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The article discusses politics and government in Japan as of November, 2012, focusing on the potential impact of anticipated shifts in power in 2013. Topics include Japan's foreign relations with South Korea and China, the Japanese economy, nationalism, and the politician Shinzo Abe. Tensions between political parties including the Liberal Democratic Party, the Japan Restoration Party, and the Democratic Party of Japan are mentioned.

The article examines politics and government in Japan. A split within the governing Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) created by an increase in the sales tax proposed by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is discussed. The use of nationalism as a political asset by the opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is examined, particularly a proposal to alter the country's constitution.

The article discusses relations between South Korea and Japan. A long and tedious disagreement over sovereignty erupted into open anger recently after Shimane, a Japanese prefecture, passed a bill designating February 22nd as "Takeshima day", to mark the date in 1905 when Japan first claimed some volcanic islets that lie between Korea, where they are known as Tokdo, and Japan, where they are called Takeshima. Outraged South Koreans responded with a show of nationalistic fervour. The government fulminated that Japan's claim was tantamount to invasion. Despite four decades of ever-closer bilateral ties, and trade now worth almost $70 billion, Japan and South Korea have notoriously prickly relations. Although the first historical references identify the islands as belonging to an ancient Korean kingdom, after Japan's annexation of the peninsula at the beginning of the 20th century they became part of its imperial territory until the end of the second world war. Beyond wounded pride, South Korea has some economic reasons for maintaining its claim.

Focuses on Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and his proposed visit to the Yasukuni shrine in August 2001. Expectation that the visit will provoke protests; Efforts of Koizumi to promote a more active role for Japan in its security alliance with the United States; Background on Koizumi's conservative roots and nationalist ideas; Topic of international complaints about revisions to Japanese history textbooks.

Focuses on efforts of Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to amend Article 9 of the constitution to allow Japan to have an army rather than self-defense forces. Concern of neighboring countries about Japan maintaining armed forces and Koizumi's pledge to visit Yasukuni shrine, which is a symbol for nationalism.

Reports on criticism of Japan's Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori from within his own political party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Statements by Mori which have indicated that he favors the nationalism of pre-World War II Japan and emperor worship; The rate at which Mori's popularity has fallen; Fear among the LDP that it will lose its ruling position in Japanese politics.

The article focuses on the popularity of the film "Eien no Zero" ("The Eternal Zero") in Japan in 2014, which depicts a kamikaze pilot during World War II. Topics include why young Japanese have made the film so popular, nationalism in Japan in 2014, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's friendship with Naoki Hyakuta, author of the book on which the film is based.

The author argues that the Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe and his cabinet are not making effective long-term policy decisions as of January, 2013. According to the author, the proposed Japanese budget does not support long-term financial discipline, conflicts are growing between Japan, Russia, South Korea, and China, and the political influence of historical revisionists and nationalism in Japan is destructive.

The article looks at how the actions of some Japanese nationalists may hurt Japan's foreign relations and its economy. Topics include Shintaro Ishihara, governor of Tokyo, Japan, whose efforts to buy the Senkakus (or Diaoyus) islands enraged the Chinese; comments from nationalist politician Shinzo Abe, a prime ministerial candidate, downplaying past Japanese war crimes; and Takeju Ogata, president of the think-tank Nipon Foundation, who wants to amend Japan's pacifist constitution.

Reports the January 23, 2000 meeting of Japanese ultra-nationalists at the Osaka International Peace Center. The ultra-nationalists' claims that the so-called Rape of Nanking during 1939, when Japanese soldiers swept through mainland China killing thousands, did not occur; Scholarly work on the subject, including estimates of the number of Chinese killed; Publication of `The Rape of Nanking,' by Iris Chang, and its contentions; Relations between Japan and China.