News & Insights

The world is grappling with the rapid spread of COVID-19 and Japan is no exception.  The World Health Organization has stated that Europe is now the world’s COVID-19 pandemic epicenter. But Japan is in a delicate position as the country is gearing up...

The extraordinary Diet session was ended on Wednesday, 26 June, as scheduled.  Now Prime Minister Abe focuses on the success of the G20 summit that is held today and tomorrow.  It is crucial for him and his administration to appeal his diplomatic ski...

The 198th ordinary Diet session was convened today.  Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gave a policy speech at the opening of the session, seeking understanding for his plan to raise the consumption tax from 8 percent to 10 percent in October. He also expres...

The extraordinary Diet session was ended yesterday as scheduled although the extension of the session was once considered as the opposition parties fiercely protected to deliberate a bill to accept more foreign workers into Japan as well as to revise...

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe launched his new cabinet on 2 October. He retained key veteran ministers to keep the basic framework of his administration intact while appointing 12 first-timers, the highest figure for any of the cabinets he formed. With h...

Japan and the European Union signed the economic partnership agreement (EPA) in Tokyo on Tuesday, 17 July.  The EPA, which will remove tariffs on most of each other's goods in phases, is expected to be put into effect by the end of March, 2019. Comme...