Japanese Auto Trends

As the Nikkei Asian Review reports, Japan will require auto makers to improve fuel efficiency for hybrid cars by 32% by 2030. There is already a 24% improvement mandate from 2008 set to expire in 2020. Additionally, although electric and hybrid vehicles only accounted for 1% (50/50 split) of domestic auto sales, regulations have been put in place to make sure these vehicles account for 20-30% of auto sales before 2030. Finally, electric vehicles will have to begin posting electric fuel efficiency which will be converted to km/h. These strict increases are ambitious targets designed to help the Japanese market catch up with zero-emissions vehicles in Europe and China.

The trend of increasing average fuel economy for an auto producer is not limited to Japan, and realistically incentivizes auto producers to gradually offer more environmentally friendly cars. This requires companies to make environmentally friendly options equally economically viable. Yet this should not prove to be a problem, as international EV and hybrid sales have grown exponentially, and continue to increase market share. Although Japanese EV and hybrid cat sales make up 1% of the market, international Japanese car sales dwarf domestic sales. This has lead to the recent partnership between Toyota and Chinese battery producers to keep up with demand, as well as the launch of 5 new EV vehicles.

Yet the increase in EV plug in vehicle models actually runs contrary to Japan’s long standing sustainable power goal: creating a “hydrogen society.” The energy ministry has already begun preparing for the Olympics by  planning to deploying 100 hydrogen busses and putting 40,000 hydrogen cars on the road (by contrast, there are currently only 11,000 in the world). However the long term goals are far more potent with a goal of 200,000 hydrogen vehicles in the next six years. 

Japan begun focusing on hydrogen cars in 2015, which some believe to be the cause of a drop in plug-in vehicle sales. A focus on hydrogen cars may seem strange given that Japan has the highest density of EV chargers in the world, yet because most Japanese people live in dense areas without an easy place to park and charge a car, maintaining a standard refueling method while making vehicles electric (hydrogen is converted to electricity within the car) is seen as an easier solution. Thus the Japanese government has instituted many subsidies to promote infrastructure to allow for hydrogen refueling at gas stations; however, it is expected that hydrogen will initially only be used for industrial applications, as battery powered electric vehicles are currently more economically viable to consumers. 

Thus, taking all of these elements together, Japanese government policy changes and Toyota’s move to partner with Chinese battery makers begin to make sense. Mandating improved fuel efficiency plays into a larger attempt to increase consumer purchases in EV, hybrid, and hydrogen powered cars. Yet despite Japan’s focus on a hydrogen society, the infrastructure is not prepared for hydrogen cars; however, it is prepared for EV vehicles, making it a safe assumption that it’s 2030 goal is feasible. Finally, given the increasing focus on environmentally friendly cars internationally and domestically, one would expect Toyota to begin investing in battery production rather than relying on Chinese manufacturers, especially given Japan’s current focus on automotive competition with Europe and China. Domestically, this decision makes sense, because Japan has dedicated itself to subsidizing hydrogen infrastructure, meaning battery powered cars in Japan may soon lose popularity. Yet given the recent standards change, international popularity for battery powered and hybrid cars, and competition with Chinese automotive producers, one would either expect to see Toyota and other auto manufacturers invest in increased battery production in the near future, or an effort to export hydrogen technology and infrastructure efforts to make domestic efforts economically viable.

Same-sex Marriage in Japan

News Shaping Japan Today

Same-sex Marriage in Japan

Article No. 8

Source Article: “Opposition parties submit bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Japan”

In the third assignment for this class, I wrote about LGBT rights in Japan and actions taken by activists during Tokyo’s 25th Rainbow Pride March. Although the government’s view towards same-sex marriage has a history of being intolerant, Japanese citizens, especially those of younger generations, have exhibited an openness and acceptance towards those of the LGBT community. In one of this week’s articles, it is certainly refreshing to see more government action being taken in Japan to work towards ensuring equal rights for all, albeit this action is being taken by opposition parties instead of by the LDP.

