Japan Poised to Reveal Name of New Imperial Era as Akihito Abdicates

THE GUARDIAN: Naming ceremony to take place before emperor steps down from Chrysanthemum throne

On Monday morning, a senior government official in Tokyo will enter a room, gather his thoughts and hold up a work of handwritten calligraphy.

Millions of people will pause and digest the meaning of the two kanjicharacters, and Japan will finally get the answer to a question that has kept it in suspense for months: the name of the new imperial era.

The characters will open a new chapter in Japanese history, a month before the emperor, Akihito, makes way for his eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito, whose enthronement will take place on 1 May in the country’s first imperial abdication for 200 years. » | Justin McCurry in Tokyo | Friday, March 29, 2019

North Korea’s Missiles May Turn Japan Away From Pacifism

North Korea’s ballistic missile test on Tuesday flew directly over Japanese territory. The Self Defense Force said it didn’t shoot it down because it was not in danger of hitting anywhere in the country. But the provocative act did reignite a discussion about Japan’s pacifist constitution. Al Jazeera’s Scott Heidler reports from Tokyo.

The Debate: ''All Options On The Table''? North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile Over Japan

North Korea Fires Missile over Japan

North Korea has fired a missile over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido which prime minister Shinzo Abe has called the ‘most serious and grave ever’ threat to the country.

The Return of Japan's Imperialists

Japan Considering Special Law to Allow Emperor to Abdicate

A Japanese government panel is considering a special law to allow 83-year-old Emperor Akihito to abdicate.

Tora, Tora, Tora: The True Story of Pearl Harbor: Documentary

It was the most daring naval and army manoeuvres of all time. In less than two hours without warning a swarm of Japanese fighter planes, each bearing a red sun soared over pearl harbour, Hawaii. At 7.53am a Japanese commander radioed to his pilots, "Tora, Tora, Tora!" In a matter of minutes, bombs and torpedoes fell from the sky paralysing U.S pacific naval forces. The day of infamy began with an intricate well-planned attack and a thunderous roar. The shock and anger over the surprise raid rallied a divided nation together more than any other event known to modern man.

Emperor Akihito Hints at Desire to Abdicate

Japanese Emperor Akihito says that he’s worried that his age may make it difficult for him to fully carry out his duties. Speaking on Monday in a rare televised address, Akihito says there are limits to reducing the emperor’s duties as the ‘symbol of the state’, the status accorded to the monarch under Japan’s postwar constitution

THE GUARDIAN: Japan's Emperor Akihito says health is failing and hints at abdication: In TV address, 82-year-old monarch does not explicitly say he would stand down but raises prospect of appointing regent » | Martin Foster in Tokyo | Monday, August 8, 2016

Japanisches TV berichtet über die Islamisierung Deutschlands

Japan Readies for War? New Military Bill Sparks Fierce Protests

Thousands have rallied in Japan against the controversial military bill, passed by the parliament. Since now Japanese forces will be allowed to fight overseas. The demonstrations show this is far from being universally welcomed.

Verwandt »

Japan setzt auf neue Militärdoktrin

Grosserfolg für Premierminister Abe: Er hat sein Prestigeprojekt
durch das Parlament gebracht, allen Widerständen zum Trotz.

NEUE LUZERNER ZEITUNG: JAPAN ⋅ Das japanische Parlament hat nach hitzigen Debatten die umstrittene Reform der Verteidigungspolitik verabschiedet, mit der erstmals seit dem Zweiten Weltkrieg Soldaten zu Kampfeinsätzen ins Ausland entsandt werden könnten.

Die neue Militärdoktrin wurde am frühen Samstag (Ortszeit) vom Oberhaus in Tokio angenommen. Gegen die Reform hatte es viel Widerstand in der Bevölkerung gegeben. Nach Ansicht von Kritikern gibt Japan damit die pazifistische Grundausrichtung des Staats auf. » | sda/afp | Freitag, 18. September 2015

Japan zur Islamisierung Deutschlands

Japan Must Face Up to Its Shameful Second World War Past like Germany Did, Says Angela Merkel

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: German chancellor speaks on trip to Tokyo of the need for Japan to squarely confront its past ahead of 70th anniversary of country's defeat in Second World War

Japan must face up to its actions during the Second World War if it is serious about building better relations with its neighbours, Angela Merkel warned on Monday.

The German chancellor is on a two-day official to Japan, but her comments are unlikely to be welcomed by Shinzo Abe, the Japanese prime minister, whose conservative views on Tokyo’s war crimes are under scrutiny.

“Germany was lucky to be accepted in the community of nations after the horrible experience that the world had to meet with Germany during the period of National Socialism (Nazism) and the Holocaust,” Mrs Merkel said in a public lecture hosted by the left-leaning Asahi newspaper.

“This was possible first because Germany did face its past squarely, but also because the Allied Powers who controlled Germany after the Second World War would attach great importance to Germany coming to grips with its past.”

“One of the great achievements of the time certainly was reconciliation between Germany and France ... The French have given just as valuable a contribution as the Germans have.” » | Julian Ryall in Tokyo | Monday, March 09, 2015

Der IS-Terror erreicht Japan

TAGES ANZEIGER: Analyse [–] Lange war das Land der aufgehenden Sonne von Konflikten der Welt weitgehend isoliert – Premier Abe will für Japan eine grössere Rolle, etwa im Kampf gegen die IS-Miliz. Deren Terror holt das Land nun ein.

