Erika Kobayashi

Sep 27, 2023 | publishersweekly.com | Erika Kobayashi |Steven Ujifusa |Ian Fritz |Jann Wenner

Kohei Saito, trans. from the Japanese by Brian Bergstrom. Astra House, $27 (272p) ISBN 978-1-662-60236-8Saito (Marx in the Anthropocene), a philosopher at the University of Tokyo, warns in this well-reasoned and eye-opening treatise that capitalism is pushing the planet past its breaking point, and calls for drastic action.

Aug 1, 2023 | asia.nikkei.com | Erika Kobayashi

TOKYO -- Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi has kicked off a tour of South Africa, Uganda and Ethiopia to drum up support for reviving the terminated Black Sea grain deal among African countries with close ties to Russia. Hayashi met with South African counterpart Naledi Pandor on Tuesday and was slated to make a courtesy call to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa while in the country.

Jul 11, 2023 | asia.nikkei.com | Erika Kobayashi

TOKYO -- Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations want to hold regular talks on economic security, looking to strengthen supply chains for key materials and craft a joint response to any economic coercion by countries like China. Japan and the 10-nation Southeast Asian bloc will celebrate 50 years of friendship at a summit in December, during which they plan to upgrade ties to a "comprehensive strategic partnership."

Jun 9, 2023 | asia.nikkei.com | Erika Kobayashi

TOKYO -- The Japanese government pledged on Friday to approach developing nations with foreign aid rather than wait for requests for assistance, in a new approach meant to compete with China's Belt and Road infrastructure campaign. Tokyo's new offer-based aid will be combined with the conventional request-based process, as outlined in the revised Development Cooperation Charter, Japan's blueprint for its official development assistance program. The cabinet approved the changes the same day.

Jun 6, 2023 | asia.nikkei.com | Erika Kobayashi

TOKYO -- Japan will introduce a security clearance system to vet government and private-sector workers with access to sensitive information related to economic security, to ensure that companies that work with dual-use advanced technology can compete internationally. Japan is the only Group of Seven member that lacks security clearances. This risks shutting companies out of international forums or joint research projects in advanced fields where security is a concern.