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The assassination of Abe Shinzo in July 2022 not only felled a political giant, but also propelled the government to seek dissolution of the Unification Church (UC), known as the Moonies in the Anglophone world, because the gunman told police that he targeted Japan's longest serving prime minister (2012–2020) due to his links with the UC. Ironically, the South Korea-based UC enjoyed extensive influence in the Abe faction of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a strange brew of clashing nationalisms given that Abe was an advocate of historical revisionism, a rightwing political movement that promotes an exonerating and glorifying narrative of Japan's shared past with Asia, while the UC was guilt-tripping donors about Japan's colonial rule in the Korean peninsula (1910–45). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on topics including the different dimensions of nationalism in Japan under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, public discourse on divisive war memories, and New Right transformation of Japanese politics.

The article focuses on proposal of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT) to reform humanities and social sciences (HSS) departments in universities of Japan. Topics discussed include several universities opposed to shutdown HSS such as University of Tokyo, views of Education Minister Shimomura Hakubun on need to alter HSS due to budget cuts and unsupportive views of several university professors regarding the reform such as Philip Seaton.

The article focuses on demonstrations conducted by Japanese students against prime minister Shinzo Abe's secrecy legislation. The demonstrations are being led by the Student Emergency Action for Liberal Democracy (SEALDs), a group of college students in Japan. Topics discussed include opposition to Abe's legislation undermining racial assaults against Koreans and transparency, views of SEALD's founder Okuda Aki against Abe's security legislation, and details on SEALD's members and rallies.

