News

Japan's trade surplus returned in February 2024, driven by a robust 11.4% annual growth in exports, despite concerns over potential auto tariffs from the United States. The February surplus amounted to 584 billion yen ($3.9 billion), a significant improvement from the 415 billion yen deficit recorded in the same month the previous year.

Former top uniformed officer of the Self-Defense Forces, Shigeru Iwasaki, has been appointed as a political affairs consultant to Taiwan's Cabinet, marking a rare instance of a former senior SDF official taking on a role within the Taiwanese administration. This move is seen as a strategic step by Taiwan to strengthen its security ties with Japan, potentially drawing opposition from China.

Japan's Lower House passed the initial budget for fiscal 2025, marking the first time in 29 years the Diet revised the initial budget bill and the first time in 70 years it reduced the initial budget amount. The budget includes measures to provide free high school education, a key demand of the opposition Nippon Ishin party.

Mio Sugita, a former LDP lawmaker with a history of discriminatory remarks, has been nominated as a candidate for the upcoming Upper House election, sparking controversy and raising concerns about the party's commitment to human rights. The LDP leadership has urged Sugita to reflect on her past statements and has emphasized that the party does not condone her remarks.

Billions of yen in government subsidies have fueled a surge in industrial park development in Fukushima, but a lack of workers returning to the area remains a major challenge. Despite government efforts to attract businesses and create jobs, the long-term impact of the nuclear disaster continues to hinder population growth and economic recovery.