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June 24, 2026
 

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CONSTITUTION

A bill to criminalize the act of damaging the national flag is among the measures the Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party plan to enact during the current special Diet session under their deal to form a ruling coalition.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 24, 2026
Lower House begins discussions on flag-vandalism bill
Under the bill, those who publicly deface the flag in a way that causes the public to feel extremely uncomfortable or disgusted would be subject to imprisonment or a fine.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at a World War II memorial event in Okinawa on Tuesday
JAPAN
Jun 24, 2026
Takaichi heckled at WWII memorial in Okinawa
A small but vocal number of demonstrators shouted slogans throughout Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi¡¯s speech at an event commemorating the 81st anniversary of the Battle of Okinawa.
Debate on constitutional revision is intensifying in commissions on the Constitution in both chambers of the Diet, Japan's parliament, during the ongoing special session.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jun 24, 2026
Constitutional debates intensify in Japan parliament over emergency clause
Lower House lawmakers have been debating an emergency clause that would allow legislators¡¯ terms to be extended in the event of a disaster or crisis.
A Lower House committee votes on a revised constitutional referendum bill in Tokyo on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 19, 2026
Bill easing referendum procedures for constitutional amendments clears Lower House
While the bill addresses concerns about counting votes and public service announcements, the question of legislating internet and social media commercials about amendments remains.
A resident of a village isolated by the Noto earthquake expresses his gratitude as he heads to a Self-Defense Forces rescue helicopter, in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Jan. 6, 2024.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jun 17, 2026
¡®Poor kids join the SDF¡¯ remark reflects deeper debate over Japan¡¯s military
The statement by a CDP lawmaker exposed a widening gap between public support for the SDF and the political debates that continue to shape Japan¡¯s civil-military relations.
The Legal Education Support Association was established in January 2023 by lawyer Akihide Kumada and others concerned about the decreasing number of young people wanting to become legal professionals.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jun 3, 2026
Association champions legal careers through judicial education for students
The Legal Education Support Association was established amid concern about fewer young people wanting to become legal professionals.
Protesters opposed to revising Japan¡¯s ¡°peace¡± Constitution take part in a rally in Tokyo on May 3.
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 29, 2026
Goyo gakusha: Welcome to Japan¡¯s new cancel culture
Guilt by affiliation is not scholarship. It is the abandonment of scholarship.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party, its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, and the opposition Democratic Party for the People voiced support Sunday for creating an emergency constitutional clause to extend lawmakers¡¯ terms during major disasters.
JAPAN / Politics
May 24, 2026
LDP, JIP and DPP seek emergency clause in Constitution
The LDP¡¯s Yoshitaka Shindo said, ¡°If a state of emergency coincides with an election period, how will we run the country?¡±
A Japanese national flag outside the Liberal Democratic Party headquarters in Tokyo last July.
JAPAN / Politics
May 23, 2026
LDP OKs draft bill to punish national flag vandalism
The draft calls for penalties of up to two years in prison or fines of as much as ?200,000 for acts of vandalism that cause ¡°extreme discomfort or disgust.¡±
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a debate at the Lower House of parliament in Tokyo on Wednesday.
JAPAN
May 21, 2026
Takaichi Cabinet¡¯s approval rate almost flat at 59.4%
By political party, Takaichi¡¯s ruling Liberal Democratic Party remained the most popular party, backed by 27.8% of all respondents, up 2.1 points.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party has presented a draft bill proposing penalties for both public vandalism of the Japanese national flag and the posting of related videos and images on social media, but it withheld approval amid concerns over freedom of expression.
JAPAN / Politics
May 15, 2026
LDP seeks to penalize sharing national flag vandalism online
The outline also calls for?penalties of up to two years in prison or fines of up to ?200,000 for individuals who publicly damage the flag.
Keiji Furuya (center rear), chair of the House of Representatives¡¯ Commission on the Constitution, attends a meeting of senior committee members at parliament on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
May 13, 2026
Draft of emergency clause for Constitution includes extending lawmakers¡¯ terms
The draft did not show an upper limit for how long lawmakers¡¯ terms can be extended, while stating there are opinions calling for setting it to ¡°one year¡± or ¡°six months.¡±
The Osaka High Court in the city of Osaka. While the court did not order specific action in the case of a person seeking a nonbinary gender designation in Japan's family register system, it said that the lack of legal recognition infringes on Article 14 of the Constitution.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
May 13, 2026
High court finds exclusion of nonbinary gender option in family register system unconstitutional
