Japan dissolves lower house ahead of election

Japanese residents and ministers visit controversial WWII Shrine
WION - Aug 15
In Japan, several politicians and thousands of residents visited Tokyo's controversial Yasukuni shrine on the occasion of 77th anniversary of Japan's surrender which ended the 2nd World War.

Japan new cabinet has at least 20 deputies linked to Unification Church
Nikkei - Aug 14
At least 20 Japanese lawmakers appointed as deputies for cabinet members confirmed Friday that they had links to a controversial religious group, after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called for a self-check and review to appease a wary public.

Unification Church says Japan members received death threats
Japan Today - Aug 11
Unification Church followers in Japan and their families have faced harassment and death threats since the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the organization's Japanese branch said Wednesday.

Kishida enlists seasoned hands to tackle energy, defense
Nikkei - Aug 11
As Japan faces a myriad of challenges from the coronavirus to an increasingly complex security landscape, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has packed his cabinet with seasoned lawmakers who he hopes can tackle them head-on.

Japanese PM shakes up cabinet amid anger over Unification church links
theguardian.com - Aug 10
Japan’s prime minister, Fumio Kishida, has removed ministers associated with the Unification church in a cabinet reshuffle aimed at reviving his fortunes amid a public outcry over his party’s ties to the religious movement.

Nagasaki calls for peace on 77th anniversary of atomic bombing
NHK - Aug 09
People in Japan are remembering the victims of one of history's most catastrophic wartime attacks. Tuesday marks 77 years since the atomic bombing of Nagasaki during World War Two.

Support for Japan PM’s cabinet lowest since it was formed: NHK reports
brecorder.com - Aug 09
Public support for Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida slid to the lowest level since he took office last October, with voters questioning his decision to hold a state funeral for former premier Shinzo Abe, public broadcaster NHK said on Monday.

On Japan's Yonaguni island, fears of being on the front line of a Taiwan conflict
NPR - Aug 06
YONAGUNI ISLAND, Japan — For years it was known as the "Two Gun" island – one gun for each of the two policemen stationed here.

Minister denies politics played role in ex-Unification Church's name change
NHK - Aug 06
A Japanese Cabinet minister has denied that politics played any role in a decision by the government to certify the then-Unification Church's name change in 2015.

Japan to roll out Omicron-targeted COVID vaccine as early as Oct.
Kyodo - Aug 06
The Japanese government plans to roll out a new type of COVID-19 vaccine considered effective for the Omicron variant as early as October, sources familiar with the matter said Friday.

Japan's prime minister calls for 'immediate cancellation' of Chinese military drills
FRANCE 24 English - Aug 06
Japan's prime minister on Friday condemned China's firing of ballistic missiles during military drills around Taiwan, calling them a "serious problem that impacts our national security and the safety of our citizens."

Japan’s population crisis fuelled by ‘indifference and ignorance’ of male lawmakers
South China Morning Post - Aug 05
Japan’s minister for gender equality and children’s issues, Seiko Noda, said that the country’s male-dominated parliament has treated its dramatic population decline with ​​“indifference and ignorance”.

Japan: 5 Chinese ballistic missiles landed within Japan's EEZ
NHK - Aug 04
Tokyo has lodged a protest with Beijing, after multiple Chinese ballistic missiles landed within Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone, amid large-scale military drills.

Myanmar charges Japanese journalist with encouraging dissent
indiatimes.com - Aug 04
A Japanese journalist detained in Myanmar has been charged with breaching immigration law and encouraging dissent against the military, the junta said Thursday.

Japan's Diet bans new member from staying overseas during session
NHK - Aug 03
Japan's Upper House has dismissed a plan by a newly-elected opposition lawmaker to stay overseas during the extraordinary session that will open on Wednesday.

Tokyo presses Myanmar to release Japanese man detained after filming protest in Yangon
ABC News (Australia) - Aug 03
Japan has called on Myanmar's junta to release one of its citizens who was detained in Yangon after filming a demonstration. Meanwhile the country's military rulers are extending the state of emergency by another six months.