Although Prime Minister Abe Shinzo repeatedly touted Japan's values-oriented foreign policy in Asia there was little substance to this agenda. Like other nations, Tokyo downplays human rights and democratic values in favor of maintaining trade ties and securing geo-strategic advantage. It is thus a values-free diplomacy of pragmatism and expediency, dealing with regional governments as they are, not as one might wish them to be. Japan is certainly not unique in this regard, but Abe invites scrutiny of the government's record due to his rhetorical grandstanding. Colonial and wartime legacies have made it problematic for Japan to lecture and pressure regional governments on their political systems and practices. Moreover, the escalating rivalry with China for regional influence reinforces Tokyo's hesitation to promote democratic reforms for fear that it will lose clout by driving governments into Beijing's unconditional embrace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subscription & Fundraising Drive Summer 2020 The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus is a reader-supported journal. We invite your support at a time when the Asia-Pacific and our world is being turned upside down by the combination of US-China conflict in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic coinciding with economic, political, climate and nuclear crisis. We have raised more than $5,300 in our present drive. Thank you for your support. This drive will continue to August 1. We have no corporate, foundation or university angel. Our ability to publish relies on our supporters. Your support allows us to provide the journal free to our 19,000 regular readers and thousands more around the world. If you value the journal, please contribute anything you canon this page. You can pay by credit card or Paypal. On the same page, please subscribe to our semi-monthly email newsletter. We would like to keep in touch. Thank you, Mark Selden for the editors [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subscription & Fundraising Drive Summer 2020 The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus is a reader-supported journal. We invite your support at a time when the Asia-Pacific and our world is being turned upside down by the combination of US-China conflict in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic coinciding with economic, political, climate and nuclear crisis. We have raised more than $5,300 in our present drive. Thank you for your support. This drive will continue to August 1. We have no corporate, foundation or university angel. Our ability to publish relies on our supporters. Your support allows us to provide the journal free to our 19,000 regular readers and thousands more around the world. If you value the journal, please contribute anything you canon this page. You can pay by credit card or Paypal. On the same page, please subscribe to our semi-monthly email newsletter. We would like to keep in touch. Thank you, Mark Selden for the editors [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subscription & Fundraising Drive Summer 2020 The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus is a reader-supported journal. We invite your support at a time when the Asia-Pacific and our world is being turned upside down by the combination of US-China conflict in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic coinciding with economic, political, climate and nuclear crisis. We have raised more than $5,300 in our present drive. Thank you for your support. This drive will continue to August 1. We have no corporate, foundation or university angel. Our ability to publish relies on our supporters. Your support allows us to provide the journal free to our 19,000 regular readers and thousands more around the world. If you value the journal, please contribute anything you canon this page. You can pay by credit card or Paypal. On the same page, please subscribe to our semi-monthly email newsletter. We would like to keep in touch. Thank you, Mark Selden for the editors [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subscription & Fundraising Drive Summer 2020 The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus is a reader-supported journal. We invite your support at a time when the Asia-Pacific and our world is being turned upside down by the combination of US-China conflict in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic coinciding with economic, political, climate and nuclear crisis. We have raised more than $5,300 in our present drive. Thank you for your support. This drive will continue to August 1. We have no corporate, foundation or university angel. Our ability to publish relies on our supporters. Your support allows us to provide the journal free to our 19,000 regular readers and thousands more around the world. If you value the journal, please contribute anything you canon this page. You can pay by credit card or Paypal. On the same page, please subscribe to our semi-monthly email newsletter. We would like to keep in touch. Thank you, Mark Selden for the editors [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Asia Pacific Journal; Japan; Asia Pacific; Pacific Rim; Asia; East Asia; Northeast Asia; Southeast Asia; Southwest Asia; South Asia; Contemporary Japan; Contemporary Asia Pacific; Contemporary East Asia; US-Japan relations; US-China-Japan-Korea relations; Japan-East Asian Relations; Japan-Northeast Asian Relations; Japan-Pacific Relations; Japan-Southeast Asian Relations; Japan-Middle East Relations; Japan-Central Asia Relations; Japan-South Asia Relations; Japan-European Relations; Okinawa EN Asia Pacific Journal Japan Asia Pacific Pacific Rim Asia East Asia Northeast Asia Southeast Asia Southwest Asia South Asia Contemporary Japan Contemporary Asia Pacific Contemporary East Asia US-Japan relations US-China-Japan-Korea relations Japan-East Asian Relations Japan-Northeast Asian Relations Japan-Pacific Relations Japan-Southeast Asian Relations Japan-Middle East Relations Japan-Central Asia Relations Japan-South Asia Relations Japan-European Relations Okinawa N.PAG N.PAG 1 05/09/20 20200501 NES 200501 B Abstract: b Like many world leaders, PM Shinzo Abe has not managed the COVID-19 outbreak very well. So far there appear to have been relatively few deaths in Japan due to the pandemic, but if Japan emerges from this outbreak without a large toll, Koike deserves far more credit than Abe for such an outcome. Asia Pacific Journal, Japan, Asia Pacific, Pacific Rim, Asia, East Asia, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia, South Asia, Contemporary Japan, Contemporary Asia Pacific, Contemporary East Asia, US-Japan relations, US-China-Japan-Korea relations, Japan-East Asian Relations, Japan-Northeast Asian Relations, Japan-Pacific Relations, Japan-Southeast Asian Relations, Japan-Middle East Relations, Japan-Central Asia Relations, Japan-South Asia Relations, Japan-European Relations, Okinawa. