Jon Reinsch
My main focus is Japan, and in particular, US bases in Okinawa—because as John Lewis said, "When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up."
Read some of my old articles here: shingetsunewsagency.com/author/jon/
- "Anti-mosque rhetoric sparks counterprotests near Tokyo ahead of election" I applaud the counterprotesters. mainichi.jp/english/arti...
- "Japan's Constitution does not stipulate that the prime minister can dissolve the chamber. But its Article 7 states that the house can be dissolved by the emperor 'with the advice & approval' of the Cabinet and this has long been interpreted as mainichi.jp/english/arti...
- "3 parties—[JCP, Reiwa, & SDP]—explicitly oppose any revision to Article 9 in their platforms." Positive amendments are conceivable, but opening it up is more likely to result in killing Article 9. The stance of these parties is safer. www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
- "in 2025, US service members, their dependents or civilian employees committed at least 101 criminal offenses [in #Okinawa], the highest number in 22 years." www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/1...
- Reposted by Jon Reinsch[Not loaded yet]
- The Actual Gavin Newsom Is Much Worse Than You Think “seems determined to move away from his pro-environment past.... 77% of Democrats believed Israel was guilty of genocide in Gaza—but last month Newsom said the opposite" www.commondreams.org/opinion/is-g...
- Both Noda and Saito pledge to resign as leader if their party loses seats in the Lower House election—which is likely. Best news I've read all day! mainichi.jp/english/arti...
- Komeito's views are MUCH closer to LDP than to CDP: 47% of CDP incumbents favor nuclear power abolition vs. 5% of Komeito incumbents. 43% of CDP incumbents oppose constitutional revision vs. NONE of Komeito incumbents. End this cursed "alliance"—CDP is better off alone! www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
- Takaichi avoids hot-button topics in Lower House election strategy "She has also grown quiet on conservative policies she has long championed." Don't worry; once she gets her big win and there's no way to stop her, she'll loudly push for those policies. www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
- "Foreigner issue under focus as parties rush to ease worries of Japanese voters" It never ceases to amaze me that the one group of foreigners these people don't seem to mind at all consists of US military personnel, a group responsible for numerous accidents and crimes mainichi.jp/english/arti...
- "Japan's top court has upheld a ruling that sentenced a US Air Force serviceman in Okinawa to 5 years in prison for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 16" A drop of justice in a sea of outrages. mainichi.jp/english/arti...
- Ex-Hiroshima mayor Akiba to be flagbearer at Olympics opening ceremony "The decision recognizes Akiba's commitment to nuclear disarmament" While taking part in a "Hiroshima & Peace" seminar in 2010, we met with Mayor Akiba. He was one of the good ones. mainichi.jp/english/arti...
- "Chudo... is likely to fall far below its pre-election strength of 106 seats in single-seat districts, with the possibility of its total being cut by more than half. ... LDP & Ishin combined could potentially exceed 310 seats, which constitutes a 2/3 majority"— www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
- VOX POPULI: Takao Saito’s defiance eclipsed those upholding imperial ‘order’ Saito (1870-1949), who courageously spoke up during wartime, has messages for us today. "He warned of the futility of arms races: 'If we expand, they will also expand.' He also cautioned www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
- Coalition pushes revival of ranks from imperial military days Ishin Dietmember: “It is our responsibility to address SDF-related issues by renaming rank names & other terms to adjust to international standards through legal revisions & the issuance of a ministerial www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
- "Takaichi vows to respect tradition and not step on sumo dohyo" We know this is BS because she had no problem with breaking the "tradition" of male prime ministers. www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
- "Big election win would give Takaichi clout to counter China" Unless you want to see Takaichi fans waving little rising sun flags to send off the troops, it's vital that she not get that big win. Doesn't look like Chudo can do it. www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
- "UN Chief Guterres Warns of ‘Imminent Financial Collapse’ as Trump Pulls Funding"—likely in order to replace it with his "Board of Peace" under his sole control. www.commondreams.org/news/un-immi...
