Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi must steer Japan between pressure from China and an unpredictable United States by bolstering defense, diversifying partnerships and asserting strategic autonomy. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/02/27/japan/keeping-china-us-wolf-at-bay/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #sanaetakaichi #us #china #usjapanrelations #chinajapanrelations #indopacific #shinzoabe

Amid economic uncertainty and global turbulence, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi offers the world a strong and steady democratic partner. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/02/20/japan/japans-moment-for-global-leadership/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #sanaetakaichi #shinzoabe #sanseito #ldp #liberaldemocraticparty #cra #donaldtrump #china #europe #france #germany #uk #taiwan #un #cptpp #rcep #defense #2026lowerhouseelection

China's claim that Japan is returning to militarism is misleading because legal and institutional constraints make such a shift unlikely and current defense reforms reflect responses to changing regional threats. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/02/20/japan/myths-of-japanese-militarism/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #wangyi #china #munichsecurityconference #yasukunishrine #taiwan #alliedoccupation #sdf #gsdf #msdf #sanaetakaichi #article9 #shinzoabe #defense #us

Supermajorities reduce the need for interparty compromise, but they can actually intensify intraparty competition. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/02/17/japan/trouble-with-winning-big-for-takaichi/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #sanaetakaichi #ldp #dpj #ichiroozawa #yukiohatoyama #naotokan #yoshihikonoda #shinzoabe #fumiokishida #taroaso #shigeruishiba #2026lowerhouseelection

Make no mistake, she and the LDP’s big win is attributable to her energy, her image and her vision. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/editorials/2026/02/13/takaichi-takes-command/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #editorials #sanaetakaichi #ldp #lowerhouse #jip #cdp #komeito #shinzoabe #china #taiwan #us #donaldtrump #xijinping #2026lowerhouseelection

A total of 336 posts hinting at assaulting dignitaries were made online in the lead-up to the House of Representatives election. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/12/japan/online-attack-lower-house-race/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #tetsuyayamagami #shinzoabe #sanaetakaichi #2026lowerhouseelection

‘Fiebre Takaichi’ en Japón: la líder ultraconservadora arrasa en un fenómeno que trasciende la política

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://elpais.com/internacional/2026-02-10/fiebre-takaichi-en-japon-la-lider-ultraconservadora-arrasa-en-un-fenomeno-que-trasciende-la-politica.html

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has energized voters and strengthened the LDP ahead of a snap election, but her inexperience and ties to the Shinzo Abe faction pose risks for governance and public trust. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/editorials/2026/02/06/takaichi-ldp-poised-for-big-win/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #editorials #sanaetakaichi #ldp #jip #cra #cdp #komeito #shinzoabe #shigeruishiba #upperhouse #lowerhouse #2026lowerhouseelection

https://www.walknews.com/1196370/ 主要4カ国首脳で好感度1位は高市首相 韓国の世論調査で見えた大国不信 | JAPAN Forward #LeeJaeMyung #ShinzoAbe #SouthKorea #Trump #XiJinping #大韓民国 #政治・安全保障問題 #韓国

The man who fatally shot former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is set to appeal his life imprisonment ruling. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/03/japan/crime-legal/yamagami-trial-appeal/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #crimelegal #shinzoabe #tetsuyayamagami #japanesecourts #nara #unificationchurch #shinzoabeassassination