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: Asia Pacific Journal; Japan; Asia Pacific; Pacific Rim; Asia; East Asia; Northeast Asia; Southeast Asia; Southwest Asia; South Asia; Contemporary Japan; Contemporary Asia Pacific; Contemporary East Asia; US-Japan relations; US-China-Japan-Korea relations; Japan-East Asian Relations; Japan-Northeast Asian Relations; Japan-Pacific Relations; Japan-Southeast Asian Relations; Japan-Middle East Relations; Japan-Central Asia Relations; Japan-South Asia Relations; Japan-European Relations; Okinawa EN Asia Pacific Journal Japan Asia Pacific Pacific Rim Asia East Asia Northeast Asia Southeast Asia Southwest Asia South Asia Contemporary Japan Contemporary Asia Pacific Contemporary East Asia US-Japan relations US-China-Japan-Korea relations Japan-East Asian Relations Japan-Northeast Asian Relations Japan-Pacific Relations Japan-Southeast Asian Relations Japan-Middle East Relations Japan-Central Asia Relations Japan-South Asia Relations Japan-European Relations Okinawa N.PAG N.PAG 1 04/14/20 20200401 NES 200401 Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has been widely criticized for ineptitude in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The combination of an accelerating COVID-19 outbreak in Japan and imminent global economic recession will hit Japan hard and could lead to Abe's ouster. He wanted to talk with Abe the next day, and in that call, Bach said, he wanted Abe to outline a proposal for postponement, which Bach then could take back to the IOC's powerful 15-member executive board.". [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: Asia Pacific Journal; Japan; Asia Pacific; Pacific Rim; Asia; East Asia; Northeast Asia; Southeast Asia; Southwest Asia; South Asia; Contemporary Japan; Contemporary Asia Pacific; Contemporary East Asia; US-Japan relations; US-China-Japan-Korea relations; Japan-East Asian Relations; Japan-Northeast Asian Relations; Japan-Pacific Relations; Japan-Southeast Asian Relations; Japan-Middle East Relations; Japan-Central Asia Relations; Japan-South Asia Relations; Japan-European Relations; Okinawa EN Asia Pacific Journal Japan Asia Pacific Pacific Rim Asia East Asia Northeast Asia Southeast Asia Southwest Asia South Asia Contemporary Japan Contemporary Asia Pacific Contemporary East Asia US-Japan relations US-China-Japan-Korea relations Japan-East Asian Relations Japan-Northeast Asian Relations Japan-Pacific Relations Japan-Southeast Asian Relations Japan-Middle East Relations Japan-Central Asia Relations Japan-South Asia Relations Japan-European Relations Okinawa N.PAG N.PAG 1 03/24/20 20200301 NES 200301 In this collection of essays our authors explore a range of issues not covered in Part 1, examining the broader impact of the Olympic Movement, efforts to spin the message and whether hosting the games is worth the extravagant costs. Asia Pacific Journal, Japan, Asia Pacific, Pacific Rim, Asia, East Asia, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia, South Asia, Contemporary Japan, Contemporary Asia Pacific, Contemporary East Asia, US-Japan relations, US-China-Japan-Korea relations, Japan-East Asian Relations, Japan-Northeast Asian Relations, Japan-Pacific Relations, Japan-Southeast Asian Relations, Japan-Middle East Relations, Japan-Central Asia Relations, Japan-South Asia Relations, Japan-European Relations, Okinawa. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: Asia Pacific Journal; Japan; Asia Pacific; Pacific Rim; Asia; East Asia; Northeast Asia; Southeast Asia; Southwest Asia; South Asia; Contemporary Japan; Contemporary Asia Pacific; Contemporary East Asia; US-Japan relations; US-China-Japan-Korea relations; Japan-East Asian Relations; Japan-Northeast Asian Relations; Japan-Pacific Relations; Japan-Southeast Asian Relations; Japan-Middle East Relations; Japan-Central Asia Relations; Japan-South Asia Relations; Japan-European Relations; Okinawa EN Asia Pacific Journal Japan Asia Pacific Pacific Rim Asia East Asia Northeast Asia Southeast Asia Southwest Asia South Asia Contemporary Japan Contemporary Asia Pacific Contemporary East Asia US-Japan relations US-China-Japan-Korea relations Japan-East Asian Relations Japan-Northeast Asian Relations Japan-Pacific Relations Japan-Southeast Asian Relations Japan-Middle East Relations Japan-Central Asia Relations Japan-South Asia Relations Japan-European Relations Okinawa N.PAG N.PAG 1 03/24/20 20200301 NES 200301 In this collection of essays our authors explore a range of issues not covered in Part 1, examining the broader impact of the Olympic Movement, efforts to spin the message and whether hosting the games is worth the extravagant costs. Now Japan's inept spin-doctors face a new test, but don't seem to be doing any better as the international media has widely condemned the sluggish public health response by PM Abe Shinzo's government at a time when the stakes couldn't be higher. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: Asia Pacific Journal; Japan; Asia Pacific; Pacific Rim; Asia; East Asia; Northeast Asia; Southeast Asia; Southwest Asia; South Asia; Contemporary Japan; Contemporary Asia Pacific; Contemporary East Asia; US-Japan relations; US-China-Japan-Korea relations; Japan-East Asian Relations; Japan-Northeast Asian Relations; Japan-Pacific Relations; Japan-Southeast Asian Relations; Japan-Middle East Relations; Japan-Central Asia Relations; Japan-South Asia Relations; Japan-European Relations; Okinawa (Collins 2008) Hosting the Olympics was presented as an opportunity to soften Japan's image and address the "misunderstandings" in the international community that followed Japan's invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and withdrawal from the League of Nations in 1933. Asia Pacific Journal, Japan, Asia Pacific, Pacific Rim, Asia, East Asia, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia, South Asia, Contemporary Japan, Contemporary Asia Pacific, Contemporary East Asia, US-Japan relations, US-China-Japan-Korea relations, Japan-East Asian Relations, Japan-Northeast Asian Relations, Japan-Pacific Relations, Japan-Southeast Asian Relations, Japan-Middle East Relations, Japan-Central Asia Relations, Japan-South Asia Relations, Japan-European Relations, Okinawa. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: Asia Pacific Journal; Japan; Asia Pacific; Pacific Rim; Asia; East Asia; Northeast Asia; Southeast Asia; Southwest Asia; South Asia; Contemporary Japan; Contemporary Asia Pacific; Contemporary East Asia; US-Japan relations; US-China-Japan-Korea relations; Japan-East Asian Relations; Japan-Northeast Asian Relations; Japan-Pacific Relations; Japan-Southeast Asian Relations; Japan-Middle East Relations; Japan-Central Asia Relations; Japan-South Asia Relations; Japan-European Relations; Okinawa Asia Pacific Journal, Japan, Asia Pacific, Pacific Rim, Asia, East Asia, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia, South Asia, Contemporary Japan, Contemporary Asia Pacific, Contemporary East Asia, US-Japan relations, US-China-Japan-Korea relations, Japan-East Asian Relations, Japan-Northeast Asian Relations, Japan-Pacific Relations, Japan-Southeast Asian Relations, Japan-Middle East Relations, Japan-Central Asia Relations, Japan-South Asia Relations, Japan-European Relations, Okinawa. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: Asia Pacific Journal; Japan; Asia Pacific; Pacific Rim; Asia; East Asia; Northeast Asia; Southeast Asia; Southwest Asia; South Asia; Contemporary Japan; Contemporary Asia Pacific; Contemporary East Asia; US-Japan relations; US-China-Japan-Korea relations; Japan-East Asian Relations; Japan-Northeast Asian Relations; Japan-Pacific Relations; Japan-Southeast Asian Relations; Japan-Middle East Relations; Japan-Central Asia Relations; Japan-South Asia Relations; Japan-European Relations; Okinawa This article is the introduction to the B Special Issue: Japan's Olympic Summer Games -- Past and Present, Part I. b See the Table of Contents here. Asia Pacific Journal, Japan, Asia Pacific, Pacific Rim, Asia, East Asia, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia, South Asia, Contemporary Japan, Contemporary Asia Pacific, Contemporary East Asia, US-Japan relations, US-China-Japan-Korea relations, Japan-East Asian Relations, Japan-Northeast Asian Relations, Japan-Pacific Relations, Japan-Southeast Asian Relations, Japan-Middle East Relations, Japan-Central Asia Relations, Japan-South Asia Relations, Japan-European Relations, Okinawa. [Extracted from the article]