According to The Japan Times, last Monday Japanese opposition parties submitted a bill to the diet to legalize same-sex marriage in Japan. It goes without saying that it is unlikely the bill will go far given the LDP’s long-reigning control of Japanese politics. The bill was submitted by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Japanese Communist Party, and despite slim chances of success, I believe that there is significant symbolic value in the very act of submitting a bill like this, potentially with mobilizing power in the wake of Taiwan legalizing same-sex marriage last month. Reading the source article, I was reminded that same-sex unions were historically accepted in Japan among the samurai class and monks, and only after the adoption of western values was homosexuality deemed taboo. I also thought it was interesting how many of the recent articles (tattoo article) that have been addressing societal issues in Japan have often referred to the Olympics and the pressure it places on Japan to “modernize” and become more open to people from all walks of life. Potential embarrassment is frequently cited as the government’s motivation to embrace progress. I am not sure this is the right impetus for cultural change, but if the Japanese fear of being viewed by other countries in attendance of the Olympics as inferior due to their marriage equality status, then so be it.

Given the LDP’s and Prime Minister Abe’s track record of intolerance towards homosexuality (in 2018 he said, “Whether to allow same-sex marriage is an issue that affects the foundation of how families should be in Japan, which requires an extremely careful examination”), unfortunately it is still unlikely we will see any real progress on the issue of gay marriage in the near future. Apparently the government has even restarted moral education classes at schools to teach children “family values and good deeds.” My guess is that there will either need to be a huge shift in public view towards gay marriage such that there is an overwhelming support for it, or there is a change in which party has political control of the Japanese government. For the sake of equal rights for all, I hope Japan is able to overcome this issue as soon as possible and extend equality of marriage to same-sex couples.

Supplementary Articles:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/14/world/asia/japan-gay-marriage.html

5G Adoption and Expansion in Japan

The article discusses how Rakuten, a Japanese E-commerce group and wireless carrier, will partner with information technology group NEC to install about 16,000 low-cost 5G base stations across the country over five years. 5G is a relatively new technology that is supposed to offer much faster wireless speeds than the current 4G standard. Rakuten will supply the cloud technology while NEC supplies the wireless units, hoping to install the network by the end of 2024.

 I think the significant part of this news is that both Rakuten and NEC are both Japanese companies, which makes this move hurt the ever expansive reach of China's Huawei Technologies. Huawei already does provide equipment for 5G networking, but Rakuten has opted for a domestic supplier to build out its network. Moreover, in a separate move, the Japanese company SoftBank Corp. has also passed over Huawei Technologies when looking to purchase 5G base stations, and instead bought them from Ericson and Nokia, which are Swedish and Finnish companies respectively. The fact that these two wireless carrier companies have passed over the giant Chinese company Huawei, which no doubt has much to offer concerning 5G technologies, is no coincidence. SoftBank has alaways used base stations from Ericson, Nokia, and Huawei, so this move was seen as significant.

This follows pressure from the US to effectively ban companies from using Huawei networking equipment in 2012. More recently the US has added Huawei to a security list, banning them from accessing US communications network. According to another article, Japan and other US allies are under pressure to keep Huawei out of 5G wireless networks. SoftBank Chief Technology Officer Junichi Miyakawa said in April that the company "would comply with the government's wishes", showing that Japan was indeed pressuring SoftBank to avoid working with Huawei.

In a bigger geopolitical context, I'm not sure how much this affects Japan-China relations, and how much the Chinese government cares about this move. Certainly the move away from Huawei is due to its closeness with the Chinese government and the potential for spying or security breaches. I'd imagine that China is not too happy about having their largest networking company be shunned by both US and Japanese companies. However, Huawei is still the #1 telecom company and the #2 smartphone provider, being especially popular in Asian countries including Japan, so I don't see the company losing its influence anytime soon. These recent decisions by SoftBank and Rakuten just seem to push Huawei's influence away from the development of 5G network in Japan.

Additional Articles:

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Huawei-crackdown/Huawei-excluded-from-SoftBank-s-5G-network

https://www.cnet.com/news/huawei-ban-full-timeline-on-how-and-why-its-phones-are-under-fire/

Japan Warming to Tattoos

Japan has long been anti-tattoo; for quite a while in Japanese society, tattoos have been heavily associated with the yakuza (very similar to many other countries) and were a gangster's proof of loyalty, of strength, and of character. Even earlier, tattoos and some other practices like snake charming were outlawed as Japan opened up to the rest of the world for fear of being perceived as "primitive" - but apparently also at this time, the tattoo industry went underground, and the work of tattoo artists from Japan was extremely coveted, attracting those from as far as Europe.
People were fearful of those with tattoos, and in the 70s - 90s this practice of tattooing gang alignment as well as punishing criminals with tattoos was in full swing.  Recently, though, these practices have fallen out of popularity, and tattoos no longer represent what they once did.