Die Japaner leben in einem der sichersten Länder der Welt. Doch die mutmassliche Tötung zweier japanischer Geiseln durch die Terrormiliz Islamischer Staat lässt sie nun direkt eine der grössten Bedrohungen weltweit spüren. Die Videonachricht der Extremisten über die mutmassliche Enthauptung des Journalisten Kenji Goto wirkte wie ein Schock.

Eine erste japanische Geisel - Haruna Yukawa - soll vom IS bereits vergangene Woche hingerichtet worden sein. Verhandlungen über ein Lösegeld und einen Gefangenenaustausch, um die Leben der beiden Japaner zu retten, waren ohne Erfolg geblieben. » | Von Ken Moritsugu | AP | Sonntag, 01. Februar 2015

Japan Outraged at IS 'Beheading' of Hostage Kenji Goto

Kenji Goto, pictured in October 2014, is a well-known freelance
journalist and filmmaker

BBC AMERICA: Japan has reacted with anger and defiance to a video purporting to show the beheading of Japanese hostage Kenji Goto by an Islamic State militant.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Japan "would not give in to terrorism" and that he would expand his support to countries fighting IS.

IS has cited Japanese aid as a reason for the hostage taking. The video comes less than a week after the apparent beheading of another Japanese man, Haruna Yukawa.

Mr Goto, 47, a respected journalist known for his work covering the suffering of civilians in war zones, went to Syria in October, reportedly to try to secure Mr Yukawa's release.

The video, which has all the hallmarks of previous IS propaganda videos, has not been authenticated, but Japanese officials believe it is genuine. » | Sunday, February 01, 2015

ISIS Threatens Obama, Japanese and Jordanian Hostages in New Online Messages

FOX NEWS: A new, grisly beheading video from ISIS includes a direct threat against President Obama and is one of at least three new warnings from the terror organization, including pledges to kill Jordanian and Japanese hostages if a hostage held by Jordan is not freed.

In a new online video discovered by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) on Tuesday, three Islamic State fighters stand behind a kneeling Kurdish fighter as one of the extremists launches into a diatribe against the U.S. and other Western nations.

“Know, oh Obama, that will reach America,” says one of the fighters, clad in black and wearing a balaclava, in a translation from Arabic provided by MEMRI. “Know also that we will cut off your head in the White House, and transform America into a Muslim Province.”

The extremist also issued warnings to European nations.

“And this is my message to France and to its sister, Belgium,” he said. “We advise you that we will come to you with car bombs and explosive charges, and will cut off your heads.” » | FoxNews.com | Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Japan PM Left 'Speechless' After Video Claims Hostage Dead

FOX NEWS: Japan's prime minister said Sunday he was "speechless" after an online video purportedly showed an Islamic State militant killing one of the two Japanese hostages.

Shinzo Abe told Japanese broadcaster NHK the government is still reviewing the video, but it was likely authentic. Abe offered his condolences to the family and friends of 42-year-old Haruna Yukawa, who was taken hostage in Syria last year.

Abe did not comment about the message in the latest video that demanded a prisoner exchange for the other hostage, journalist Kenji Goto.

"I am left speechless," he said, stressing he wants Goto released unharmed. "We strongly and totally criticize such acts." (+ FoxNews video) » | FoxNews.com | Saturday, January 24, 2015

Japan Snowfall Disrupts Air, Rail and Road Transport

BBC: A severe snow storm warning has been issued in the Japanese capital, Tokyo, with residents urged to stay indoors.

Correspondents say it is the first such warning for the city in 13 years.

Hundreds of flights have been cancelled, roads closed and some train services suspended. (+ BBC video) » | Saturday, February 08, 2014

New Nationalism: Far-right Voices Get Louder in Japan

Some parts of Japanese society want to drag the pacifist nation to the right. Nationalist groups are growing louder in their calls for the country to take a harder-line against enemies home and abroad. RT's Aleksey Yaroshevsky looks at the possible political repercussions for the entire region.

South Korea Refuses to Forgive Japan’s Wartime Atrocities

South Korean President Park Geun-hye

THE INDEPENDENT: World Focus: In South Korea a sense of vulnerability bred from past humiliations lies just below the surface

Old hatreds bred from old atrocities and injustices are slow to disappear. South Korean President Park Geun-hye said at the start of visits to France and Britain this week that she is willing to hold a summit anytime with the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, whose country intermittently threatens war against South Korea.

But she rejects flatly any idea of meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe until Japan apologises for wrongdoings during its 35-year occupation of Korea.

In particular, South Korea wants a deeper apology and greater compensation for an estimated 200,000 South Korean “comfort women” who were forced to work as prostitutes in Japanese military brothels during the occupation. Everything to do with the 1910-45 Japanese occupation of Korea, brutal and authoritarian even compared with most other imperial occupations, still festers. The Japanese response to Ms Park’s remarks – that what happened during the occupation and Second World War is very ancient history – is not going to mollify South Korean resentments. » | Patrick Cockburn | Tuesday, November 05, 2013