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Asahi Shimbun
19-07-2025
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
A loss for Ishiba could worsen political instability in the face of US tariffs and rising prices
A pedestrian passes an election board displaying posters of candidates for the upcoming July 20 upper house election in Tokyo, Friday, July 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte) Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba faces an increasingly uphill battle in Sunday's upper house election, and a loss could worsen political instability at a time of daunting challenges, such as rising prices and high U.S. tariffs. A poor performance would not immediately trigger a change of government but it would deepen uncertainty over his fate and Japan's future path. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party suffered a humiliating loss in a lower house election in October as its usual supporters registered their unhappiness over past corruption scandals and high prices. Ishiba is struggling to regain voter confidence. His minority government has since been forced into making concessions to the opposition to get legislation through the Diet, or parliament. That has hindered its ability to quickly deliver effective measures to curb rising prices and win wage increases. On top of shortages and soaring prices for rice, a traditional staple, Ishiba has been stymied by President Donald Trump's tariff demands. Frustrated voters are rapidly turning to emerging populist parties, including one that is promoting anti-foreign policies and backpedaling on gender equality and diversity. Here's a look at Sunday's election: Ishiba has set a low bar for the vote — a simple majority. Half of the 248 seats for six-year terms in the upper house are being decided, and the LDP and its junior coalition partner Komeito would need to win a combined 50. Added to the 75 coalition-held seats that are not being contested in this election, it would be a big retreat from the 141 seats the coalition held before the election. If the ruling coalition fails to secure a majority, 'there will be a move within the LDP to dump Ishiba,' said Yu Uchiyama, a University of Tokyo professor of political science. 'It makes a leadership very unstable.' Under any successor, the ruling coalition would be a minority in both houses, he said. If Ishiba's coalition secures a majority and he stays on, his leadership will remain weak, with little hope of improved support ratings, Uchiyama said. 'Either way, it is essential for the minority government to seek opposition parties' cooperation to achieve any policy.' Measures to mitigate soaring prices, lagging incomes and burdensome social security payments are the top focus of frustrated, cash-strapped voters. Rice prices have doubled since last year due to supply shortages, overly complex distribution systems and other reasons related to Japan's farming, causing panic buying as Ishiba has struggled to resolve the crisis. Trump has added to that pressure, complaining about a lack of progress in trade negotiations, blaming a lack of sales of U.S. autos and American-grown rice to Japan despite a shortfall in domestic stocks of the grain. A 25% tariff due to take effect Aug. 1 has been another blow for Ishiba. Ishiba has resisted any compromise before the election, but the prospect for a breakthrough after the election is just as unclear because the minority government would have difficulty forming a consensus with the opposition. The rice issue has cost Ishiba one farm minister. Rice prices remain high even after the farm minister's replacement, Shinjiro Koizumi, moved quickly and boldly to address the problem by ordering the emergency release of stored rice from reserves, helping to refill grocery store shelves in time for the election. Koizumi, son of popular former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, is a potential challenger to Ishiba. Stricter measures targeting foreign residents and visitors have suddenly emerged as a key issue. The Sanseito party stands out with the toughest anti-foreigner stance with its 'Japanese First' platform that proposes a new agency to centralize policies related to foreigners. It wants stricter screening for allowing Japanese citizenship and to exclude non-Japanese from welfare benefits. The party's populist platform is also anti-vaccine, anti-globalism and favors traditional gender roles. Its stance has encouraged the spread of xenophobic rhetoric in the election campaign and on social media, critics say. A typical claim is that a rapid increase in foreign workers has hurt Japanese workers' wages and that foreigners use a large share of welfare benefits and have made Japanese society unsafe. 'Foreigners are used as targets to vent their discontent and unease,' Uchiyama said, comparing the scapegoating to that in Europe and the United States under Trump. Experts say most of the rhetoric is disinformation aimed at frustrations among Japanese struggling to get by. Government statistics show foreign residents account for about 3% of both Japan's total population and of welfare benefit recipients. The Liberal Democrats, under a slogan 'zero illegal immigrants,' have pledged to crack down on growing illegal employment of foreigners and against allowing them to default on social insurance payments or medical bills. The party also set up a task force to promote an orderly society, a move aimed at enforcing stricter measures on foreigners to address growing public unease. The rising conservative Democratic Party for the People, or the DPP, also is calling to restrict foreign ownership of Japanese real estate. The move triggered protests by human rights activists and alarmed foreign residents. Given that its population is rapidly aging and shrinking, Japan needs foreign workers. It should discuss immigration policy more strategically, Takahide Kiuchi, an executive economist at Nomura Research Institute, wrote in a recent analysis. Conservative to centrist opposition groups, including the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, or CDPJ, the DPP, and Sanseito have gained significant ground at the Liberal Democrats' expense. They are believed to be raking in conservative supporters of the ruling party who are disappointed by Ishiba's leadership and flip-flops on policies. Ishiba is caught between his party's ultraconservatives and mainstream opposition leaders. Still, the eight main opposition groups are too fractured to forge a common platform as a united front and gain voter support as a viable alternative. When Ishiba lost big in October, there was speculation about a trilateral coalition government with the Komeito and the DPP or another conservative group, the Japan Innovation Party. But they've since cooperated only on certain legislation. If the ruling coalition loses its upper house majority, that could spark a regrouping among coalitions. Yoshihiko Noda, a former prime minister and head of the opposition CDPJ, said the loss of ruling coalition majorities in both houses of parliament would enable opposition parties to push policies blocked by the LDP. Those include cuts in the consumption tax, recognition of same-sex marriages, and a law allowing married couples the option of each keeping their own names.