Gender identity is ¡°directly linked to an individual¡¯s personal existence, making it a significant legal good,¡± the court has said in its judgment.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi gives a speech in Hanoi on Saturday.
JAPAN / Politics
May 3, 2026
Article 9 in focus as Takaichi pushes for revision of Constitution
Without explicitly mentioning Article 9, Takaichi said the charter ¡ª unchanged since 1947 ¡ª must be updated to reflect today¡¯s international environment and security realities.
Prefectural governors attend a meeting of the National Governors' Association in December.
JAPAN / Politics
May 3, 2026
18 governors in Japan see need for constitutional revision
The governor of Okinawa disagreed, while 24 others, including leaders from Nagano, Hyogo, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, gave noncommittal answers.
A ceremony is held at Misawa Air Base to mark the arrival of the first operational F-35A Lightning II to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force¡¯s 3rd Air Wing in February 2018. The SDF is already one of the world's best equipped militaries.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 28, 2026
Japan¡¯s constitutional theater: Revising Article 9 would be a mistake.
The distance between constitutional language and security practice is not a mistake that needs correcting.
A Type-88 missile is test-fired near Shinhidaka, Hokkaido, in June. Japan¡¯s easing of arms export restrictions is intended to strengthen security cooperation and defense capabilities while adapting to a more unstable global environment.
EDITORIALS
Apr 24, 2026
Japan¡¯s new arms export stance and changing security realities
This new policy responds to the new security reality, recognizing that dangers are mounting and every nation must do more.
Lower House Constitution Commission Chair Keiji Furuya (center) in a session on Thursday
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 23, 2026
Panel on change to Constitution eyes ¡®emergency¡¯ clause to deliver breakthrough
Those favoring revision discuss streamlining policy shifts and extensions of lawmakers¡¯ terms, while others question if changes are necessary.
Japan Innovation Party head Hirofumi Yoshimura meets with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at parliament on March 17.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 18, 2026
LDP and JIP remain divided over revision of Constitution¡¯s Article 9
The Liberal Democratic Party is worried the Japan Innovation Party¡¯s hawkish approach to revising the pacifist clause won¡¯t sit well with the public.
Chairperson Hiroyuki Nagahama (center rear) and others attend a House of Councilors constitutional review committee hearing at the Diet building on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Apr 17, 2026
Four things to understand in Japan¡¯s constitutional debate
Japan¡¯s legislature started debate on constitutional amendment as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged to have a proposal ready in a year.
Japanese companies get serious about workplace DEI
People working in human resources departments participate in a workshop in Tokyo in January. The participants played a card game in which they took on roles of people with various disabilities.
Study finds large gap in daily steps people in Japan take, depending on area
Employed people walk more than those without jobs, a study from the University of Tokyo found, suggesting factors beyond the environment also shape how much people walk.
Japan to raise visa fees for foreign nationals in first revision in 48 years
Tourists from abroad wearing kimonos pose for a souvenir photo with cherry blossoms in the city of Kyoto in March.
Consumer affairs watchdog raises alarm over air conditioner repair scams
The National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan has issued a warning over a rise in air conditioner repair scams.
China accuses Japan of ¡®harassment¡¯ during far-seas aircraft carrier training
China's Liaoning aircraft carrier takes part in a military drill in the western Pacific in April 2018.
Stepping up, not aside: Japan¡¯s retirement-age tour guides
Yoichi Miura (third from left) now divides his time between his import business and guiding international visitors across Japan.
Japan-South Korea detente persists ¡ª but breakthrough remains elusive
While Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung have kept relations from sliding backward, experts say they have struggled to turn stability into concrete steps forward.
Japan¡¯s AI goldrush faces backlash as data centers sprout up in urban areas
Erin and Munekazu Tanikawa look out from their balcony at the construction site of a planned 52-meter-tall data center that would dominate their surroundings, in the city of Inzai, Chiba Prefecture, last month.
Distracted walkers in Japan are a real safety risk. My mother knows firsthand.
In Tokyo and other major Japanese cities, <i>aruki-sumaho</i> ¡ª walking while using a smartphone ¡ª has become a persistent safety concern as commuters navigate crowded stations and sidewalks while focused on their devices.
Can automation offset Japan¡¯s military workforce shortage?
A Ground Self-Defense Force uncrewed ground vehicle takes part in a live-fire military exercise at the Higashi Fuji Training Field in Shizuoka Prefecture on May 7.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo¡¯s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo¡¯s ¡®stadium of desire¡¯

Longform

Social camouflaging can help neurodivergent people navigate social situations, but researchers say the effort often comes with significant emotional and mental strain.
The challenge of being neurodivergent in Japan¡¯s culture of conformity
By Tomoko Otake

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