Brand Japan, Brand Abe: A Clash of Narratives
Written by Nancy Snow Two decades ago I was working at the United States Information Agency (USIA), an independent foreign affairs agency of the U.S. Government. We were separate from…
Rest in Peace, Kenji Goto. A journalist who fought for peace & was killed in war.
Kenji Goto, a freelance journalist, known for his dedicated reporting on the atrocities of war and humanitarian activities, was killed by the Islamic State circa February 1st, 2014 (Japan Standard…
Japan’s MOFA threatens ISIS with “strong indignation” if (hypothetical) hostages executed
What makes Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announcement particulary surreal and disingenuous is that MOFA and the Japanese government have known that Kenji Goto was being held for a ransom…
Japan’s Dangerous Tilt to The Right: a report from Hamburg, Germany
Professor Nakano points it out: it is not like Japanese society is outspoken and the government is following, it is exactly the opposite. It is an “elite-driven and not society-driven”…
The First Victim of War is The Truth: Japan’s Journalists Protest The Secrets Law
All journalists know the saying, “The first victim of war is the truth.” The Manchurian Incident began with a Japanese Army plot. The Japanese people were only told the truth…
The Star Trek Conference In Beijing: Klingon Warlord Xi Disses Tanuga* IV Leader Abe
"Is it even worth considering whether China is willing to change its position regarding territorial disputes and its desire to dominate Asia? It's not. Thus, Japan has just conceded a…
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Japan’s Female Police Commissioner worked with racist & sexist newspaper?
It's not just Ms. Yamatani's ties to a hate group reviled by the UN, Zaitokukai, but in an essay she wrote for a magazine run by a member of the…
Ninkyodo, dude! Even The Yakuza Are Speaking English Now
Maybe the detective was right, because while the Yamaguchi-gumi may not have substantially expanded their operations, they are certainly trying to expand their appeal internationally. Recently, they debuted their own…
TEPCO makes $4.3 Billion in 2013 despite meltdown. Crime doesn’t pay, criminal negligence does
TEPCO posted a profit for the first time since the nuclear meltdown. The amount is less than the ¥47 billion the government gave to the company last September.
Japan’s Designated Secrets Law: All you ever wanted to know but should be afraid to ask. (LOL)
The Lawyer's Federation of Japan points out that if a journalist or citizen were to stubbornly ask about SDS (specially designated secrets) to a government official that this could be…