East Asia Insights | Five Factors That Could Lead to War with North Korea
What are the five factors that could lead to war with North Korea? They include the domestic turmoil in both political systems and the fact that differences between American and North Korean political systems and the absence of normal diplomatic relations increase the possibility of misunderstandings.
Accepting Immigrants is the Ultimate Key to Reviving Japan
The Japanese government continues to avoid adopting an immigration policy unpopular with the public as the population continues to decline. While the groundwork for receiving migrants has been laid to a degree at the grassroots level, the government should undertake to develop a comprehensive immigration policy.
Japan on Missile Mission to Get 127 Million People to Hide—Fast
Natalie Andrews reports on Japan’s efforts to train its citizens how to effectively respond to a missile threat, a necessary process given looming threats from North Korea.
East Asia Insights | Confronting Uncertainty in East Asia
From a Japanese perspective, the defining characteristic of East Asia’s regional order today appears to be the high degree of uncertainty that prevails about what might come next. Geopolitical uncertainty seems to be intensifying on all fronts, whether one looks at the disarray engulfing US politics and foreign policy, the escalation of tensions with North Korea, the challenge of managing relations with China, or even Japan’s domestic politics. How can leaders around the region work to find a way to dispel this uncertainty?
Why Japan Is Paying Single Mothers to Move to the Countryside
Japan’s population is projected to shrink by a third by 2065. With small towns getting smaller, local governments are looking for creative ways to bring in new people.
East Asia Insights | Engaging North Korea after the Singapore Summit
On June 12, US President Donald Trump and North Korean Workers’ Party Chairman Kim Jong-un met for a historic US-DPRK summit. While the vagueness of their final statement left many skeptical of the results, Hitoshi Tanaka takes a more optimistic view, noting that the summit has changed the dynamics surrounding North Korea in a way that creates a rare chance to peacefully settle the nuclear threat and other pressing issues—but only if the United States, Japan, and other regional actors handle it properly.
Tokyo’s Best Karaoke Is Karaoke Sung Alone
A 2017 JCIE Journalism Fellow discovers the joys of “hitokara,” the private karaoke rooms for those who want to sing alone.
Japan Trade Officials and Companies Take a Nuanced Approach to US Tariffs
Adrian Ma explores the impact of the Trump administration’s 25 percent tariff on imported steel on Japan. How are Japanese companies and trade officials feeling about the president’s efforts to turn the economic screws? The answer varies a lot depending on whether you’re talking about steel production or auto manufacturing.
Postcard from a Japanese Steel Town
JCIE Journalism Fellow Adrian Ma, a reporter based in the American Midwest, explores Japan’s oldest steel town, Kamaishi.
How a Small Dairy Store from Ohio Became One of the Biggest Names in the Japanese Convenience Store Industry
Japan and the United States have a long history of not only economic competition, but also cultural exchange. In the U.S., for instance, sushi and anime are popular. And the Japanese long ago adopted baseball and jazz. If that’s old news to you, here’s one America-to-Japan export that might surprise you: US convenience stores.