- "Trump warns UK about China ties as Starmer hails reset" The US hasn't allowed Japan to have its own foreign policy for 8 decades. Now, hardly any country is allowed. www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
- Reposted by Jon ReinschThis is the BEST explanation I have seen so far.
- "Japan's left-leaning forces lag as social media rises, old support fades" In addition to the explanations offered here, the steady dwindling of the generation with direct experience of the Pacific War has taken a toll on pacifism in Japan. mainichi.jp/english/arti...
- Report: [Unification] Church affiliate bought Takaichi’s party tickets twice Caught red-handed: "In August 2022, Takaichi posted on X (formerly Twitter) that after a 'thorough investigation,' she had confirmed 'No election support.'" www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
- Noda: "we will cross the country speaking up for people first and pacifism." A bizarre kind of pacifism that declares Abe’s war law—authorizing action with and for US—constitutional. mainichi.jp/english/arti...
- "Women make up record 24.4% of Lower House hopefuls" Pathetic when government's goal is 35%, and should be aiming at 50%. "Women make up 12.8% of [LDP] candidates and 19.9% of those fielded by [Chudo]." That's what you get from centrists. www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
- Report indicates Noda’s past ties to Unification Church affiliate “Something has come to light that I have absolutely no memory of." - the same dodge tried by LDP members with Moonie ties. www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
- "New Fukui gov. walks back statement that Japan is 'ethnically homogeneous'" It would be more convincing if he apologized for making a false statement. mainichi.jp/english/arti...
- "Japan court orders state to pay compensation to A-bomb victims' kin abroad [in South Korea]" mainichi.jp/english/arti...
- "PM Takaichi urges criminal penalties for damaging Japan flag as election race starts" What they really want: put the Imperial Rescript on Education back in schools, with its command, "should emergency arise, offer yourselves courageously to the State." mainichi.jp/english/arti...
- The US military presence continues to plague Okinawa: "Death of Okinawa teacher involving US military helicopter detailed in new report" www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01...
- "Japan ex-PM Abe mentioned 500 times in Unification Church document" And in an internal document sent from the Unification Church in Japan after the 2021 Lower House election, "[now PM] Takaichi 's name reportedly appeared 32 times." mainichi.jp/english/arti...
- Mainichi survey: "Asked whether the respondents have expectations for the Centrist Reform Alliance, a new party launched by the [CDP] and Komeito, only 17% answered that they do while 52% said they don't." Not exactly an auspicious start. mainichi.jp/english/arti...
- "The co-leader of the Centrist Reform Alliance, Yoshihiko Noda, was elusive when asked ... if the new force supports or opposes the [so-called] relocation [of Futenma to #Henoko]." Centrists are totally useless. mainichi.jp/english/arti...
- JCP head Tamura Tomoko: “We are resolutely opposed to the major military buildup that tramples on both the Constitution and the exclusively defense-oriented policy.” Hear, hear! www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
- PM Takaichi: "We have made a major policy shift. We decided to seek a public mandate" Then you should pledge that if the voters DON'T give you that mandate, you will reverse your policies. www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
- “Incumbent Certain to Win 3rd Term in Nago Mayoral Race” Awful news for opponents of #Henoko base construction. That Komeito backed the pro-base candidate is unforgivable. www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2...
- No request from US to boost defense spending to 5% of GDP: Japan PM "I haven't heard directly about the exact number, 5%" You might hear it from China hawk Elbridge Colby when he visits you shortly. "Colby is likely to brief Japanese & South Korean officials mainichi.jp/english/arti...
- "Japan aiming for first strategy to enhance defense industry" Pres. Eisenhower warned, "we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
- "PM Takaichi's snap election gamble may backfire" She deserves it, but there's no good outcome. "many voters who support Takaichi personally but not the LDP may instead vote for opposition parties advocating conservative policies, such as [DPP] & [Sanseito]." And then mainichi.jp/english/arti...
- "14-year blank in operating a nuclear plant means TEPCO has fewer experienced workers to oversee running of the No. 6 reactor..... about 60% of those scheduled to operate the No. 6 and 7 reactors have no experience." Fills you with confidence, doesn't it? www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
