Latest news with #YurikoKoike
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First Post
10 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
Will Tokyo become the new home of the United Nations?
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has proposed shifting some United Nations functions to the Japanese capital, citing safety, security, and cost advantages amid a weak yen. With the UN seeking to cut costs and the US pulling back from key agencies, Japan is positioning itself as a stronger global player — and a possible new UN hub read more The United Nations (UN) commemorates its 80th anniversary this year. New York City has played host to UN headquarters since its inception. But now with changing global tides, especially the active withdrawal of the United States from numerous global roles it took on in the last few decades, questions rise over where the UN should anchor its future operations. Across the Pacific, is Tokyo a viable option? Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has openly suggested that parts of the UN's functions — and possibly even major offices — be relocated to the Japanese capital. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While still preliminary, the discussions do have a solid foundation as they complement Japan's ambitions to expand its global role and the UN's search for a more efficient, secure, and strategically located operational hub. Koike's campaign to attract the UN to Tokyo During a visit this month to the United States, Koike placed Tokyo's offer on the table in high-level discussions. On July 24, 2025, she met UN Secretary-General António Guterres for a 15-minute session in New York. The United Nations headquarters building is pictured with a UN logo in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, US, March 1, 2022. File Image/ Reuters Speaking afterward, she explained her pitch clearly: 'Tokyo would like to provide various types of support [to the UN],' pointing to the city's strengths, including 'public safety, security and now, with the weak yen, there are other positive aspects to life.' Koike's trip had a broader agenda. She addressed an audience at Johns Hopkins School of International Studies in Washington, pointing out Tokyo's emergence as a key global city, and met policy experts at the Hudson Institute, where discussions ranged from Tokyo's sustainability plans to its aspirations for greater international engagement. Although she refrained from presenting a detailed blueprint to Guterres, Koike has spoken before about possible relocations. At a Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly session in June, she suggested that functions from influential UN bodies — including the UN Security Council, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and even the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) — could, in theory, be shifted to Tokyo. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike gestures as she is set to win re-election in Tokyo Governor election, in Tokyo, Japan, July 7, 2024. File Image/Kyodo via Reuters Guterres offered no indication of whether such ideas might advance but confirmed that 'the United Nations has received offers of cooperation from various countries and regions,' framing Japan's proposal as one among many. A UN in transition, a world in flux The conversation about Tokyo comes at a time when the UN is already reconsidering its structure. Mounting costs in New York City have led to some decentralisation; parts of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) have been relocated to Nairobi, Kenya, where operational expenses are significantly lower. This internal reshuffling is being driven, in part, by financial pressures stemming from the US itself. Under President Donald Trump's second term, Washington has distanced itself from several UN programmes, shrinking the funding base for the organisation and creating ripple effects across its agencies. The withdrawals have been sweeping. Earlier this year, Trump announced that the US would again leave the World Health Organisation. In February, he signed an executive order to pull out of the UN Human Rights Council and halted contributions to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), citing concerns over institutional bias and inefficiency. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Most recently, he confirmed US' formal exit from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), effective at the close of 2026. UNESCO's Director-General Audrey Azoulay responded sharply, saying, 'This decision contradicts the fundamental principles of multilateralism and may affect first and foremost our many partners in the United States of America.' Japan's long relationship with the UN Japan is not a newcomer to the UN framework. Over the decades, it has been one of the organisation's largest financial contributors and has hosted several important bodies, such as the UN University and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees office. This history has fostered a policy tradition in Tokyo that places the UN at the heart of Japan's foreign policy. Speaking to South China Morning Post's This Week in Asia, Ben Ascione, an assistant professor of international relations at Waseda University, explained the broader motivation behind Koike's move: 'It is obviously very early days and I see this as Koike sounding Guterres out at this stage.' Buildings under construction are seen in a general view from Tokyo Tower of the city of Tokyo, Japan, August 6, 2021. Picture taken August 6, 2021. