As relations between the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea further deteriorate, some East Asian countries are busy strengthening their militaries.
Summer is the time when Japan observes the anniversary of its sufferings during the last year of World War II and its surrender on Aug 15, 1945, which it describes as "the end of war".
Summer is the time when Japan observes the anniversary of its sufferings during the last year of World War II and its surrender on Aug 15, 1945, which it describes as "the end of war".
Japan's political landscape is not expected to stabilize to suit Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's style of politics despite the Cabinet reshuffle on Aug 3. Support for his administration is not constant, although approval ratings have risen slightly.
One recent survey showed 42 percent of single men and 44 percent of single women between ages 18 to 34 were virgins, with some men calling women "scary". Another found nearly 25 percent of Japanese men and 14 percent women aged 50 were yet to marry－the highest figures since census began in 1920.
A 23-year-old worker on Tokyo's new National Stadium, the centerpiece of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, committed suicide in April. On July 20 his parents submitted an application for compensation to Japan's Labor Standards Office, saying the cause of his suicide was overwork－he worked 200 hours of overtime in the month before his death, twice as much as the "allowable" maximum 100 hours of overtime a month.
As people are living a longer, healthier life in some parts of the world, a new definition of "old age" is called for, which should be followed by labor, pension and retirement reforms among other changes.
Together with the United States and the Republic of Korea, Japan has been asking China to do more to "rein in" the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The three countries hold China responsible for the growing nuclear threat the DPRK poses to them.
The last time Japan's ruling coalition of Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito lost the majority in the Tokyo assembly was in July 2009. Following the loss, then not-so-popular Japanese prime minister Taro Aso dissolved the lower house and called a general election, in which the opposition Democratic Party won a landslide victory and ended the LDP's half-century rule in Japan.
A few days ago when I was jogging close to the parliament building, I ran into an old Japanese man, who comes to Tokyo from Yokohama every Friday to join the late afternoon protests against Abe's security and nuclear power policies. He said he supports Article 9 for the sake of his grandchildren.
At a press conference on June 19, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took the blame for the recent plunge in his government's popularity. Latest opinion polls show the Japanese government's approval ratings have nosedived.
Friendship may no longer be the catchphrase in China-Japan relations. But the black-and-white cuddly creatures from China continue to endear themselves to Japanese fans.
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