Many businesses (and people) in Japan are still quite wary. What initially were tattoo bans in public places such as onsens to keep gangsters and criminals out now separate society, generating many tourist message board postings about navigating Japan while tatted and also serve to prevent many former yakuza members (now uninvolved in the organization) from fully re-integrating. Especially in the context of the upcoming 2020 Olympics, Japan is feeling more pressure than ever before to shift the societal mindset regarding tattoos, and those who have them. Interestingly, the tattoo industry is sometimes still held to the standard of a bizarre law from around 70 years ago, banning tattoo artists from tattooing on the basis that because tattooing involves needles it is a medical procedure, and the artists are therefore not authorized to perform it. Several artists that were against this ban and a 2001 law upholding it recently pushed back and started a campaign.

Several articles noted that this perception regarding tattoos is generally not held by the younger population in Japan, with many young Japanese people getting tattoos and expressing themselves through their ink. Still, though, many bans remain in bathhouses, pools, etc; the clearest sign that Japan is not quite ready to let go of the negative connotations tattoos have had. Recently,  bathing facilities (bathhouses, hotels, hostels, etc) were surveyed to determine how they handle tattooed visitors, to get a better sense of how these interactions are playing out with an ever-increasing number of international, tattooed visitors. According to the survey, 56% of businesses simply bar entry to those with tattoos - but 31% did allow all tattoos, without covers. Of the businesses that did ban, the reason was most commonly cited that they were allowed to judge independently for reasons related to "hygiene" and "public morals." The tourism facility of Japan has pushed businesses across Japan to reconsider this stance, reminding them that people that have tattoos do not pose a threat to hygiene and can get tattoos for a variety of reasons, citing religion and fashion. They suggested allowing visitors to cover their tattoos with patches and creating tattoo specific areas / hours.

A former expat with tattoos, though, said that while she had experienced some negative interactions on beaches and at amusement parks and needed to cover up, the people she interacted with on a day to day basis had always reacted positively to her tattoos, and her experience was overall not a negative one. Her impression was also that people are rumored to care much more than they actually do - a case of law maybe not actually reflecting public mindset.

Tattoos currently exist very much in a grey area in Japan - while moving towards greater popularity and acceptance, the road will inevitably be rocky, but maybe this issue is not as divided as many think.

https://livejapan.com/en/in-tokyo/in-pref-tokyo/in-tokyo_train_station/article-a0002894/

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/12/19/national/stigma-legal-battles-show-japan-still-tattoo-complex-even-olympics-loom/#.XP0nmtMzZ0s

Tattoos in Japan

This article covered the disconnect between the stigma toward tattoos in Japan and the current irrelevancy of its historical origins. Within this article and related ones, several sources for Japan's attitude towards people with tattoos are identified, including the tattoo branding of criminals during the Edo period, the voluntary tattoos gotten by members of the yakuza to show their devotion or to separate themselves from normal society, and the ancient Confucian idea that altering the body inherited from one's parents is disrespectful. Clearly, tattoos have historically been associated with some things that Japan doesn't want to encourage in its society. So, the shift towards the acceptance of tattoos in light of the increasing globalization of Japan and its culture has been rough, and it's easy to understand why. Even so, especially in consideration of the upcoming Rugby World Cup and Olympics, Japan's attitude towards tattoos is nonconducive to the acceptance and welcome of many foreigners.

