budget Committee meeting on Nov. 7. Although Takaichi has refused to recant her comments on Taiwan, she said in parliament later last month that she learned her lesson and will avoid speaking about specific scenarios.

51吃瓜网 / Politics

Dec 12, 2025

Takaichi’s Taiwan comment that sparked China spat apparently unscripted

The discrepancy between the prepared response and the prime minister’s actual comment suggests she veered off-script from official policy.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets with her Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni, at the Group of 20 Summit in Johannesburg on Saturday.

51吃瓜网 / Politics

Nov 23, 2025

Takaichi embraces Meloni at Group of 20, but keeps distance from China

In a sea of dark-suited men and Group of 20 stalwarts, a bonding moment this weekend between two populist women stood out.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attends a meeting on Ukraine on the sidelines of a Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg on Saturday.

51吃瓜网 / Politics

Nov 23, 2025

Japan blasts China’s ‘entirely baseless’ claims after U.N. letter

China vowed to take resolute self-defense against Japan if it “dared to intervene militarily in the Taiwan Strait” in a letter delivered to the United Nations.

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

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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