Toronto Sun
13-06-2025
- Climate
- Toronto Sun
Japan's chief meteorologist calls rumours of a July earthquake a hoax
Published Jun 13, 2025 • 1 minute read Tourists walk through the Torii path at Nezu Shrine in Tokyo, Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Photo by Louise Delmotte / AP TOKYO (AP) — The head of Japan's meteorological agency on Friday dismissed widespread rumors of a major earthquake in Japan this summer as unscientific and a 'hoax,' urging people not to worry because even the most advanced science still cannot predict any quake or tsunami. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account 'At the moment, it is still impossible to predict an earthquake with specific timing, location or its magnitude,' Japan Meteorological Agency Director General Ryoichi Nomura told reporters. 'Any such prediction is a hoax, and there is absolutely no need to worry about such disinformation.' Nomura was referring to rumors in Hong Kong and other Asian cities of a major earthquake or a tsunami in July in Japan have led to flight cancellations and reductions in service, affecting tourism. He said it was 'unfortunate' that many people are affected by the disinformation, though he sympathized with the sense of unease that the people tend to develop toward something invisible. The rumor originates from a 2022 Japanese comic book 'The future I saw,' which features a dream foreseeing a tsunami and is also available in Chinese. The chatter began spreading earlier this year through social media, mainly in Hong Kong. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The author previously gained attention for allegedly predicting the 2011 quake and tsunami in northern Japan, which killed more than 18,000 people. Japan, which sits on the Pacific 'ring of fire,' is one of the world's most quake-prone countries. Last summer, a panel of seismologists noted a slight increase in the probability of a megaquake on Japan's Pacific coasts. The government organized an awareness-raising week but only triggered panic buying, beach closures and other overreactions and complaints. While it is important to inform people about the science, Nomura said, it is also necessary for everyone in this quake-prone country to take early precautions. 'In Japan, an earthquake can occur anytime, anywhere,' Nomura said. 'So I ask everyone to take this opportunity to ensure your preparedness for a major quake.' Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto & GTA Columnists Sunshine Girls Columnists
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Want to buy Nintendo Switch 2 in India? This is how much you will have to pay
A customer purchases Nintendo Switch 2 at an electronics retailer in Tokyo, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte) Nintendo Switch 2 will be available in India from June 8, despite Nintendo's lack of official presence in the country, with pricing ranging between Rs. 58,000 to Rs. 65,000 across different cities and retailers, per to 0451 Games newsletter. In the US, the Switch 2 comes at a retail price of $499, i.e. Rs ~42,000. Despite the marked up price, the Switch 2 won't be available in day-one in India. According to report, attributing to the supply chain sources, day-one availability will be limited in India, but stock should flow freely from next week. The delay is attributed to holidays in key markets like the UAE, from which substantial portions of Indian stock are expected. Why the Nintendo Switch 2 costs so much more in India The significantly higher pricing, well above earlier estimates of Rs 45,000 to Rs 50,000, per the report, stems from Nintendo's delayed certification process in the Middle East region. While the console has been sold in Middle Eastern markets for over a week, Indian parallel importers are sourcing stock from the US and Europe at marked-up rates, according to the report. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo "Prices should normalise by August or October latest, when the Switch 2 is out in more countries," said one Mumbai-based store owner told 0451 Games. "But if you want it month one, forget day one, you'll be paying more because we are paying more." Retailers report paying approximately EUR 500 (around Rs. 50,000) plus 15-20 percent markup for the Mario Kart World bundle , which comprises over 80 percent of expected Indian stock due to standard console shortages. The new Mario Kart World game will be available alongside the console launch, which will also come at 15-20% mark up. Meanwhile, third-party Switch 2 games like Hogwarts Legacy are releasing officially in India on schedule, creating an unusual scenario where software arrives before hardware through official channels. Nintendo's India plans still unclear Despite the thriving parallel import market, the report says that sources familiar with Nintendo's plans indicate the company is considering establishing an official Indian presence, potentially partnering with distributor Redington. However, no timeline has been confirmed for this move. The situation mirrors Nintendo's historical approach with previous consoles like the Wii and original Switch, where parallel imports consistently filled demand gaps in emerging markets. Nintendo's focus remains primarily on the US, Europe, and Japan, treating other regions as secondary priorities. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Want to buy Nintendo Switch 2 in India? This is how much you could have to pay