There have been some onsen and ryokan which have been accepting foreigners with tattoos without asking them to cover them up with a skin patch (something which is usually not allowed - this practice was taken up originally in an attempt to keep criminals and yakuza out of these public spaces and perhaps further dissuade someone from joining the yakuza in the first place). In response to the wave of tourism and larger exposure to foreigners who have tattoos for reasons which were clearly not to prove their devotion to the yakuza, some places have gone as far as to post signs outside of their establishments informing Japanese guests that they allow people with tattoos to enter and asking them to be polite to them in spite of their tattoos. Some places, however, are more willing to accept foreign guests with tattoos than they are willing to accept Japanese guests with tattoos. This is a finding that I found interesting, and though I can see how there might be more of a chance that a Japanese person got a tattoo for one of the historically negative reasons than the chance that a foreigner got a tattoo for the same reason, the chance that the tattoos are evidence of an active yakuza member are very slim today. Today's generation of gang members opt out of getting tattoos more often than older generations of yakuza, and an older Japanese person who originally got a tattoo to show their devotion to the yakuza is likely reformed and trying to reintegrate into society (as one of the many who have turned away from the yakuza and are currently struggling to fit themselves back into non-criminal life, like we discussed in this class a few weeks ago).

I feel like there's some work to be done on the stigmatization of people with tattoos in Japan, because people in Japan get them for all sorts of reasons now (different reasons from back then) and there are plenty of foreigners who can't enjoy Japan in its entirety because of their tattoos. However, Japan is not the only country to struggle with the stigmatization of tattoos, as America does too in its own way via people's perceptions of people with tattoos. An article on Psychology Today discussed how people with tattoos in America are more likely to be perceived as having negative personality characteristics, lower levels of inhibition, competence, and sociability, with higher levels of promiscuity. Women with tattoos in America are even more stigmatized, being perceived as (on top of all previously mentioned characteristics) heavy drinkers, less attractive, less caring, less intelligent, and less honest. Also, often in America it is difficult for people with tattoos to find a job (as it also is in Japan).

One potential reason for the resistance in Japan is that it's just plain hard to change the way you think about a certain thing (it's difficult to purge yourself of stereotypes and associations - our brains are hardwired to place recurring ideas and images into categories based on the context in which we encounter them for the sake of faster processing through a phenomenon called implicit bias, and while this doesn't excuse things like prejudice or discrimination, it can account at least somewhat for its prevalence). More exposure to people with tattoos in contexts contradictory to the preexisting stigmas could help with this, so actually the Rugby World Cup and upcoming Olympics in Japan are a good opportunity for this mental shift among the Japanese population to take place.

Fuel-Efficient Cars in Japan

            A new policy from Japanese transport and industry ministries will mandate car companies to increase their fuel-efficiency in order to catch up with overseas competition. Manufacturers will have to sell more low-emission vehicles while also decreasing the number of gas-fueled cars sold. The policy is a standard that companies must reach by 2030: electric cars/plug-in hybrids as 20 to 30 percent of all market sales (about 1 million cars). For reference, only 0.5% of sales were electric in 2017.

            The international competitors named in the article are Europe and China, which have both made efforts to increase zero-emissions vehicles. Based on the wording of the piece, it sounds like Europe and China’s policies are focused on incentivizing consumers to buy fuel-efficient cars, as opposed to Japan’s which prods the manufacturers to increase supply. In America, I know that there are policies that entice consumers to buy electric cars too. One example is a bumper sticker that allows electric cars to drive in the carpool lane even with a solo driver. More and more electric charge ports are cropping up in parking lots at universities, malls, and public parking structures, etc.

            Japanese auto manufacturers pushed back against the mandate, saying it was too strict. The Japanese government did not relent, but promised to review the policy later on to see its effects. The piece also states that “A 30% improvement in fuel efficiency is a tall order for automakers already on track to achieve a nearly 25% gain in about a decade” (Tsuji). After reading this sentence, I wasn’t sure if it means that automakers are going to have to make an additional 30% improvement on top of the 25% they are already likely to achieve, or if it means they only have to make a 5% improvement. In either case, the increased pressure has led to some collaboration between car companies Toyota and Mazda and Japanese parts supplier Denso. The three are working together to develop essential electric car technology that I assume will be made available, as Subaru, Suzuki, Hino Motors, and six other car companies are on board with the venture.

            This article made me think about the upcoming G20 Summit in Osaka. The G20 countries are leaders from 19 countries plus the European Union. Together, they comprise more than 80% of the world’s GDP. Renewable energy and climate change will surely be discussed at the Summit. In a similar way to Tokyo becoming a global standard city and Japan increasing its disability access, is Japan gearing up to be in the spotlight by cracking down on electric cars?

https://www.japan.go.jp/g20japan/

https://g20.org/en/summit/about/

The Japanese Plastic Industry

As the Nikkei Review reported, Japanese manufacturers have begun researching and investing in sustainable packaging in response to international regulation; however, they are far behind other international companies, who have already made significant progress. Nevertheless, it has become financially critical to invest in environmentally focused business strategies in Japan, in part due to the Basel Convention which made dirty plastic more difficult to dispose of internationally. Thus, many companies have begun investing to the order of tens of millions of dollars in increased production capacity and sustainable material development.