Asia-Pacific Journal Subscription Drive July 2019 With tensions between the US and China at fever pitch in the era of Donald Trump, with mounting conflict between the US and Korea, between China and the nations of the South China Sea, and between Okinawa and the US-Japan, APJ is a vital resource. The media has treated the primary conflicts as economic and financial, but they are deeply intertwined with geopolitical conflicts that could easily lead to war including nuclear war. APJ has no corporate, foundation or university angel, so our ability to publish relies heavily on our core supporters. We come to you twice a year to request the financial support that allows us to provide APJ free to our 22,000 regular readers and thousands of others around the world who receive the journal as subscribers or via Facebook or Twitter. The journal is strong and growing. We need support to publish and to maintain it free to global readers. If you value the journal, please go to our homepage http://apjjf.org/Subscribe where you can both subscribe to our semi-monthly Newsletter and contribute (tax free) via Paypal or credit card. All contributions are welcome. But we need support in the range of $100-500-1,000 to maintain the site toward our annual goal of $12,000. We're $1,900 toward our goal. Thank you for your support. The Editors [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the legitimate security concerns and economic needs of North Korea and building trust and reducing tensions in Northeast Asia.

The article discusses the pressures faced by media in Japan under the administration of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Topics discussed include harassment experienced by veteran German journalist Carsten Germis, intolerance towards criticism based on belief that criticism equates to anti-Japanese sentiments, and journalists warned not to interview political scientist Nakano Koichi. It also mentions the developments at Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK) or Japan Broadcasting Corporation.

The article discusses the growing influence of self-righteous nationalism under the leadership of Japanese Prime Minster Shinzo Abe and informs that self-righteous nationalism is encouraging rightwing extremists as well as threatening civil liberties. It presents the views of Nakano Koichi, professor at Sophia University, Japan, on the same. It mentions that academic freedom must be sacrosanct. It also mentions threat posed by Japan's cyber-terrorists.

