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Japan ministry discloses additional 25,000-page records related to Moritomo Gakuen scandal - The Mainichi

Jon Reinsch @jonreinsch.bsky.social · 19h

"Japan ministry discloses additional 25,000-page records related to Moritomo Gakuen scandal"
Good, because once Takaichi's team gets in there, who knows what will happen to these documents?
mainichi.jp/english/arti...

OSAKA -- Japan's Ministry of Finance on Oct. 8 released approximately 25,000 pages of records related to the falsification of official documents conce

Japan’s likely next prime minister wrestles coalition backlash | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Jon Reinsch @jonreinsch.bsky.social · 22h

CDP's Azumi Jun says DPP head Tamaki would be a strong alternative candidate for prime minister. Better than Takaichi on the economy, I suppose, but he'd take aim at Article 9 too.
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

Japan’s likely next premier Sanae Takaichi is already facing criticism from her ruling party’s long-time coalition partner, a rift that could delay or, in an extreme scenario, jeopardize her premiersh...

In hometown of Japan’s ‘Iron Lady’, supporters stress a softer side | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Jon Reinsch @jonreinsch.bsky.social · 1d

"[Takaichi] is unlikely to be a champion for women, said youth activist Momoko Nojo. 'She gained her position by accommodating the male-dominated society as much as possible. We can’t expect much.'”
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

NARA--Motoko Shimada fondly recalls when a classmate at her public school in the western Japanese city of Nara, Sanae Takaichi, showed early signs of the leadership that would set her on course to bec...

Japan’s Takaichi picks ex-premier Aso as party vice president | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Jon Reinsch @jonreinsch.bsky.social · 2d

"Japan’s Takaichi picks ex-premier Aso as party vice president"
This restores Aso to the position he held before Ishiba relegated him to the ceremonial role of "supreme adviser." Wonder why the LDP is so odious? Start by looking at this guy.
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

Sanae Takaichi, who is expected to become Japan’s next prime minister, chose former premier and party heavyweight Taro Aso on Tuesday as vice president of her ruling party.

International nuclear victims conference held in Hiroshima | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Jon Reinsch @jonreinsch.bsky.social · 2d

86-year-old Moritaki Haruko, co-director of Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition, about Takaichi: “She strikes me as someone whose thinking runs counter to nuclear abolition. I cannot quit this movement."
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

HIROSHIMA—The World Nuclear Victims Forum was held for the first time in 10 years here on Oct. 5 and 6 to call for solidarity and nuclear abolishment, bringing together

Thunberg Confirms Abuse by Israeli Abductors, But Urges World to Focus on Gaza Genocide | Common Dreams

Jon Reinsch @jonreinsch.bsky.social · 2d

To have any chance of saving Article 9, CDP will need such allies.

Jon Reinsch @jonreinsch.bsky.social · 2d

Killing Article 9 is likely to be a high priority for Takaichi. Without Komeito to restrain LDP, they might get greedy and and insist on more than authorizing SDF—which could work against them. A Komeito out of the coalition might be freer to stand foursquare against militarism.

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Jon Reinsch @jonreinsch.bsky.social · 2d

Thunberg Confirms Abuse by Israeli Abductors, But Urges World to Focus on Gaza Genocide
“I will never, ever comprehend how humans can be so evil that you would deliberately starve millions of people living trapped under an illegal siege”
www.commondreams.org/news/greta-t...

"This genocide and other genocides are being enabled and fueled by our own governments, our institutions, our media, and companies. It is our responsibility to end that complicity."

www.commondreams.org

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Jon Reinsch @jonreinsch.bsky.social · 2d

"Takaichi to pick Motegi as foreign minister for US trade talks"
Militarists Kihara Minoru & Kobayashi Takayuki also likely to get Cabinet posts.
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

Takaichi to pick Motegi as foreign minister for U.S. trade talks | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Sanae Takaichi, the new president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, plans to appoint party election rival Toshimitsu Motegi as foreign minister after she becomes prime minister, a source close t...

Jon Reinsch @jonreinsch.bsky.social · 2d

and it will be even worse if DPP joins coalition.

Japan's Komeito party leader hints at possible exit from coalition over new LDP president - The Mainichi

Jon Reinsch @jonreinsch.bsky.social · 2d

Japan's Komeito party leader hints at possible exit from coalition over new LDP president
"Komeito is increasingly wary of Takaichi's strong right-wing stance." They stuck with Abe to the end! But now, they know they can't restrain LDP militarism even if they tried,
mainichi.jp/english/arti...

TOKYO -- Tetsuo Saito, the leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)'s junior coalition partner Komeito, has hinted at a possible exit from

Sanseito leader rejects idea of partnering with Takaichi’s LDP | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Jon Reinsch @jonreinsch.bsky.social · 3d

"Sanseito leader rejects idea of partnering with Takaichi’s LDP"
Maybe Takaichi isn't far-right enough for him.
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

HIROSHIMA—The leader of opposition party Sanseito ruled out joining the minority government of the “failing” Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito after Sanae Takaichi was elected LDP president.