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne He elaborated, 'Firstly, something like this brings prestige and recognition. Japan has long placed importance on the UN's functions and has a history of a UN-centred foreign policy.' Ascione also highlighted the alignment between Japan's post-war constitution and the UN's mission: 'Article 9 of the Japanese constitution renounces war as a means of settling disputes and aligns closely with the UN's mandate to resolve international issues through dialogue.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This dovetails with the message Japanese policymakers have consistently projected — that Japan seeks to be viewed as a promoter of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific. The China question Another reason of motivation behind Tokyo's outreach is strategic competition. Japanese officials have watched with unease as China has expanded its presence within the UN. By the early 2010s, Chinese nationals were leading four of the organisation's 15 principal agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the UN Industrial Development Organisation, the International Telecommunication Union, and the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Beyond these top roles, nine of the 15 agencies also have Chinese deputy leaders. Critics have argued that Beijing has used its influence to support preferred candidates for other roles, including the current World Health Organisation Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus. This growing footprint has triggered anxiety in Tokyo about being sidelined in global governance. Hosting more UN functions could help Japan counterbalance China's sway, projecting itself instead as a neutral, rules-based actor. Ascione summarised the stakes plainly: 'Japan also wants to be seen as a leading peacemaker and stabiliser in the East Asia region and while these plans are tentative at the moment, I think it would be good if it did happen.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Tokyo's case: safety, stability, and cost savings Tokyo's pitch rests on several tangible factors. Koike has consistently stressed the city's reputation for safety and security — two issues that weigh heavily for any international institution housing thousands of staff. The city's infrastructure is another selling point. Japan's transport, communications, and disaster response systems are among the world's most advanced, offering the UN an operational advantage if more offices were based there. The weak yen also plays a surprising role in the proposal. With the Japanese currency trading low against the dollar, the cost of living and doing business in Tokyo has dropped for international organisations. Koike framed this as a practical benefit, saying Tokyo is well-placed to offer more affordable support to the UN at a time when cost reductions are high on the agenda. The UN has not yet signalled any immediate plan to relocate key headquarters functions, and any such move would involve intense negotiations among member states.
Tokyo Weekender
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Tokyo Weekender
Japanese Government Launches New Office To Deal With Unruly Foreigners
On Tuesday, the Japanese government held an inauguration ceremony for a new office that has been set up to respond to issues such as crime and over-tourism involving foreigners. Headed by Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary Wataru Sakata, the office will serve as a cross agency 'control tower,' with 78 employees, including officials from the Cabinet Office, the Justice Ministry and other bodies . List of Contents: Japanese Government Concerned About 'Conduct by Some Foreigners' The Rise of the Far-Right Yuriko Koike Warns Against 'Hate Speech' Related Posts Japanese Government Concerned About 'Conduct by Some Foreigners' 'Crimes and disorderly conduct by some foreigners, as well as the inappropriate use of various administrative systems, have created a situation in which the public feels uneasy and cheated,' said Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at Tuesday's kick-off ceremony. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, meanwhile, claimed that the establishment of the new office was not an election ploy by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). How to deal with the increasing number of foreigners in Japan has become a key issue ahead of the House of Councillors election this Sunday. The LDP has promised to 'accelerate efforts toward 'zero illegal foreigners.'' As for the Japan Innovation Party, it has pledged to 'accept foreigners for work purposes only if they can contribute to the growth of the Japanese economy.' Image and logo: Wikimedia The Rise of the Far-Right Immigration has become a hot topic mainly due to the rise of far-right parties. Sanseito, in particular, has been gaining traction with its 'Japanese First' slogan. In a recent survey conducted by The Asahi Shimbun , in which respondents were asked to name their preferred party based on certain policies, the LDP led in everything except 'policy on foreign residents.' Sanseito received the most support in that section. Speaking at the FCCJ two weeks ago, Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya said the Japanese first approach wasn't 'based on xenophobia.' He added, 'We're not intending to exclude foreign workers who are here legally. We just believe cheap foreign labor's not the right way.' The right-wing party is forecast to win seven seats in electoral districts and about eight proportional representation seats. Other parties have made more controversial statements about foreigners during the election campaign. During a stump speech on July 5, Naoki Hyakuta , leader of the minor right-wing opposition Conservative Party of Japan, said that foreign people 'disrespect Japanese culture, ignore the rules, assault Japanese people and steal their belongings.' A day earlier, NHK Party leader Takashi Tachibana described Black people and people of Islamic background as 'scary. ' Yuriko Koike Warns Against 'Hate Speech' Speaking at her regular news briefing on July 11, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike warned against 'hate speech and tendencies toward exclusion,' when she was asked about issues related to foreigners in Japan ahead of the House of Councillors election. Currently, foreign nationals account for around 3% of the total population in this country. However, the figure did reach a record high of 3.8 million last year. Related Posts NHK Leader Takashi Tachibana Calls Black and Muslim People 'Scary' Sanseito Leader Says 'Japanese First' Approach Is Not Based on Xenophobia Why Japanese Leftists Are Using Melonpan To Mock Sanseito
