Topic

Japanese political developments

4 eventsActive since 4 Sept 2026Updated 3h agoPolitical

Timeline · newest first

Lai Ching-te meets with officials in Kanagawa to discuss Japan ties

Taiwan President William Lai met with a delegation from the Japan-Taiwan Friendship Association of Kanagawa Prefecture at the Presidential Office in Taipei to discuss strengthening economic and industrial cooperation. Lai highlighted the existing partnership, noting that bilateral trade reached US$84.851 billion last year, representing a 17.36 percent increase. The discussion focused on leveraging Taiwan's semiconductor and AI expertise alongside Kanagawa's research and development capabilities to establish more resilient, "non-red" supply chains. Additionally, association head Kenji Nakanishi proposed a potential memorandum of understanding between the hot spring districts of Hakone, Japan, and Beitou, Taiwan, to be finalized on November 27.

protest22h ago

Hitachiomiya residents oppose proposal for nuclear waste facility

Hitachiomiya Mayor Sadayuki Suzuki accepted a request from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to conduct a preliminary survey to determine if the municipality is suitable for a repository to store high-level radioactive waste. The town, located 140km from Tokyo in Ibaraki prefecture, was identified as having a relatively high probability of favorable geological characteristics. The proposal was initiated after the town was noted for its potential to host above-ground facilities for the nation's growing stockpile of nuclear waste.

political1d ago

Prince Hisahito turns 20 amid debate over Japan's male-only succession rules

Prince Hisahito, the 20-year-old nephew of Emperor Naruhito and second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne, recently reached adulthood amidst ongoing national debate regarding Japan’s male-only imperial succession rules. The government recently enacted revisions to the 19th-century Imperial House Law, which permits the adoption of male offspring from distant former royal families but maintains the exclusion of women like the Emperor's daughter, Princess Aiko, from the throne. While Hisahito pursues biology studies at the University of Tsukuba and has begun performing official duties, the legal changes sparked public criticism from those who viewed them as a deliberate attempt to preserve a patriarchal system at the expense of popular figures like Princess Aiko.

political3d ago

Takaichi seeks US-savvy ministers for upcoming cabinet reshuffle

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi prepared to reshuffle her cabinet as early as mid-September 2026. Takaichi sought to appoint ministers capable of communicating effectively with the United States for these key positions. This administrative change was prompted by challenges including the weak yen, U.S. troop costs, and ICC sanctions.

That's every event recorded for this topic so far.

Know where. Know why.