Japan
Signs of political radicalisation in Japan, despite its confused direction
By John Chan, November 24, 2008
There are signs of a growing radicalisation among young people in Japan provoked by their own worsening prospects and the deepening gulf between rich and poor, amid the worst global economic crisis si...
Japan sinks into recession
By Peter Symonds, November 19, 2008
The Japanese economy has officially entered recession for the first time since 2001 after the release of figures on Monday showing a second quarter of negative GDP growth.
Global economic crisis hits Japanese banks, exporters
By Peter Symonds, October 29, 2008
Despite claims that Japan was well positioned to weather the crisis, the world’s second largest economy is rapidly being dragged into the financial and economic maelstrom sweeping the globe.
More signs of recession in Japan
By Peter Symonds, October 22, 2008
After weeks of wild fluctuations on the Japanese and global stock markets, further indications have emerged this week that the world's second largest economy is in recession.
Asian stocks tumble after rejection of US bailout package
By John Chan, October 2, 2008
All major share markets across Asia tumbled badly on Tuesday after the US House of Representatives rejected the Bush administration's $US700 billion rescue package for Wall Street.
Taro Aso: third Japanese prime minister in two years
An offbeat image
By John Chan, September 27, 2008
The lower house of Japanese parliament, the Diet, endorsed Taro Aso as Japan’s new prime minister on Wednesday, after he won the post of president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on...
Japan’s ruling party to select new prime minister as economy slides into recession
Aso’s opponents
By John Chan, September 20, 2008
Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is due to pick a replacement for outgoing Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on Monday.
The American “financial tsunami” hits Asia
Regional downturn
By John Chan, September 18, 2008
The American financial crisis has sent shockwaves throughout Asia over the past few days as governments, banks and corporations scramble to cope with plunging share prices, international financial tur...
Japan’s prime minister quits amid signs of economic downturn
Koizumi’s record
By Peter Symonds, September 3, 2008
Confronting a slowing economy and continuing political deadlock, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda abruptly resigned on Monday after just under a year in power. While Fukuda expressed the hope that...
Japan-South Korea tension heightens over disputed islets
By John Chan, August 4, 2008
After an attempted rapprochement earlier this year, relations between South Korea and Japan have deteriorated since the Japanese government’s decision on July 14 to include its claim over the tiny D...
Japan: Rising fuel prices lead to largest ever fishermen’s strike
By Eric Des Marais, July 29, 2008
In the largest strike ever in the history of the industry, Japanese fishermen brought the nation’s 200,000-strong fishing fleet to a grinding halt on July 15 to protest against the high fuel pri...
Random killing in Tokyo points to deepening social crisis in Japan
By John Chan, June 23, 2008
Millions of Japanese citizens were shocked by a bloody lunchtime scene on June 8, when Tomohiro Kato, a 25-year-old temporary auto worker, went to Tokyo’s busy Akihabara shopping district, ran d...
