Japan This Week

Japan Today
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A weekly roundup of the week's biggest — and smallest — national news, crime, politics and entertainment stories from Japan Today with a dash of opinionated commentary and a sprinkling of readers' comments. Ready for you every Friday evening (JST).

  1. Oct. 31, 2025 | Japan’s foreigner problem: Kimi Onoda and the politics of coexistence

    10/31/2025

    Oct. 31, 2025 | Japan’s foreigner problem: Kimi Onoda and the politics of coexistence

    When Sanae Takaichi became Japan’s first female prime minister on Oct. 21, one of her new cabinet pick's stood out. Kimi Onoda was appointed minister for economic security and the “Cool Japan” strategy — but also given a new title: Minister for Promoting an Orderly Coexistent Society with Foreigners. It’s a phrase that says a lot about how Japan sees outsiders. In this week’s Japan Today Spotlight, we look at how anti-foreigner sentiment is gaining political traction, why “coexistence” has become such a loaded word and what that means for Japan’s future. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-vDNg-hhBZo Chapters 00:00 Intro: Japan’s first female prime minister 01:36 Blame the foreigners 03:48 The coexistence policy 04:33 Kimi Onoda’s appointment 05:51 Anti-foreigner rhetoric in Japan 06:30 Japanese labor needs foreigners 07:57 Fear of foreigners and the facts 09:30 Cultural misunderstandings 11:08 Sanseito’s argument 12:32 Outro: The choice ahead Do you think Japan’s “foreigner problem” is really about policy or fear? Tell us in the comments.

    14 min
  2. Oct. 24, 2025 | Trial of Shinzo Abe's assassin

    10/25/2025

    Oct. 24, 2025 | Trial of Shinzo Abe's assassin

    The trial of Tetsuya Yamagami — the man who assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe — has begun in Japan. But this case is about more than guilt or innocence. It exposed disturbing ties between Japan’s ruling party and a controversial church, triggered public sympathy for the killer and forced the country to confront deeper questions about justice, trauma and political power. 🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/A2hwKzrn7ls Do you think the trial will bring clarity or just more controversy? Chapters 00:00 – Intro 00:45 – The assassination of Shinzo Abe 02:10 – Who is Tetsuya Yamagami? 04:30 – Sympathy and the “Yamagami Girls” 06:40 – Unification Church and LDP ties 08:55 – What the trial means for Japan 10:12 – Outro Explore more episodes of Japan Today Spotlight: https://japantoday.com/category/japan-today-spotlight 💬 What do you think about this case and its impact on Japan? Drop your thoughts in the comments on YouTube. 📌 Subscribe on YouTube for full video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@JapanTodaySpotlight

    13 min
  3. Oct. 3, 2025 | Why stalking cases in Japan keep ending in tragedy

    10/03/2025

    Oct. 3, 2025 | Why stalking cases in Japan keep ending in tragedy

    Stalking cases in Japan are becoming harder to ignore. Women are being targeted, threatened and, in too many cases, killed — even after going to the police for help. In this edition of Japan Today Spotlight, we examine why stalking cases so often end in tragedy, what reforms are being proposed and what experts say women can do to stay safe. ▶ Watch the full video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9Dnv7M8KS_Y

    9 min
  4. Sept. 26, 2025 | Why nuisance YouTubers are causing outrage in Japan

    09/26/2025

    Sept. 26, 2025 | Why nuisance YouTubers are causing outrage in Japan

    A rise in obnoxious and aggressive content creators is sparking outrage across Japan — from graveyard stunts and sushi sabotage to harassment on public trains. Japanese media now calls them “nuisance YouTubers.” In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we dig into what’s really going on. Why are some influencers acting this way in Japan? Would they pull the same stunts in cities like London or New York? And what’s the impact on foreigners who actually live here and are trying to do things right? 🎥 Watch the full video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hah65eM4iw0

    10 min
  5. Sept. 19, 2025 | Why Japan's 'lost generation' is still losing

    09/19/2025

    Sept. 19, 2025 | Why Japan's 'lost generation' is still losing

    Japan’s “lost generation” came of age during the employment ice age of the 1990s and early 2000s. Promised stable jobs after graduation, they instead faced hiring freezes, temporary contracts and decades of low wages. Now in their 50s, many are still struggling with low pensions, limited savings and social isolation. The government has pledged new support through reskilling programs and pension reform, but critics question whether it’s too late. 🎥 Watch the full Spotlight episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/UYAyCwzT1F4

    8 min
  6. Sept. 12, 2025 | Why bear attacks are surging in Japan

    09/12/2025

    Sept. 12, 2025 | Why bear attacks are surging in Japan

    Bears are showing up in Japanese towns, supermarkets, even airport runways — and the number of bear attacks is now higher than anywhere else in the world. In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we explore the reasons behind the dramatic surge: climate change, depopulated rural areas, rewilded landscapes and a younger generation of fearless bears. We also look at how Japan is responding — from hunting rules and AI patrols to safety advice for hikers — and why conservationists are urging a rethink. 🎥 Watch the full video episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/r9Wd17Xv7sI

    11 min
  7. Sept. 5, 2025 | Why So Many People Go Missing in Japan

    09/05/2025

    Sept. 5, 2025 | Why So Many People Go Missing in Japan

    Japan’s missing persons: Who disappears and why Every year, around 90,000 people are reported missing in Japan. Most are found quickly, but many vanish by choice — some turning to resignation agencies and the “fly-by-night” industry to help them disappear. This episode of Japan Today Spotlight looks at who goes missing, why, and what it reveals about Japanese society. Watch the full video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pr6Bh-b19O0

    9 min
  8. Aug. 28, 2025 | Japan’s hostage justice: Guilty until proven innocent

    08/29/2025

    Aug. 28, 2025 | Japan’s hostage justice: Guilty until proven innocent

    Japan’s justice system has a conviction rate of 99.9%. Critics say that figure isn’t proof of prosecutorial skill but the result of a system known as “hostage justice” — prolonged detention, repeated interrogations and confessions forced under pressure. In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we look at how hostage justice works, the cases of Carlos Ghosn and Iwao Hakamata, and whether recent reforms are changing the system. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Intro: Japan’s hostage justice exposed 01:17 The arrest: How hostage justice begins 03:03 Japan’s official defense of hostage justice 04:26 Slow reforms: Lawyers and video recording 05:38 Breaking down suspects inside detention 06:45 Iwao Hakamata: 45 years on death row 08:16 Carlos Ghosn: The daring escape 09:57 The fallout from Ghosn’s escape 11:18 Global criticism of Japan’s justice system 12:23 Outro: Guilty until proven innocent 📺 Watch the full video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HZCrnIqDrLw What do you think — is this really justice, or just a system built to secure confessions?

    13 min
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4.8
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About

A weekly roundup of the week's biggest — and smallest — national news, crime, politics and entertainment stories from Japan Today with a dash of opinionated commentary and a sprinkling of readers' comments. Ready for you every Friday evening (JST).

Information

  • Channel
    Japan Today
  • Creator
    Japan Today
  • Years Active
    2012 - 2025
  • Episodes
    105
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Japan This Week

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