Japan eyes 'quasi-refugee' status for people fleeing conflicts
PM Kishida says envisioned system would not discriminate against certain countries
Nikkei -- Apr 17
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Saturday the government is considering creating a more loosely defined refugee category to accept people fleeing conflicts in light of the humanitarian crisis stemming from Russia's war in Ukraine.
"The Justice Ministry is considering a system for accepting people as refugee equivalents from a humanitarian standpoint even if they do not fall under" the 1951 refugee convention, Kishida said at a meeting in Niigata.
The prime minister stressed the envisioned system would not discriminate against certain countries, adding that Japan will strive to do its work in accordance with the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.
Japan has accepted more than 500 evacuees fleeing the war in Ukraine since it began in late February.
India, Japan must be included as permanent members in UN Security Council: Bhutan Foreign Minister
devdiscourse.com - Sep 27
Supporting India's bid for permanent membership at the UN Security Council, Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji has said that Bhutan continues to believe that in a reformed Council, India and Japan must be included as permanent members as well as members from the African Union.
People who qualify will be able to live and work as long-term residents
Nikkei - Sep 27
Japan will introduce in December a new designation for people fleeing conflicts like the war in Ukraine, the government decided Tuesday, allowing them to live and work in the country as long-term residents.
Japan's new economic stimulus package unveiled
NHK - Sep 26
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has mapped out a new economic stimulus package partly in response to the continued high cost of living. Kishida revealed the outline on Monday evening.
US Ambassador to Japan calls Chinese ban on Japanese seafood 'economic coercion'
republicworld.com - Sep 23
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel accused China on Friday of using "economic coercion" against Japan by banning imports of Japanese seafood in response to the release of treated wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean, while Chinese boats continue to fish off Japan's coasts.
Japanese lawmaker's comment on Ainu people judged as human rights violation
NHK - Sep 21
Japanese legal authorities have acknowledged that a lawmaker of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party violated human rights by posting a discriminatory comment about the country's indigenous Ainu people.
Ex-lawmaker GaaSyy pleads guilty to intimidation, apologizes
NHK - Sep 20
YouTuber and former Japanese lawmaker GaaSyy has pleaded guilty to habitual intimidation of people online and other charges.
Why does the Japanese left hate Nippon Ishin so much?
The Diplomat - Sep 19
In a competitive democracy, it is common for an up-and-coming political party to be attacked by the party in power, out of fear of being supplanted, but also by the bulk of the opposition parties, concerned that they will be pushed aside into obscurity.
So many women, so little time for Japan's economic patriarchy
forbes.com - Sep 19
The biggest surprise of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s latest cabinet reshuffle is his sudden embrace of “womenomics.”
Japan: Cancer patients continue fight against TEPCO over Fukushima radiation
Al Jazeera - Sep 18
Demonstrators have rallied outside a Tokyo court demanding justice for cancer patients suing - Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) - the operator of the damaged Fukushima Nuclear Plant.
North Korea fires two ballistic missiles with leader Kim away in Russia
malaysianow.com - Sep 13
North Korea fired two ballistic missiles off its east coast, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Japanese Coast Guard said on Wednesday, just hours before leader Kim Jong Un was expected to meet President Vladimir Putin in Russia.
Japan replaces foreign, defence ministers in major reshuffle
CNA - Sep 13
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida replaced his defence and foreign ministers on Wednesday (Sep 13), while increasing the number of women in the cabinet, in a major reshuffle.
Japan PM to replace foreign and defence ministers in cabinet reshuffle
Reuters - Sep 12
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to replace his foreign and defence ministers, public broadcaster NHK reported on the eve of a planned cabinet reshuffle, as the beleaguered premier looks to boost his sagging popularity.
G20 Summit 2023: Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Briefs the Media
Firstpost - Sep 12
As G20 Summit 2023 concludes, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida gives a press briefing.
Japan's FM Hayashi meets Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
NHK - Sep 10
The Japanese foreign minister has told the Ukrainian president that people from the public and private sectors in Japan will support the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Chinese Net users hail 'No Japanese Allowed' restaurant, clashing with authorities
News On Japan - Sep 08
Chinese internet users have rallied behind a yakiniku restaurant in Dalian, Liaoning Province, China, after it was ordered by authorities to remove a sign saying, "No Japanese Allowed."
Japan's ex-vice foreign minister arrested over suspected bribery
Nikkei - Sep 07
Tokyo prosecutors arrested lower house member and former parliamentary vice foreign minister Masatoshi Akimoto on Thursday on suspicion of receiving 61 million yen ($410,000) in bribes from a wind power company.