Unfortunately, many may be familiar with the significant use of plastic bags in FamilyMarts and other establishments. 7 & I Holdings has pledged to reduce their use of plastic bags moving forward by switching to paper bags. Further, there are talks of legally enforcing a plastic bag tax. Yet this also reflects a growing prediction that non-environmentally friendly Japanese industries may face volatility moving forward. Fukusuke Kogyo, Japan’s largest plastic bag supplier, is bracing for falling demands in the wake of these recent developments, and has been forced to invest in biodegradable plastic bag development. 

As the Osaka G20 summit approaches, Tokyo has also adopted a policy package in preparation. Japan is the second largest producer of plastic waste in the world, second to the US. Thus, it has pledged to cut disposable plastic waste by 25 percent over the next 10 years, and completely recycling/reusing all plastic waste in the next 15 years. It will also require a plastic bag tax and bioplastic investment in coming years. Finally, it called on companies to reduce their use of microbes, as it contributes to the micro plastic pollution problem. This is directly in response to Japan’s criticism in 2018 for not signing the Ocean Plastics Charter at the G7 in Canada, due to a lack of preparedness.

U.S. and Japan to cooperate on return to the moon

"Japan will join our mission to send U.S. astronauts to space. We'll be going to the moon. We'll be going to Mars very soon. It's very exciting."

After his meetings with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, President Donald Trump has revealed that the United States will 'dramatically expand' its cooperation with Japan in human space exploration. The two had "agreed on the importance of a sustained human presence on and around the moon." The U.S. State Department stated that "Japanese astronauts will strive to join American astronauts on the moon and destinations beyond." The article shows excitement on both NASA administrators and the JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) president for future collaboration.

This agreement certainly does look positive for future US-Japan relations, and I am excited to see more collaboration in space endeavors. Recently, NASA has accelerated its plans to return humans to the moon by 2024 and are clearly marketing this move for as many people to see through press release and youtube videos (ex. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9KQfnqukno), which makes it seem like they're serious about achieving this goal. The article also discusses how international partners including Japan will fit into this new plan. It says that while NASA plans on getting humans to the moon by 2024, it seems unlikely that Japanese and other partners will play a major role in this stage of the process.

Still, this seems very positive and it seems that even before this meeting that Japan was serious about making the move to go to Mars. An article posted in late 2018 revealed that JAXA was already in the planning stages of further missions to the moon to more accurately figure out how life can be supported. This follows Japan's success with sending their space probe, Kaguya, to the moon in 2009 to detect different minerals on the moon's surface. The article also states that some observers claim that this recent attitude towards lunar development may have been prompted by the success of China's Jade Rabbit lunar rover mission in 2013. Moreover, in January of this year, China became the first country to successfully land a space craft on the far side of the moon.

The geopolitical implications of this agreement between US and Japan do seem to be interesting. Apparently, NASA has been banned by the US Government since 2011 from cooperating with China in space exploration due to concerns regarding "national security and technology transfers." However, another article says that NASA scientists still cooperated with China on the landing I mentioned earlier, so I'm not sure if the ban is taken seriously. Nonetheless, the diplomatic meeting between Trump and Shinzo Abe seems to reflect better US Japan relations amid tensions with China and North Korea, and the joint agreement for space exploration between the two and the level to which it has been publicized seems to indicate a stronger bond between the two countries, at least in space exploration. If NASA really is serious about getting us to the moon and staying there, we know Japan will certainly be a major player.

