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Tag - state-secrets-law

 
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July 24, 2026
 

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STATE SECRETS LAW

Members of the Self-Defense Forces stand in formation at Camp Asaka on Nov. 9.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Dec 27, 2024
Japan uncovers 100 new cases of mishandled security secrets at SDF
The ministry has been conducting investigations after many rule violations related to the handling of secrets were found earlier this year.
Maritime Self-Defense Chief of Staff Adm. Ryo Sakai (center) following a news conference in Tokyo on July 12
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Jul 19, 2024
Poor understanding of the law behind mishandling of secrets in MSDF
The scandal has prompted the Defense Ministry to dole out mass punishments and led to the resignation of a top officer.
Lower House Speaker Fukushiro Nukaga (center) receives a recommendation document from a parliamentary board to improve the Defense Ministry's system of handling of security secrets at parliament on Wednesday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Jul 17, 2024
Parliamentary board to seek improvements over MSDF information handling
In the scandal, many personnel not given security clearance were assigned to roles with access to confidential information.
Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said he has instructed his ministry to investigate whether or not there have been any further incidents.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics
Apr 26, 2024
Five senior SDF officers punished for mishandling secret info
They passed on secret information to personnel within their units who were not cleared to handle such data.
COMMUNITY / Issues / LAW OF THE LAND
Mar 31, 2019
Heisei¡¯s legal legacies include greater civic participation
With Emperor Akihito abdicating on April 30, the Heisei Era that began Jan. 8, 1989, after his father¡¯s death will also come to an end. With this column I¡¯d like to look back at some of the noteworthy changes that occurred to Japan¡¯s laws and legal institutions during the past three decades.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 13, 2017
Why Japan¡¯s poor media grade matters
Japan has a media problem, and it¡¯s holding back the economy and undermining Abe¡¯s goal of raising Tokyo¡¯s global status.
COMMUNITY / Issues
Dec 4, 2016
Japan¡¯s Board of Audit: unlikely guardians of the Constitution?
On Nov. 7, an annual ritual of government occurred: The Board of Audit delivered its report on the results of its audit of government accounts for the previous fiscal year (April 1, 2015, to March 31, 2016) to the Cabinet. The 1,123-page paper brick handed over to His Abe-ness identified billions of...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / COMMUNITY CHEST
Jun 29, 2016
Letters: Snowden and the sheeple; ¡®U.S. Marines culture¡¯ was once like Japan¡¯s
A couple of readers¡¯ responses to recent Community Page articles.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Jun 15, 2016
Who¡¯s watching whom in Japan? It¡¯s a state secret
Contentious law has been cited in two recent cases, including one over the mass surveillance of resident Muslims.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 11, 2016
Press freedoms under attack
Freedom of speech and of the press, a key democratic right, is increasingly under threat around the world.
EDITORIALS
Apr 9, 2016
Diet oversight of state secrets
The Diet boards trying to oversee the designation of state secrets under Shinzo Abe¡¯s new laws are running into significant problems — as expected.
EDITORIALS
Dec 14, 2015
Background check too intrusive
The background check required of people who are going to handle state secrets is overly intrusive in some areas.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 11, 2015
Secrets law, one year later
The controversial state secret law that took effect last year has already had a chilling effect on the media: no one is even talking about it anymore.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 25, 2015
Japan and the war on terror
The Abe administration must not be allowed to use ¡®the war on terror¡¯ to enact sweeping security laws.
Japan Times
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Media / BIG IN 51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Aug 1, 2015
A political turning point for Japan¡¯s youth
July 15, 2015, will go down in Japanese history. As what, though? The day democracy¡¯s decline became irreversible? Or the day democracy¡¯s decline was reversed?
EDITORIALS
Apr 4, 2015
Oversight for secrets too weak
Oversight committees are so weak they may not be able to compel the government to reverse improper designations of state secrets.
EDITORIALS
Jan 13, 2015
Launch secrecy oversight panels
The designation of some government information as ¡®secret¡¯ continues as allowed under a new law, but the sole mechanism for overseeing the process has not been launched.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Media / DARK SIDE OF THE RISING SUN
Jan 3, 2015
The biggest terrorism threat in Japan
Remember how the government said Japan needed a state secrets law to protect it from acts of terrorism?
LIFE
Dec 20, 2014
Public protest in Japan: Power to the people?
¡°Freedom of assembly and association as well as speech, press and all other forms of expression are guaranteed.¡± ¡ª Article 21, Constitution of Japan
COMMENTARY / Japan / COUNTERPOINT
Dec 13, 2014
Abe¡¯s secrets law undermines Japan¡¯s democracy
On Dec. 10, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe¡¯s new special secrets law took effect despite overwhelming public opposition.
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'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'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.
The sci-fi sensibilities of electronic trio Black Boboi
Black Boboi was formed in 2018 when solo artists Julia Shortreed, Utena Kobayashi and Ermhoi came together under Kobayashi¡¯s newly founded label, Bindividual.
A perfect storm: Kaze Fujii fans flock to Fuji Rock
Okayama-born singer-songwriter Kaze Fujii has carved out a distinctive place in Japanese pop since his major-label debut in 2019.
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'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' 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.

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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