Japan Today

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Channel • 2 Shows

News

News

Updated Weekly
News

News

Updated Weekly

FEB 13

How Japan chooses its prime minister

Japan’s prime minister is not elected by popular vote. Instead, the leader emerges through a parliamentary process shaped by party politics, coalition math and internal power struggles. This episode explains how the system works, who really decides and why the outcome can be predictable long before voters head to the polls. Watch the full Japan Today Spotlight series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyLmgel-5aDxrGswj_8hRRiUwdm5tGGTH

Feb 13

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16 min
JAN 30

Japan and nuclear weapons: A line it hasn’t crossed — yet

Japan remains the only country to have suffered atomic bombings, yet its stance on nuclear weapons is more complicated than it appears. Officially opposed, Japan still relies on the U.S. nuclear umbrella and periodically revisits the debate as regional tensions rise. This episode examines where Japan draws the line, how firm it really is and what pressures could force a rethink. Watch the full Japan Today Spotlight series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyLmgel-5aDxrGswj_8hRRiUwdm5tGGTH

Jan 30

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14 min
FEB 7

The death penalty in Japan

Japan remains one of the few developed countries to retain capital punishment, carrying out executions in secrecy and with limited public scrutiny. Despite international criticism and periodic domestic debate, support for the death penalty remains high. This episode examines how the system works, why it persists and what could finally force change. Watch the full Japan Today Spotlight series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyLmgel-5aDxrGswj_8hRRiUwdm5tGGTH

Feb 7

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17 min
08/08/2025

80 years after the Pacific War: Japan’s reckoning with history

Eighty years after the Pacific War, Japan is still struggling with how to remember its past, honor victims and confront unresolved wartime controversies. This episode looks at how memory, politics and education shape today’s debates and why the legacy of the war continues to influence Japan’s identity and diplomacy. Watch the full Japan Today Spotlight series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyLmgel-5aDxrGswj_8hRRiUwdm5tGGTH

08/08/2025

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14 min
12/05/2025

Japan–China standoff over Taiwan

A diplomatic storm erupted after comments from Japan’s defense minister angered China and set off a tense exchange over Taiwan. This episode breaks down what was said, why Beijing reacted so sharply and how the situation exposes growing risks in Japan–China relations. Watch the full Japan Today Spotlight series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyLmgel-5aDxrGswj_8hRRiUwdm5tGGTH

12/05/2025

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10 min
JAN 2

Japan Today Spotlight: The stories that defined Japan in 2025

From politics and the economy to social change and major scandals, 2025 was a turbulent year for Japan. This special year-in-review episode looks back at the biggest stories covered on Japan Today Spotlight and what they reveal about where the country is heading next. Watch the full Japan Today Spotlight series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyLmgel-5aDxrGswj_8hRRiUwdm5tGGTH

Jan 2

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11 min
JAN 19

New rules for foreigners in Japan

Japan is tightening and reshaping its rules for foreign residents, from visa renewals to compliance checks and enforcement. This episode breaks down what’s changing, who is affected and what the new rules signal about Japan’s evolving immigration policy. Watch the full Japan Today Spotlight series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyLmgel-5aDxrGswj_8hRRiUwdm5tGGTH

Jan 19

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17 min
11/07/2025

Sanae Takaichi meets Donald Trump: Flattery or strategy?

Japan’s new prime minister wasted no time stepping onto the world stage — and straight into Donald Trump’s orbit. From golf gifts and photo ops to praise that bordered on submission, Sanae Takaichi’s diplomatic debut looked more like a loyalty test than a summit. Was it smart politics, or a replay of Shinzo Abe’s flattery playbook? What do you think: was this calculated diplomacy or hero worship gone too far? Tell us in the comments. 00:00 Intro: Takaichi’s first test with Trump 01:05 Abe’s shadow over Japan-U.S. summit 03:10 Takaichi puts on a show for Trump 05:00 Trump 's awkward moment in Tokyo 06:40 Takaichi and Trump: Flattery in Yokosuka 08:10 What Japan and the U.S agreed under Takaichi and Trump 09:45 Outro: Takaichi's real test after Trump summit

11/07/2025

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10 min
JAN 23

Inside Japan's troubled classrooms

Japan’s schools are under pressure. Teacher shortages, unpaid overtime, rising burnout and cases of sexual misconduct are exposing deep structural problems in the education system — and raising urgent questions about accountability, student safety and reform. Watch the full Japan Today Spotlight series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyLmgel-5aDxrGswj_8hRRiUwdm5tGGTH

Jan 23

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13 min
11/14/2025

Japan’s NHK fee

Japan’s NHK reception fee has long been one of the country’s most unpopular charges, sparking debates about fairness, enforcement and whether the system still makes sense. This episode explains why the fee exists, how it’s collected and why so many people want it changed. Watch the full Japan Today Spotlight series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyLmgel-5aDxrGswj_8hRRiUwdm5tGGTH

11/14/2025

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14 min

Japan News and Discussion