BERLIN | Xinhua | Back in 2015, then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel reminded Japanese leaders during a visit to Tokyo that Germany’s postwar reconciliation was only possible because it had chosen to confront its past honestly. Her pointed message was widely interpreted as a history lesson for then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo …
Read More »Japan and East Africa: Partners across the Indian Ocean
East Africa’s external engagement has long been dominated by China and Europe. Japan offers a third option COMMENT | CHRISTOPHER BURKE | President Museveni’s recent comments on Uganda’s right to access the Indian Ocean underscore just how central the waterway is to East Africa’s economic and strategic future. The Indian Ocean …
Read More »Japan opposition CDPJ’s leadership criticizes Takaichi for erroneous Taiwan remarks
TOKYO | Xinhua | Japan’s main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) leader Yoshihiko Noda on Sunday criticized Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent erroneous remarks on China’s Taiwan, local media reported. At a party meeting in Nagasaki Prefecture, Noda, a former prime minister, said Takaichi “went too far” and …
Read More »Japan’s Iron Lady
TOKYO | Ian Buruma | Why did it take so long for Japan to have a female prime minister? This may seem like an unfair question. After all, the United States has never elected a female president, and a woman has never presided over the Communist Party of China. Even the Netherlands, …
Read More »US to win any war it has to fight — Trump
TOKYO | TASS | The United States would prefer to avoid involvement in any wars, but if it must fight, it will win decisively, US President Donald Trump said while addressing US servicemen aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington, based in Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture, at the Yokosuka naval …
Read More »Former Japanese PM Tomiichi Murayama dies at age 101
TOKYO, | Xinhua | Former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, who served as leader of the country in the mid-1990s, passed away Friday in his hometown Oita, at the age of 101, Kyodo News reported. Born on March 3, 1924, in Oita Prefecture, Murayama became chairman of the Japan Socialist Party …
Read More »Coffee Diplomacy: Uganda brews new ties in Tokyo
COMMENT | KENNETH BARIGYE | Uganda’s coffee has found its way to Tokyo — not just in cups, but in diplomacy. At the 2025 Speciality Coffee Association of Japan (SCAJ) Expo held in September, Uganda’s coordinated presence signalled a confident new approach to market expansion and global branding. Supported by …
Read More »PM Nabbanja woes investors as Uganda celebrates National Day at Expo 2025 Osaka
Osaka, Japan | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda has marked its National Day at Expo 2025 Osaka, showcasing the country’s culture, innovation, and investment potential. The celebrations were led by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja highlighted Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy. The plan aims to expand the economy from USD 61.3 billion today to USD 500 billion …
Read More »Uganda makes coffee breakthrough in Japan
Uganda’s Coffee Shines in Tokyo as Exports Hit $2.2 Billion Tokyo, Japan | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda has made a powerful statement at Asia’s biggest coffee gathering, the SCAJ World Specialty Coffee Conference & Exhibition in Japan, positioning itself as one of the world’s fastest-rising coffee exporters and a reliable source …
Read More »Japan is investing in Africa’s economic future
Japan is shifting its Africa strategy from aid to long-term investment, channeling billions into tech, skills, and infrastructure. From hybrid car manufacturing in South Africa to new venture funds and vocational training, Tokyo is embedding itself in the continent’s economic future. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Japan is recasting …
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