A customer purchases Nintendo Switch 2 at an electronics retailer in Tokyo, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte) Nintendo Switch 2 will be available in India from June 8, despite Nintendo's lack of official presence in the country, with pricing ranging between Rs. 58,000 to Rs. 65,000 across different cities and retailers, per to 0451 Games newsletter, . In the US, the Switch 2 comes at a retail price of $499, i.e. Rs ~42,000. Despite the marked up price, the Switch 2 won't be available in day-one in India. According to report, attributing to the supply chain sources, day-one availability will be limited in India, but stock should flow freely from next week. The delay is attributed to holidays in key markets like the UAE, from which substantial portions of Indian stock are expected. Why the Nintendo Switch 2 costs so much more in India The significantly higher pricing, well above earlier estimates of Rs 45,000 to Rs 50,000, per the report, stems from Nintendo's delayed certification process in the Middle East region. While the console has been sold in Middle Eastern markets for over a week, Indian parallel importers are sourcing stock from the US and Europe at marked-up rates, according to the report. "Prices should normalise by August or October latest, when the Switch 2 is out in more countries," said one Mumbai-based store owner told 0451 Games. "But if you want it month one, forget day one, you'll be paying more because we are paying more." Retailers report paying approximately EUR 500 (around Rs. 50,000) plus 15-20 percent markup for the Mario Kart World bundle , which comprises over 80 percent of expected Indian stock due to standard console shortages. The new Mario Kart World game will be available alongside the console launch, which will also come at 15-20% mark up. Meanwhile, third-party Switch 2 games like Hogwarts Legacy are releasing officially in India on schedule, creating an unusual scenario where software arrives before hardware through official channels. Nintendo's India plans still unclear Despite the thriving parallel import market, the report says that sources familiar with Nintendo's plans indicate the company is considering establishing an official Indian presence, potentially partnering with distributor Redington. However, no timeline has been confirmed for this move. The situation mirrors Nintendo's historical approach with previous consoles like the Wii and original Switch, where parallel imports consistently filled demand gaps in emerging markets. Nintendo's focus remains primarily on the US, Europe, and Japan, treating other regions as secondary priorities. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Japan Today
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Nintendo releases Switch 2 console to strong demand
Customers line up to purchase Nintendo Switch 2 at an electronics retailer in Tokyo on Thursday. Nintendo Co on Thursday released the Switch 2, its first new gaming console in more than eight years, with robust preorder demand creating optimism the device will boost the company's fortunes. The Kyoto-based gaming giant expects to sell 15 million units of the device globally in the current business year through March. Nintendo said in April it attracted larger-than-expected preorder interest, with some 2.2 million people in Japan applying for a lottery in hopes of securing one at release. The successor to the original Switch, released in March 2017, is priced at 49,980 yen ($350) for the Japanese-only version. The multilanguage version of the device is available for 69,980 yen. The new console includes new features such as screen sharing and voice chat via a built-in microphone. It also features a larger screen with roughly twice the pixel count of the original Switch and supports 4K output on televisions. Along with the console, the company released the "Mario Kart World" game, its latest installment of the popular racing series. In Tokyo, dozens of people who won the lottery lined up in the morning before the opening of an electronics store in the Ikebukuro area. "It's great that players can see each other while playing. I can't wait to go home and play," said Koji Takahashi from Saitama Prefecture, who was first in line after arriving before 6 a.m. Staff and members of the public try the Nintendo Switch 2 during a launch event at an electronics retailer in Tokyo on Thursday. Image: AP/Louise Delmotte Satoshi Ayame was unsuccessful in the lottery but went to the store's release event to get hands-on experience with the long-awaited console. "I took a half-day off because I wanted to try this so bad," the 39-year-old said. Reflecting the solid interest in the Switch 2, Nintendo said in May that it expects the company's sales for fiscal 2025 to jump 63.1 percent from the previous year to 1.9 trillion yen. President Shuntaro Furukawa said it will increase production of the new device in response to the strong demand. The Switch has been one of Nintendo's best-performing consoles, with more than 150 million units moved. However, it has seen declining sales in recent years as the hardware aged after peaking at 28.8 million units in fiscal 2020. © KYODO