The Mainichi
16-07-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
News in Easy English: Tokyo governor warns against hate speech about foreigners
TOKYO -- Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike spoke at her regular news briefing on July 11. She was asked about campaign talk about foreign people before the July 20 House of Councillors election. Koike warned against "hate speech and tendencies toward exclusion." She said she believes policies "leading to problems such as hate speech and exclusionary behavior pose severe risks." Koike also talked about news stories on crimes by foreign people. She said, "Many people may be wondering whether things are really OK." Koike added that she hoped people will talk about how to coexist smoothly with foreigners. She also said that there are foreign people from diverse backgrounds living in many parts of Japan's capital, and so the Tokyo government wants to continue clearly telling them the rules of Tokyo and Japan. (Japanese original by Ryo Endo, Tokyo City News Department) Vocabulary hate speech: words that hurt or attack people from other groups tendencies: ways people often act exclusion: not letting someone join or be part of a group policies: plans or rules made by leaders coexist: to live together peacefully diverse: different; from many places or backgrounds
Khaleej Times
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Tokyo voters punish Japan ruling party ahead of national election
Voters in Tokyo knocked Japan's ruling party from its position as the largest group in the city assembly, results showed on Monday, a warning sign for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's unpopular government before July elections. Japanese media said it was a record-low result in the key local ballot for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has led the country almost continuously since 1955. Public support for Ishiba, who took office in October, has been at rock-bottom for months, partly because of high inflation, with rice prices doubling over the past year. The LDP took 21 Tokyo assembly seats in Sunday's vote, including three won by candidates previously affiliated with the party but not officially endorsed following a political funding scandal. This breaks the party's previous record low of 23 seats from 2017, according to the Asahi Shimbun and other local media. Ishiba described the results as a "very harsh judgement". "We will study what part of our campaign pledge failed to resonate with voters and ensure we learn from this," he told reporters on Monday. Tomin First no Kai, founded by Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike, increased its seats in the 127-member assembly to 31, becoming the largest party. The funding scandal "may have affected" the result, Shinji Inoue, head of the LDP's Tokyo chapter, said Sunday as exit polls were released. Policies to address inflation "didn't reach voters' ears very well" with opposition parties also pledging to tackle the issue, Inoue said. Cost of living Within weeks Ishiba will face elections for parliament's upper house, with reports saying the national ballot could be held on July 20. Voters angry with rising prices and political scandals deprived Ishiba's LDP and its junior coalition partner of a majority in the powerful lower house in October, marking the party's worst general election result in 15 years. Polls this month showed a slight uptick in support, however, thanks in part to policies to tackle high rice prices. Several factors lie behind recent shortages of rice at Japanese shops, including an intensely hot and dry summer two years ago that damaged harvests nationwide, and panic-buying after a "mega-quake" warning last year. Some traders have been hoarding rice in a bid to boost their profits down the line, experts say. Not including volatile fresh food, goods and energy in Japan were 3.7 percent higher in May than a year earlier. To help households combat the cost of living, Ishiba has pledged cash handouts of 20,000 yen ($139) for every citizen ahead of the upper house election. 'Severe' result Masahisa Endo, a politics professor at Waseda University, described the Tokyo assembly result as "severe" for the ruling party. "Tokyo is not a stronghold for the LDP, but it's possible that its support is weakening across the nation," he said. Even if Ishiba fails to win an upper-house majority, it is hard to see who would want to take his place, while Japan's opposition parties are too divided to mount a credible challenge to the LDP's power, Endo told AFP. The opposition Democratic Party For the People (DPP) won seats for the first time in the Tokyo assembly vote, securing nine. The DPP's campaign pledge for the July election includes sales tax cuts to boost household incomes. Sunday's voter turnout rate was 47.6 percent, compared to the 42.4 percent four years ago, according to local media. A record 295 candidates ran -- the highest since 1997, including 99 women candidates, also a record high. The number of women assembly members rose to 45 from 41, results showed.