Other Articles:
- https://www.dw.com/en/japanese-companies-plan-to-build-moon-colonies/a-45574697
- https://www.space.com/42883-china-first-landing-moon-far-side.html
- https://qz.com/1523812/nasa-and-china-cooperated-in-recent-landing-on-far-side-of-the-moon/

Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands

News Shaping Japan Today

Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands

Article No. 7

Source Article: “Japan asks China to hold ‘two-plus-two’ security talks in hopes of de-escalating dispute over Senkakus”

The Senkaku/Diaoyu islands have been a primary source of political contention between Japan and China (and Taiwan) for decades. The countries have disputed for many years over territorial rights to the groups of seven uninhabited islands, yet despite this long history of friction, Japan has recently communicated interest to China in de-escalating the dispute over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands. Japan’s initiative to begin talk with China regarding this issue follow the recent trend we have remarked on in previous classes in which Japan and China both have taken steps to de-escalate tensions between the two countries in light of an unstable American leader and the uncertainty of Northeast Asia’s security. It makes sense that perceived coldness on behalf of America towards Japan would prompt the country to explore its relationships with other countries, specifically China, and we have seen this happen historically as well. What makes this story so interesting, however, is the issue that Japan had indicated it is willing to make concessions on, since it has so aggressively defended and asserted its claim to the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands for decades. It is possible Japan has no serious intentions of compromising with China, but if it does, a closer alignment with China could spell future complications for the Japanese-American alliance. Further, it is interesting and important to not that Taiwan has been (presumably) kept out of these negotiations/discussions, likely since any formal recognition of Taiwan in this ordeal by Japan would upset the Chinese.

As for the political feasibility of Japan and China coming to a compromise on the Senkaku/Diaoyu island issue, I personally do not see this as something realistically happening. Even if Japan were actually willing to concede some of its previous territorial claims to the islands, I do not predict China would agree to anything less than complete international claim over the contested regions. Given China’s territorial assertion over the past decade in the South China Sea (claiming of islands, establishment of military bases and industrial outposts on artificial islands they created in disputed waters) for its significance as a trade route, I would imagine that the behavior and mentality towards the oil-rich islands in the East China Sea are similar.

Supplementary Articles:

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/explained/article/2187161/explained-diaoyu/senkaku-islands-dispute, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-11341139, https://www.cfr.org/interactive/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/territorial-disputes-south-china-sea

Japan-U.S. relations and the final frontier

            In a recent visit to Japan, President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Abe Shinzo discussed, among other topics, space exploration and cooperation between the two nations on the final frontier. Japan already has a major presence on the International Space Station (ISS), and a U.S. State Department fact sheet states that Japanese astronauts will “strive to join American astronauts on the moon and destinations beyond” (Foust). The article says that the extent to which the talk will affect other U.S.-Japan space relations is unknown. However, NASA, the Japanese space agency (JAXA), and Japanese companies are looking forward to the prospect of more collaboration. According to the piece, JAXA is interested in all of NASA’s moon-related exploration, including the development of Gateway. Gateway is a planned lunar-orbiting outpost that will facilitate deep-space travel, including manned missions to Mars. While the project is led by the U.S., the ISS partner countries, including Japan are involved in its development as well. While NASA is also excited about the increasing cooperation, the U.S. space agency has pushed its plan to return humans to the moon forward to 2024 from the original 2028 date. Because of the faster schedule, it could be more difficult for NASA to include other countries’ contributions. In the article, Ken Bowersox, the deputy associate administrator for human exploration and operations at NASA said “We’re still looking at working with our international partners. A lot of their elements were going to come after 2024 anyway...[but if they are ready in time,] they’re welcome to participate in the early phases” (Foust). Finally, independent Japanese space companies, somewhat analogous to SpaceX in the U.S., are happy about the talk because their products will have the chance to be used. As the leading country in space exploration, the U.S. is a valuable ally and partner that will help private Japanese companies flourish.

