Japanese Politics

[Guardian Enzo]

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2...vator-use.html

I wish I could say this sort of thing surprises me, but it's sadly predictable. The "no intent to offend/discriminate" card gets played and the Japanese media moves on. This excuse is used for casual racism in Japan unceasingly and it's very tiresome. These are not children were talking about but adults who have no excuse not to know better.

[SeijiSensei]

"If Japan moves forward with its proposed military spending, it will have the world’s third-largest defense budget in the coming years"

I had no idea it would be so large.

https://apnews.com/article/shinzo-ab...1d97ff61f92fa7

[SeijiSensei]

Russia expels Japanese consul.

https://www.reuters.com/world/russia...es-2022-09-26/

Some think it might be in retaliation for Japan announcing an end to the sale of chemicals that can be used in weapons production.

https://apnews.com/article/russia-uk...ec58f0ca5fd2af

Could it be time for a stenka?

YouTube

https://youtu.be/Yh6unizWUqU

Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload?

[Yu Ominae]

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2...right-eye.html

Emperor Emeritus had surgery in his right eye for cataract.

[SeijiSensei]

Japan launches military buildup with public support.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which it calls a "special operation", has helped shift public opinion in Japan away from the postwar pacifism that has dominated defence policy for decades. read more

In an opinion poll published by public broadcaster NHK this month, 55% of 1,247 people surveyed said they supported increased defence spending, compared with 29% who opposed it. Of those backing a stronger military, 61% said Japan should pay for it with public spending cuts.

https://www.reuters.com/world/japan-...ns-2022-10-18/

[Yu Ominae]

https://twitter.com/mrjeffu/status/1655064786248531968

There's a fringe group called the New Japanese People's Movement. It launched a protest against casinos in Osaka a few weeks ago because it's a Jewish plot.

Group is led by former NHK party leader Kurokawa Atsuhiko. His conspiracies about "foreign interference" made the rounds for a while, but he's considered fringe.