Late Nagasaki A-bomb survivor's picture-story, cartoons continue to convey anti-war resolve - The Mainichi

Jon Reinsch @jonreinsch.bsky.social · 3d

Late Nagasaki A-bomb survivor's picture-story, cartoons continue to convey anti-war resolve
Nishiyama Susumu "was moved to tears when local elementary students put on a play based on his experiences."
mainichi.jp/english/arti...

NAGASAKI -- The anti-war resolve of a late artist who survived the atomic bombing of Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945, continues to shine through his works su

［社説］自民新総裁に高市氏　物価高対策は猶予なし | 社説 | 沖縄タイムス＋プラス

Jon Reinsch @jonreinsch.bsky.social · 4d

Okinawa Times: "Regarding Okinawa issues, concerns persist that under Ms. Takaichi—who advocates strengthening defense capabilities and advancing Japan-US cooperation—the burden on Okinawa will increase."
www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/1...

安倍晋三元首相の後継を自認し保守強硬派として知られる高市早苗前経済安全保障担当相が自民党総裁に選ばれた。　決選投票で小泉進次郎農相を破った。　女性の総裁は初めてだ。野党がばらばらの現状ではそのまま史上初の女性首相となる公算が大きい。

www.okinawatimes.co.jp

Jon Reinsch @jonreinsch.bsky.social · 4d

"Takaichi to become Japan’s first female prime minister"
On the one hand, I'm glad Japan's "glass ceiling" has been broken. On the other, the shift to the hard right we've seen elsewhere has reached Japan. I hope her term in office is short.
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

Takaichi to become Japan’s first female prime minister | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Japan is set to have its first female prime minister after Sanae Takaichi won the leadership election of the Liberal Democratic Party on Oct. 4.

Japan’s next leader may be its first woman or youngest in modern era | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

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Jon Reinsch @jonreinsch.bsky.social · 5d

"If, as seems likely, the election goes to a second round, the advantage could shift [to Koizumi or Hayashi] as the vote of grassroots LDP members [who favor Takaichi] would fall to 47."
A female PM would be great, but not a warmonger.
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

Japan stands a good chance of having its first woman prime minister or its youngest leader in the modern era after a vote on Saturday to pick the head of the nation’s ruling party.

Ishiba seeks to restore redacted ‘anti-military’ speech from 1940 | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

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Jon Reinsch @jonreinsch.bsky.social · 5d

Ishiba seeks to restore redacted ‘anti-military’ speech from 1940
This too is an excellent move. "However, high hurdles stand in the way"
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is trying to cement a legacy for his short leadership tenure by restoring the full transcript of a Japanese politician’s “anti-military speech” in 1940.

Ishiba to deliver message marking end of WWII despite pushback | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Jon Reinsch @jonreinsch.bsky.social · 5d

"[Ishiba] may also criticize the Japanese wartime government, the Diet & the media for their inability to curb the military’s unchecked power...
Sources suggest he could draw parallels between that era & the current turbulent political climate."
Yes! Say it!
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

Days before his expected resignation, outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba won't go quietly, preparing to deliver a personal message commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, ac...

Loyalty Over Law: Trump’s Ultimatum to the Military | Common Dreams

Jon Reinsch @jonreinsch.bsky.social · 6d

Loyalty Over Law: Trump’s Ultimatum to the Military
“We are going to straighten out these cities one by one… you know, it’s a war from within… and this is going to be a big part of what many of you in this room are going to do."
Chicago, Portland. Next: Seattle?
www.commondreams.org/opinion/trum...

Trump's Quantico speech nudged the military toward personal loyalty over constitutional duty, encouraging officers to view American citizens as potential adversaries.

www.commondreams.org

Japan’s far-right party courts Trump allies, vows not to get ‘wacky’ | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Jon Reinsch @jonreinsch.bsky.social · 7d

As if Japan "determined its course alone" when it ceded control of its airspace to the US military!

Jon Reinsch @jonreinsch.bsky.social · 7d

"Japan’s far-right party courts Trump allies, vows not to get ‘wacky’"
Kamiya's excuse for palling around with fascists: “It’s clear that we no longer live in an era where Japan can determine its course alone." No longer?
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

Japan’s far-right Sanseito party has set up an international arm to court Trump allies such as Steve Bannon and like-minded groups in Europe, betting that global conservative recognition will help it ...

Takaichi open to policy talks with right-wingers Sanseito, CPJ | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Jon Reinsch @jonreinsch.bsky.social · 8d

"Takaichi open to policy talks with right-wingers Sanseito, CPJ"
Of course—she has more in common with them than with many in the LDP.
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

Days before the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election, candidate Sanae Takaichi said she won't rule out policy discussions with rising right-wing parties, including Sanseito and the ...

Asahi survey: Koizumi leads in support among Diet lawmakers | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

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Jon Reinsch @jonreinsch.bsky.social · 8d

"Asahi survey: Koizumi leads in support among Diet lawmakers"
Going by this, Takaichi might not even make it to the runoff. But with 44 Diet members undecided or not answering, nothing is certain.
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

As the ruling Liberal Democratic Party prepares for its Oct. 4 presidential election, an Asahi Shimbun survey of party lawmakers indicated farm minister Shinjiro Koizumi currently holds the most clear...