The author comments on the self-immolation protest on June 29, 2014 against the collective self-defense policy of the government of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Topics discussed include the lack of media interest on the self-immolation involving a man reciting an anti-war poem by Yosano Akiko before setting himself on fire at the Shinjuku Station in Tokyo and protest against Abe's reinterpretation of the constitution to give Japan the right of collective self-defense (CSD).

The article discusses the protests staged by tens of thousands of Japanese citizens against the efforts of Prime Minister (PM) Abe Shinzo in lifting the constitutional ban for collective self-defense (CSD). It criticizes the government broadcaster NHK's "blackout" of the protests in which a man has set himself on fire in Tokyo in defiance of the PM's renunciation of pacifist postwar order. It notes the U.S. acceptance of the PM's move in renouncing Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution.

The article reports that Abe Shinzo, prime minister (PM) of Japan criticized the role of Toyko Denryoku KK, electric power firm in clearing the scrap of Fukushima nuclear plant accident in Japan. It mentions that 50 percent of reactors have been shutdown with the purpose of safety inspections. It states that the imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and petroleum rose by 14.9 percent and 5.3 percent, respectively.

The article discusses the opposition to the nuclear village in Japan. The Noda Cabinet has endorsed a gradual phase out of nuclear power on September 14, 2012 but quickly denied the plan due to heavy pressure from business lobby groups. The government has transferred the responsibility for reactor restarts to the Nuclear Regulatory Authority and reactor hosting communities. The cabinet has also declared the it would adhere to the law on decommissioning reactors over 40 years old. The law has been criticized for allowing renewal of the operating license at the discretion of regulators.

The article discusses the concept of nuclear village in Japan, which refers to the institutional and individual pro-nuclear advocates comprised of the utilities, nuclear vendors, bureaucracy, the Japanese parliament, financial sector, media and academia aimed at promoting nuclear energy. The power and influence of the nuclear village expanded as Japan's nuclear sector grew. The alleged manipulation of nuclear policy by the nuclear village has been challenged, but the fourteen related lawsuits filed by local citizens have not been successful.

The article discusses how the mismanagement of a range of risks such as siting, seismic and radiation by the Tokyo Electic Power Company (TEPCO) increased the likelihood of the nuclear accident at Fukushima. It investigates how TEPCO minimized risk assessments and preparations before the March 11, 2011 and explores how the citizens responded to the fallout of Fukushima. It further examines TEPCO's efforts to blame Japan's Prime Minister Kan Naoto for its failure to adequately prepared for evident risks. It suggests that the Fukushima Daiichi reactors continue to be vulnerable to earthquakes and rely on jury-rigged cooling and electrical systems that are feeble-looking.

The author focuses on the resignation of Japanese Prime Minister Kan Naoto on August 26, 2011, 15 months after his election. He notes that the partisan politics in Japan has slowed action on recovery after the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami incidents, adding that members of the Diet bicameral legislature devoted their energy to a no-confidence motion to oust Naoto. He observes that since 2007, the lower and upper legislative houses were controlled by different parties which led to frequent gridlock. Details of the events that led to the ouster of Naoto are provided.

The article discusses the latest developments in Japan's justice system as of March 2011. It reports on the controversies confronting Japanese prosecutors due to a case in 2010 involving Muraki Atsuko, a senior civil staff of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. In the case, a top prosecutor admitted that he manipulated the evidence to ensure that Atsuko will be convicted. The opinion of David Johnson on the procedures used in the country is cited. Daniel Foote's analysis of Japan's judicial policymaking process is also presented.

The article discusses the political crisis in Burma as of March 9, 2009. It explains that since 2010 elections is coming, the administration is attacking its opponents, and imprisoning people like relief workers, comedians, intellectuals, and monks up to 65 years. It states that even if the junta freed a dozen political prisoners, their number grew up to 2,100. The junta told pro-democracy activists to not make the election an opportunity to build democracy in the country. However, the International Crisis Group (ICG) provided an analysis of the country.

The article reports on the improving relationship between China and Japan, evidenced by the gathering at Nanjing's Massacre Memorial (NMM) in Nanjing, China. On July 7, 2008, officers of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces visited Nanjing for an artillery demonstration, the first time Japanese soldiers had returned to the scene of the massacre since Japan surrendered in 1945. Prime Minister Wen Jiabao visited Japan and made a conciliatory speech lavishing praise on Japan's post-World War II (WWII) peaceful development, expressing gratitude for Japan's generous assistance to China and acknowledging Japan's apologies for wartime aggression.