From The Yomiuri Shimbun:
An official of the prefectural government in charge of the issue responded to the question, saying, “Indeed, as you have pointed out, I feel it is very difficult to convey the message of how serious the harm is with the poster. I will consider fixing the matter.”
Click through to see the curious looking bear that does seem too tame to maul you. Good boy.
Ryoko Kijima & Keiko Shioji from The Mainichi:
In the lawsuit, the man argued that his fear of persecution could be sufficiently recognized, and that he couldn't hope for protection in his home country. The government denied the credibility of his claim, and stated, "It cannot be accepted that there are fears he would be persecuted immediately," and called for his case to be dismissed.
While I am happy for this person for winning his safety in court, it is frustrating that the government, who is trying to boost immigration, fought so hard to send him back to his country of origin. While it is never cited which country he is from, homosexuality in many African countries is illegal and punishable by prison time or worse. Japan should be a beacon for the oppressed, not a wall to climb over.
Kelly Ng from BBC News:
Japan's top court has ruled as unconstitutional a defunct eugenics law which saw 16,500 disabled people forcibly sterilised between the 1950s and 1990s.
The Supreme Court also ordered the government to pay damages to 11 victims, who were involved in five cases that were heard on appeal.
Wednesday's landmark ruling brings to an end a decades-long fight for justice by victims who have been demanding compensation and an apology.
It took almost 30 years from when this horrendous law was repealed for the victims of this tragedy to get some kind of reparation for what was taken away from them. One of the worst crimes of post war Japan.
From Nippon.com:
A study conducted by the Japan Student Services Organization, an independent administrative agency, found that 90,719 foreign students were enrolled in Japanese language schools as of May 1, 2023. This is the largest number since the first JASSO study was conducted in 2011, and an 83.6% year-on-year increase of around 40,000 students.
Also, the article shows that the number of foreign students overall (including universities) is almost at the pre-COVID peak. The vast majority of foreign students come from China and other east/southeast Asian nations so there is still value in the Japanese dream in the region.
From The Japan Times:
The central government said Friday that it will provide subsidies in August and September to slash electricity and city gas bills by ¥2,125 per month for the average household.
Good news but just a bandage on a gaping economic wound. The yen needs intervention for Japanese residents to remain competitive with the rest of the world.
From Kyodo:
Japan will start issuing new banknotes on Wednesday, showcasing what it touts is the world's first use of cutting-edge holography that makes the portraits of historic figures look like they are rotating in 3D on the bills, one of their anti-counterfeit measures.
In the first design change in 20 years, the 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 1,000 yen bills will have bigger face value numbers printed on them than the current versions, so all people, regardless of age and nationality, can recognize them easily.
I do not think this is the typical "I don't like change" attitude but the new banknote designs are a huge step back. They look like a bunch of elements randomly completely thrown together and they lack the cohesiveness that the current set have.
Julian Ryall from South China Morning Post:
The survey was conducted by The Nippon Foundation in May and asked 1,000 Japanese aged between 17 and 19 about their attitudes on the issue, with 55.7 per cent saying they have little or no interest in the imperial family and 53.4 per cent saying they have no sense of closeness to the emperor or his family.
Not surprising considering the general disinterest in government & elections.
Julian Ryall from South China Morning Post:
A string of death threats directed at the two leading candidates in the Tokyo gubernatorial race reflects the “latent anger” of the electorate and Japan could be on the brink of a return to the politically tumultuous 1930s era, analysts warn.
Even allegedly peaceful Japan is not immune from the worldwide dissatisfaction in the political status quo, which should have been obvious in the post-Abe world we inhabit. I think most people don’t realize that the peace that they think is normal in the order of the world is historically a mirage. Our species is a selfish one and is prone to conflict.
From The Mainichi:
Digital Minister Taro Kono has informed a heavyweight of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party that he intends to run in its presidential race in September, aiming to become Japan's next prime minister, a source close to the matter said Thursday.
It is not really too surprising that Konoちゃん is running as he has obviously wanted the PM chair for a long while. But the biggest roadblock for him (besides himself) is his less than stellar reputation as the minister in charge of digitalization and the various MyNumber fiascos. But, a literal tuna mayo onigiri could beat Kishida at this point so anything is possible.
From Kyodo:
The yen continued to fall against the U.S. dollar to the upper 160 range on Wednesday, hitting its lowest level in over 37 years in New York despite heightened vigilance about another market intervention by Japan to slow its rapid drop.
The bank accounts of a nation crying out together in pain...