Japan Times
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Tokyo election results signal uncertainty for LDP ahead of Upper House race
The Liberal Democratic Party suffered a major setback in Sunday's Tokyo assembly election, winning just 21 seats — a record low and down from the 30 it previously held . The most seats went to Tomin First no Kai (Tokyoites First), backed by Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike. The poor performance raised concerns within Japan's biggest party as it heads into the Upper House election, expected to be held on July 20. 'It was a very tough election,' said Shinji Inoue, head of the LDP's Tokyo chapter, speaking to reporters early Monday morning after the results came in. Although the results from Sunday's polls in the capital do not necessarily directly predict performance in the upcoming Upper House election, they signify an underlying trend in public opinion that affects both contests, says Hanako Ohmura, a professor at Kyoto University who specializes in public opinion and voting behavior. 'I think the trend we are seeing emerge from the Tokyo Assembly election results is that the results are very severe against the LDP,' she said. 'In the broadest terms, it is really their unpopularity.' The results in Tokyo contradict recent public opinion polls, which had suggested the LDP was steadily recovering support since its popularity plunged following the 2023 political funding scandal that put many of the party's key figures in hot water for receiving kickbacks and off-the-book revenue. In the most recent poll compiled by Jiji this month, the LDP was the most popular party in the upcoming Upper House election with 24.5% support, 4.8 percentage points higher than the previous month. Ohmura says the 'very interesting' deviation of the Tokyo election results from the polls may be because the LDP's recent proposal for cash handouts is racking up popularity on a national level but is less of a focal point for Tokyoites. The Democratic Party for the People's Tokyo chapter executives in Tokyo on Sunday night | JIJI 'Cash handouts are a powerful tool, and within the academia of political science, it has been made clear that cash handouts to this day have a very strong effect on garnering support for the incumbent,' said Ohmura. 'I have seen that support for LDP has increased as a result, but the effects of it were not seen as much in the Tokyo Assembly elections — after all, the Tokyo election is a local election, so the markers that voters look at may be different.' Because of this, the results from Sunday may not be a direct reflection of how the LDP will perform in the Upper House election. That said, one thing that the Tokyo assembly election results highlight that may also ring true at a national level is the growth of alternative parties that can take in voters who have deviated from the LDP's support base, particularly on the more conservative side. This was seen in Tokyo with two smaller parties — the Democratic Party for the People and Sanseito — winning seats in the assembly for the first time, having secured nine and three spots, respectively. The more center-left segment of the LDP voter base may have jumped ship to the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. 'Voters are leaving (the LDP) to go both left and right, but I think what is most likely to be found if the results were more closely analyzed is the weight is leaning more towards the right — that's how we have DPP and Sanseito,' Ohmura added, saying a similar phenomenon will most likely be seen in the Upper House election. Additionally, the result from Sunday itself could play a role in shaping how voters cast their ballots next month. 'The voters who saw the LDP's unpopularity in Tokyo could use that as a factor in making their decisions in the next national election,' said Ohmura.
