A demonstration “Against war and xenophobia” took place in late March in Osaka city, Japan. Supporters of the CWI in Japan took part, including CWI comrades active in the General Union, which mobilised workers for […]
When she called a snap general election for the lower house parliament, Japan’s prime minister Takaichi Sanae said the voters had a choice, “a prime minister Takaichi, a prime minister Noda or even a prime […]
A week is a long time in politics. The global headlines about Japan having its first woman prime minister, who happened to have played drums in a heavy metal band, to like pork buns, and […]
In the election for the Japanese House of Representatives, held on 27th of October, the Liberal Democratic Party/Komeito coalition government of Shigeru Ishiba lost its majority. The government was expecting to do badly in the […]
Employers’ responses to union demands in the annual spring labour offensive (Shunto) have inspired newspaper headlines announcing “the biggest wage increases in 30 years”. The Rengo, the largest Japanese trade union federation, announced on March […]
The shock waves from the assassination of Abe Shinzo are still resonating across the globe. Members of the political class, both from the most liberal to the most conservative, are singing eulogies to the career […]
After being in power since 2012, the coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito (a conservative party linked to a lay Buddhist organisation) retained its majority in the Japanese Lower House election. The ruling […]
On 8 July, just over two weeks before the games were due to open, Japanese premier Suga Yoshihide announced that the Olympics would be held without spectators. This was the result of a rebound in […]
On 11 March 2011, a magnitude 9 earthquake hit north eastern Japan. It was followed 50 minutes later by a 14-metre tsunami, devastating coastal areas. Nearly 20,000 people died in the most costly natural disaster […]
2020 was a tempestuous year for Japan, as well as the rest of the world. In August, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe became the longest-serving prime minister in Japanese history. However, it had been clear for […]
Seventy-five years ago, as World War Two was drawing to a close, United States forces dropped two atomic bombs above the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This is still one of the most deadly […]
On Friday 13 March, the Japanese Upper House approved a bill granting Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, the power to declare a state of emergency to fight coronavirus. Unfortunately, the two major opposition parties, the […]
On 22nd August South Korea gave Japan notice that it would not be extending the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA). The 2016 agreement allowed for the direct sharing of military intelligence between Japan, […]
The Upper House elections held on 21 July in Japan were a minor set-back for the Shinzō Abe government. Along with their coalition partners, the Buddhist Komeito, they lost their two thirds majority in the […]
The G20 meeting which took place in Osaka on 28th and 29th of June was another indication of the severity of the present crisis facing the capitalist class internationally. While issues of equality, women’s empowerment […]
Over the last eight months, in an attack upon a labour union unprecedented in the recent past in Japan, the prefectural police of Osaka, Shiga and Wakayama have arrested over seventy members of the Kansai […]
On 30th April, Emperor Akihito abdicated and handed over to his son Naruhito – something that has not happened for 200 years. But it will change nothing for the vast majority of the population in […]
Japan’s Heisei Era – which began on January 8th, 1989, in line with Emperor Akihito’s ascension to the throne – will end next April with his abdication. This will be a purely symbolic ‘end of […]
The victory of Abe Shinzo in the October 20 general election opens up the possibility of him becoming the longest serving post-war Japanese Prime Minister. However, appearances can be deceptive, and his overwhelming victory does […]
Weakness of opposition is Prime Minister Abe’s only strength
Can a future nuclear conflict be avoided?
Unprecedented stimulus package – a desperate gamble
Election sees big defeat for incumbent Democratic Party
Two months after the beginning of the Fukushima disaster, the anger in Japan is growing
The earthquake off Japan’s east coast and the giant tsunami wave that followed on 11 March has, at the time of writing, officially killed over 8,500 people with another 13,000 people still missing.
No to national unity on the bosses’ terms
Now is the time to demand re-nationalisation
Tragedy for workers
Rebuilding should not serve the interests of private developers
Capitalist system incapable of facing up to natural disasters
New government will push workers and young people to build struggle against capitalism
But capitalist alternative Democratic Party of Japan offers no secure future for workers and young people
Scandals abound
The Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi has gained an unexpected overwhelming victory in the elections on Sunday 11 September.
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