3 Japan Self-Defense Force members dead in tank accident Tank shell explodes unintentionally during training in Oita prefecture

RIP asia.nikkei.com/politics/def...

x.com/haugejostein...

A high-speed rail network doesn’t substitute for institutional trust, legal recourse, or freedom of information.—You’re just choosing not to weigh it.”

Admitting censorship, lack of political pluralism, and weak work-life balance—then saying the ‘gap has closed’—it’s incoherence.You’re conflating infrastructure with quality of life.

Jostein —You openly acknowledge censorship, weak pluralism, and work-life issues—then declare the gap ‘closed’ anyway.That only works if you treat those factors as optional.They’re not. They’re the difference between surface modernity and actual quality of life.

I like them all

Japan Scraps Most Curbs on Exporting Weapons in Historic Shift Japan removed most of its restrictions on weapons exports, allowing the nation to sell arms overseas for the first time since World War II in a move aimed at strengthening its defense industrial base.

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

裏那圭◾️KEI URANA on X: "I’ve spent the past few days researching the circumstances in different countries, including financial situations. I understand that for many people, pirate sites are the only way they can read manga. I also understand that prices can be higher overseas. I’ve even seen people" / X I’ve spent the past few days researching the circumstances in different countries, including financial situations. I understand that for many people, pirate sites are the only way they can read manga. I also understand that prices can be higher overseas. I’ve even seen people

x.com/kei_urana/st...

Why do I feel like Urana an angel?

You understand how crazy it is for an author from a country that is known for being super strict about manga piracy, to find out that her manga is being pirated, and instead of laying down the legal hammer, says she’s working on making manga more accessible and

x.com/kei_urana/st...

I once interviewed at a company where the HR manager, who was Spanish, asked about my hobbies.
Without thinking much of it, I mentioned that I enjoy comics and watching anime.
He immediately responded by calling those interests childish and immature.
It got a little awkward.

William Yang on X: "Decisions on whether to export lethal weapons will be examined by the National Security Council, which includes the prime minister and relevant ministers, and be limited to countries that have defense equipment and tech transfer deals with Japan." / X Decisions on whether to export lethal weapons will be examined by the National Security Council, which includes the prime minister and relevant ministers, and be limited to countries that have defense equipment and tech transfer deals with Japan.

x.com/williamyang1...

NSC case-by-case review = political filter

So Every case is political
Taiwan = high escalation sensitivity with China

So it’s not just “can they?”
It becomes are they willing to take that risk?

x.com/williamyang1...

“…limited to countries that have defense equipment and tech transfer deals with Japan.”

So on paper, Taiwan doesn’t qualify right now.

how would Japan evaluate potential defense equipment transfers to Taiwan, given the existing legal and diplomatic constraints?

In major policy shift, Japan scraps limits on lethal arms exports The changes come amid intensifying geopolitical rivalries and Japan's growing engagement in international defense-industrial projects.

Does the updated policy framework allow for any form of defense equipment transfer to Taiwan, or is Taiwan effectively excluded in practice? The policy expands export flexibility—but where does Taiwan actually fall in that framework? www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04...

Japan's biggest airlines bring forward fuel surcharge to cope with Iran war ANA and JAL move up price hike after costs rise more than expected

asia.nikkei.com/business/com...

Trump treats the global economy like a Vegas slot machine: pull the lever, claim the jackpot, and ignore the ledger.

JAL, ANA to Double Fuel Surcharges in May Tokyo, April 20 (Jiji Press)--Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways said Monday that they will double their fu…

www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2...

“‘America First’ somehow turned into ‘Everyone Pays More.’
Fuel spikes, airlines panic, and global passengers foot the bill—"Trump truly has impressive leadership.”

Fans should know how many seats are being held back.

x.com/ashdgandhi/s...

Big lawsuit likley coming.

BREAKING: Beijing expels New York Times correspondent Vivian Wang over Taiwan row Exclusive: Visa denial followed Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s appearance at NYT’s DealBook summit.

formosareview.substack.com/p/breaking-b...

@FareedZakaria while you are in China will you ask MoFA why they just revoked the visa of a New York Times journalist?

スパイ監視、実現の鍵はまだ議論の俎上にも上がっていない「通信傍受」 日本政府は、外国のスパイ活動を監視・制限するための法整備を進めており、特に「スパイ防止法」の導入が議論されている。現在の法制度では、情報漏洩の防止に重点が置かれ、外国スパイの監視が不十分とされる。諸外国の事例を参考に、民間人を装ったスパイへの対策が求められており、通信傍受の導入にも慎重な議論が必要とされている。

Article by intelligence expert Kotani Ken on Japan’s proposed intelligence reforms. He notes that the biggest hurdle is to begin communication intercepts against foreign officials operating within Japan, a topic that Japan has barely begun to discuss. gendai.media/articles/-/1...

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