For the first time, the Supreme Court has ruled a memorandum of understanding, certified by a notary public and signed by an individual making a large donation to a religious corporation based on his or her own free will and who has agreed not to file any lawsuit or other claim for damages against the corporation, to be invalid.
Taiwan’s Vice President Lai Ching-te of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), who won the presidential election earlier this year, will assume the presidency today. This is a milestone for the DPP as it marks three consecutive terms in power, a first for the party.
Given the role drones are currently playing in Ukrainian war zones, the issue of a video posted on Chinese social media, showing a drone taking aerial footage of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) destroyer “Izumo” docked at Yokosuka Naval Base, needs to be addressed as a realistic threat. Laws should be developed to crack down on suspicious drones and enforcement measures should be implemented.
The ruling and opposition parties will begin discussions on imperial succession this week led by the Speakers of both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors. While it may take time to reach a consensus of the legislature, talks proceeding in accordance with the principle of male succession is most important. Stable succession will only be possible if the imperial line is preserved
A new law on the protection and use of critical economic and security information was enacted to establish a security clearance system under which the government certifies those considered worthy of handling critical information in the economic and security fields
The 77th Constitution Day has come. Japan’s Constitution has never been amended since it was enacted in 1947, and the original text remains unchanged to this day.
Today is Showa Day, the birthday of Emperor Showa. Reflecting back on the “Showa Era (1926-1989), a period of reconstruction after the upheaval,” we would like to consider today’s Japan as a mirror of those times.
The Diplomatic Bluebook for 2024 was reported to the Cabinet by Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa. The expression“mutually beneficial relations based on common strategic interests (herein referred to as ‘strategic reciprocity’)”with China was revived for the first time in five years.
In the South Korean general election, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) lost seats and opposition parties, represented by the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), gained seats, further straining the administration and legislature. However, the total number of seats held by opposition parties fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to pass the presidential impeachment bill. In any case, President Yoon Seok-yeol will inevitably become a lame duck with three years left in his term, and he will have to manage his administration with even greater difficulty.
The focus of the Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) political funds scandal has shifted to party members facing disciplinary action, following hearings by the Deliberative Councils on Political Ethics (DCPE) held in the House of Representatives and House of Councillors during the ordinary session of the Diet.
Hong Kong’s parliament, the Legislative Council, unanimously passed the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, which was approved in a mere 11 days of speedy deliberation after it was submitted to the Council, whose seats are predominantly occupied by pro-China groups. It must be said that this is a foolish act that threatens the freedom and prosperity of Hong Kong.
A lawsuit was filed against laws that prohibit different surnames for married couples, claiming they violate the constitution. As respect for the individual grows, more people are accepting separate surnames for married couples as an alternative. Nevertheless, we must not misunderstand the essence of the problem.
Another unacceptable ruling has been issued. The Sapporo High Court ruled that the existing system, which does not recognize same-sex marriages, violates the Constitution. Although not a final ruling, it is a matter of great concern that courts continue to ignore the significance of marriage in their rulings.
The European Parliament of the EU has approved the final draft of regulatory legislation concerning the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) by a majority vote. This marks the world's first AI regulatory law, which is set to come into effect in 2026 following the agreement of member states.
The government has approved the Critical Economic and Security Information Protection and Utilization Bill at the Cabinet meeting and submitted it to the Diet, in order to establish a security clearance system under which the government will certify qualified personnel to handle critical economic and security information.
It has been reported in the media that Masahito Moriyama, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, has received election support from the Unification Church (now known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, or FFWPU), and has connections with this religious group and its affiliated organizations.