            As the vague language from the State Department memo reveals, many details of the Trump-Abe agreement remain hidden. Despite this, the talk is important because it symbolizes enduring positive relations between the two countries. The space discussion fits into a larger narrative about Japan-U.S. relations. The space talk occurred in Trump’s recent visit to Japan in which the two leaders played golf and watched sumo together. As important as the content of the talks, the leisurely activities that provided the backdrop for political discussion signal the friendship between the two leaders and their countries. During the meetings, Trump and Abe also discussed trade deals and North Korea. However, according to peripheral readings, Trump delayed serious in-depth trade talks with Japan past the upcoming G20 summit and Japanese parliamentary elections occurring a month later. Before the talks, Yasushi Watanabe, a Keio University professor of American Studies stated that instead of discussing trade issues, “reconfirming their mutual ‘understanding’ of key diplomatic issues and ‘showing off an unshakable Japan-U.S. alliance’ will probably be the top priority for the two” (Yoshida). In actuality, Trump split from Abe regarding North Korea, claiming that he personally wasn’t bothered by the recent North Korean missile tests. (I think it’s honestly pretty funny how he worded this, considering that the U.S. is quite a bit further away from North Korea than Japan.) Trump also stated that he personally did not think the tests violated United Nations rules, a sentiment with which the Japanese government (as well as Trump’s own national security advisor, John Bolton) disagree completely with. Overall, the promise of further collaboration in space is a heartening sign for Japan-U.S. relations. However, when framed in the larger context of the talk, one can’t help but wonder if it is but a small triumph overshadowed by other points of conflict between the two countries.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/05/25/national/politics-diplomacy/trump-visit-tokyo-japan-u-s-look-highlight-strengthened-alliance-avoid-trade-differences/

https://edition.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-visits-japan-may-2019/index.html

http://time.com/5597211/donald-trump-japan-visit-analysis/

Plastic Waste

This article detailed how there has been a big global push to reduce plastic waste and usage. The US is the biggest offended re: plastic and plastic packaging, and Japan is second. Companies in Japan started looking for biodegradable or paper alternatives last year - pretty recently.

180 countries also signed the Basel Convention, with tighter recycling restrictions and higher environmental standards re: plastic waste and consumption. This complicates dynamics for countries that are currently sending their plastic waste and other garbage to other countries - now, consent must be obtained before any shipping of non-recyclables. China is an example of a country resisting this practice, and is banning foreign waste imports.

In the past, in Japan, there hasn't been a huge demand for biodegradable materials, so there hasn't been much development. Company Kaneka plans to invest 10 billion in biodegradable plastic production.  Mitsubishi has also recently been interested in using lighter and stronger plastics in their manufacturing. A fund has also been financed in Japan by leading chemical and material companies for the purpose of investing in material development startups.

Lifestyle shifts are happening, too - konbinis have plans to switch to paper bags instead of plastic by 2030. Plastic bags will require payments in the future. Nippon Paper sees this dropping demand for plastic bags and plastic products as a great way to re-enter the market with paper alternatives.

According to other sources, Japan has determined to cut single use plastic consumption by 25% by 2030, but it has been pointed out that the base number for measuring a the 25% reduction has not been specified, and this plan has come under fire for not including more crucial details such as this one. Japan produces around 9.2 million tons of plastic waste - and more of this (1.5 million tons) used to be shipped to countries such as China, but not as much is anymore. Japan's usage has not decreased in line with this, though, and more waste is accumulating in the country. Japan is feeling the pressure - ahead of the G20 summit hosted in Osaka in June, the government has accepted a more rigorous waste and reduction plan. This plan is specifically ocean-focused, looking to reduce the amount of plastic and waste that ends up in the water. Abe wanted to use this meeting to push for these reforms. Konbinis have actually stood in the way of this plan for a while - the association that represents the mini marts has long opposed a plastic bag ban.

As the G20 summit draws closer, Japan seems to be feeling the pressure as the summit's host, and a country that has recently been so heavily criticized for being behind. Many have cited the cleanliness of the country and the waste sorting system as having "hid" the true problem for so long. Currently, Japan seems to be scrambling to catch up, especially in the context of G20, but I still believe that the one of the biggest barriers will be shifting the mindset of the Japanese population. Plastic is such a huge part of the appeal of many Japanese products, highlighting their cuteness and cleanliness, and even something like the absence of water fountains makes carrying a water bottle around easy if one is trying to avoid plastic. Being in Japan, I have not been privy to any dialogues surrounding sustainability - not that these create the most change, but I believe that they are crucial for the easy acceptance of many of the new policies. Alongside increased regulations, I believe that there must also be an increase in conversation surrounding this issue.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/05/31/national/japan-adopts-policy-package-aimed-cutting-plastic-waste-ahead-osaka-g20-summit/#.XPIkU9MzbOQ
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2019/02/26/editorials/cuts-usage-single-use-plastics-gain-urgency/
https://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2019/03/21/japan-plastic-waste-environment.html