Category: Japan

This will be a quick way for the Japanese government to raise money from tourists:

The government and the ruling coalition are considering a plan to raise the departure tax from the current ¥1,000 per person to ¥3,000 or more to fund measures against overtourism, informed sources said Thursday.

The specific size of the increase will be discussed during fiscal 2026 tax system reform talks at the end of the year.

Japan introduced the departure tax, formally called the international tourist tax, in 2019. It is levied uniformly on all travelers departing from Japan, including Japanese nationals traveling abroad for work or leisure.

Japan Times

You can read more at the link.

Japan’s new Prime Minister has made it very clear where her country stands in regards to a Chinese attack on Taiwan which the Chinese of course do not like:

Japan was involved in a war of words with China this week after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute “a survival-threatening situation” for Japan requiring the use of force. Takaichi, who was elected as the country’s first female prime minister last month, said Friday that Chinese use of force around Taiwan would qualify as “an existential threat.” Her comment sparked sharp criticisms from Beijing over the weekend. “We have no choice but cut off that dirty neck that has been lunged at us without hesitation.

Are you ready?” Chinese Consul General Xue Jian said in a message posted on X, which was later deleted. Xue also criticized past remarks made by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other Japanese lawmakers that of “Taiwan emergency is Japan emergency” as “blatant interference of Chinese internal affairs and violation of sovereignty” that require a retraction and apology.

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link.

It looks like President Trump and Prime Minister Takaichi hit it off really well during their summit yesterday:

Weapons sales and trade in critical minerals were on the agenda when President Donald Trump met new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the Japanese capital Tuesday morning. Trump arrived Monday after a stop in Malaysia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit. He and Takaichi met in an ornate conference room at Akasaka Palace, a state guest house, alongside top leaders from their governments.

Just outside were parked gleaming new American and Japanese pickup trucks. The Japanese government is considering the purchase of a fleet of Ford F-150s. “She has good taste,” Trump, referring to Takaichi, told reporters on Air Force One during the flight to Asia. “That’s a hot truck.” Trump and Takaichi met elsewhere in the palace to sign a new agreement strengthening their alliance and a framework for securing a U.S. supply of critical minerals and rare earths — key materials for the defense and technology industries.

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link.

Japan’s new Prime Minister definitely has an opportunity to impress President Trump this week since she is protege of his good friend Shinzo Abe who was assassinated three years ago:

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Tokyo on Monday, meeting with Emperor Naruhito in the evening ahead of a bilateral summit the following day with new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that will focus on trade, investment and defense spending.

Trump arrived at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport a day after announcing a handful of deals with Southeast Asian nations during a regional summit in Malaysia, part of a whirlwind tour of Asia.

Greeted on the tarmac by U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass and Japan’s top government spokesman, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, the U.S. president’s arrival came as some 18,000 police officershave been mobilized, following a string of high-profile attacks at home and abroad targeting political figures.

While a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping later this week in South Korea has been the focus of headlines, his meeting with Takaichi, who took office less than a week ago, will be a crucial test of her diplomatic chops.

Takaichi, a protege of slain former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, will be seeking to build a solid relationship with Trump as she looks to navigate increasing pressure from the U.S. on trade and defense issues.

Speaking aboard Air Force One while en route to Tokyo on Monday, Trump said he looked forward to meeting Takaichi.

“I hear phenomenal things,” he said. “She was a great ally and friend of Shinzo Abe, who was my friend. … He was one of my best. … And I know they were very close, and I think philosophically they were close, which is good. It’s going to be very good. That really helps Japan and the United States.”

Shortly after touching down at sunset, Trump took a helicopter to central Tokyo for his meeting with Emperor Naruhito. The U.S. president was the first foreign leader to meet the emperor — whose role is purely symbolic — after he ascended to the throne in 2019.

Japan Times

You can read more at the link.

It appears Japan’s new Prime Minister seems eager to build positives ties with South Korea:

Sanae Takaichi (64 years old), president of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), was inaugurated as the 104th prime minister on the 21st, following former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. She is the first female prime minister in the 140-year history of Japan’s parliamentary cabinet system.

In the first round of voting in the House of Representatives (lower house) prime minister nomination election held at the extraordinary session of the National Diet that day, Takaichi secured 237 votes, more than half, and was elected prime minister. Although Komeito, which had cooperated with the LDP for 26 years, withdrew from the coalition government, causing a temporary crisis, Takaichi managed to bring the conservative opposition party Japan Restoration Party on board as a new coalition partner and ascended to the prime ministership.

The launch of the Takaichi administration, known for its hardline right-wing stance, has drawn attention to the future direction of future-oriented South Korea-Japan relations established under the previous Ishiba administration. Takaichi has made strong statements on past historical and territorial issues and has regularly visited the Yasukuni Shrine.

However, there are observations that “Prime Minister Takaichi” might be different. At her inauguration press conference that day, she stated, “South Korea is an important neighboring country to Japan,” and added, “The importance of South Korea-Japan relations, a crucial partnership, is growing even more. I hope to hold talks with President Lee Jae-myung and communicate properly.” Takaichi is scheduled to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju late this month and meet President Lee Jae-myung for the first time. President Lee also posted a congratulatory message on social media regarding Takaichi’s election as prime minister that day, writing, “I look forward to having constructive discussions in Gyeongju.”

Chosun Ilbo

You can read more at the link, but odds are we will see how strong this relationship is when President Lee has a domestic political issue and he uses a anti-Japanese issue to deflect attention from it.