Monthly Archives: Jun 2017

Zengakuren student activists continue fight against anti-conspiracy law ahead of expected crackdown

Posted on Jun 28, 2017 by William Andrews

The buzz in 2015 about SEALDs missed an important point about the student movement in Japan: you can praise its “revival” all you want — and there is a revival, as witnessed in post-SEALDs groups like T-nsSOWL, Aequitas, Public for … Continue reading →

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Emperor Akihito’s abdication reanimates anti-emperor protest movement in Japan

Posted on Jun 12, 2017 by William Andrews

Emperor Akihito’s unprecedented video address in August 2016, when he hinted at his wish to abdicate due to the strain of his official role at his advanced age, prompted an avalanche of discussion about Japan’s monarchy: the rumoured troubles between … Continue reading →

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Police confirm identity of suspect as wanted far-left radical Masaaki Ōsaka, re-arrest him for murder

Posted on Jun 7, 2017 by William Andrews

The wanted posters at police substations and train stations around Japan will finally be coming down. Police claim to have confirmed the identity of a suspect as far-left activist Masaaki Ōsaka and re-arrested him on a murder charge. A man … Continue reading →

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Iconic Sanrizuka protest movement “solidarity hut” removed from Narita Airport

Posted on Jun 7, 2017 by William Andrews

If you are lucky, as your plane touches down you may be able to catch a glimpse from your window of a large homemade sign declaring, in Japanese, “Against Narita Airport”. Omotenashi indeed. The protest movement against Narita Airport is … Continue reading →

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