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Earlier in November, former President Donald Trump shocked the world with a decisive victory in the United States presidential election, defying initial expectations. Additionally, the Second Shigeru Ishiba Cabinet was inaugurated in Japan as the country’s first minority government in 30 years. These developments and the continued erosion of democracy in Hong Kong have drawn attention to the political trajectories of regions important to Japan. How can we, as online media, evolve to better connect Japan to this changing world?
Expectations and Uncertainties
Trump’s return to the presidency is undoubtedly global news. On the other hand, Prime Minister Ishiba’s party lost November’s general election and now leads a minority government. It was also learned that Ishiba has been the focus of growing attention across Asia as a “weak leader.” Their perspective came as a refreshing surprise and deserves further discussion.
In a mid-November online exchange of views with journalists active in Asia, this writer gained several key insights.
1) There are concerns in the region that Trump’s return to power could intensify the US-China rivalry, with Asia likely to bear the repercussions.
2) Throughout Southeast Asia, there is increasing hope for leadership and support from Japan, which has no geopolitical ambitions.
3) However, there are also concerns that Japan’s economy may deteriorate in the future.
In their observation, Japan enjoys a more favorable image among Asian countries than the US or China. This has been demonstrated in various public opinion surveys.
However, whether Japan can meet the expectations of its Asian neighbors remains to be seen. A key factor may be whether Ishiba can resolve and move beyond the internal focus on “politics and money.”
Amid global division, growing conflict, and an expanding darkness, Asian countries and the international community are seeking a light of hope. How long Ishiba, now seen as a “weak leader,” can lead remains uncertain. Nonetheless, I believe Japan, a nation that yearns for peace, carries a mission to illuminate Asia and the world with the light of hope.
Light in the Dark
On November 19, some 47 pro-democracy activists, including former journalist Gwyneth Ho, will be sentenced in Hong Kong. Now, under the control of the Chinese Communist Party, these Hong Kongers will likely receive harsh sentences. The Sankei Shimbun Deputy Editor Kinya Fujimoto recently wrote about their fate.
“This date will symbolize the current state of Hong Kong, where freedom and democracy have been trampled by China’s National Security Law,” he wrote. At JAPAN Forward, we aim to bring a message of hope to such places.
A New Chapter
As global politics shifts, our English news and opinion site has also transformed. For those who may have noticed, JAPAN Forward completely revamped its website at the start of this month.
What has changed? As shown in the photos, our Japanese news website is now in the same format as our English homepage. Users can easily toggle between the English and Japanese sites with a single click. Seven and a half years since its inception, JAPAN Forward has reached a significant milestone. It is now taking a crucial step toward becoming a distinctive bilingual media platform bridging Japan and the world.
Indeed, our journey is just beginning. We are committed to evolving and advancing steadily along with the changing world. Our goal is to offer an accessible bilingual Japanese-English news platform where readers can seamlessly access both languages.
As shown in the photo below, we have tailored the headlines to communicate with their readers, respectively, in English or Japanese.
Watch for the next issue on December 16.
JAPAN Forward is a small media outlet driven by an unparalleled passion to amplify Japan’s voice worldwide in both English and Japanese. To join us in shaping our vision together or for inquiries, please call 0570-033-433 (Sankei iD) or email us at info@japan-forward.com.
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Author: Yasuo Naito, Editor in Chief