theTokyoBill Japan news brief

theTokyoBill Japan news brief, October 30 2024

In this episode: SEWIP sale to Japan marks first international sale; My Number cards to function as driver’s licenses in 2025; Anti-foreigner Japanese Joker fails in election campaign; UN report criticizes male-only succession, Japan suggests they mind their own business; High court rules same-sex marriage ban unlawful

Duration:: 4m
Broadcast on:: 30 Oct 2024
Audio Format:: other

A short (3-5 min.) English language news brief; stories from in and around Japan.

Music is Motivate by Wavecont, care of Pixabay.com.

Your support, simply by visiting theTokyoBill.com, would be very much appreciated! :)

Welcome to the Tokyo Bill, a short news brief on recent events in and around Japan. Lockheed Martin has secured a $113 million contract to provide Japan with the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program, seawith, which is the first international sale of this Premier Shipboard Electronic Warfare System, seawith, also known as the AN/SLQ32 system, enhances shipboard capabilities by detecting and identifying threats. The system, produced by Lockheed Martin, focuses on electronic sensing capabilities and is being installed on various American naval and Coast Guard vessels. The sale to Japan reinforces the strong Defense Technology Cooperation and greater interoperability and planning between the two countries' forces. Starting from March 24th next year, people in Japan can use their "my number" national ID cards as driver's licenses. The government, approved integrating the two systems, allowing individuals to register their license information on their "my number" cards. The National Police Agency is working on a new driver's license system that stores relevant data on the "my number" card's IC chips. Users can also choose between a "my number" driver's license and a traditional one for driving, with a lower fee of 1,550 yen for the former. In the recent general election, LDP lawmaker Riosa Tanaka retained his seat while the controversial candidate Yusuke Kawaii, known as the Japanese Joker, gained attention for his xenophobic campaign targeting immigrants in the Saitama Prefecture. Frequently appearing in costume resembling the DC comic book character, Kawaii called for the removal of foreigners from the area, sparking backlash from anti-racist activists. This was Kawaii's second major election this year, having previously run in the Tokyo gubernatorial election, where he displayed posters of pornographic tastes under the pretense of free expression, and filed objections over campaign board space. Despite his controversial antics, Kawaii received minimal support from voters, even less than the Communist Party candidate. Japan has protested against a United Nations Human Rights Watchdogs recommendation to review a law restricting imperial succession to the male heirs on the emperor's father's side. The government believes that the imperial succession system is key to Japan's identity, and informed the panel that it was inappropriate to address the issue. Japan has strongly objected to such recommendations in the past. Also included in the UN report was the urge for Japan to reconsider its requirement for married couples to have the same surname. Related to this, the government has said they will consider public opinion and parliamentary debate in responding to the report. A Japanese High Court has ruled this week that the country's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, as it violates the right to equality under the constitution, resulting in discriminatory treatment based on sexual orientation. While the court rejected awarding damages to the plaintiffs, it emphasized that laws should uphold individual dignity and gender equality. The government plans to review similar legal challenges in light of increasing social acceptance of same-sex relationships, and differing court rulings on the ban's constitutionality. Japan remains the only G7 country without legalized same-sex marriage. This has been the Tokyo Bill. These stories and more you can read at thetokilbill.com I've been and remain Tokyo Bill. Thank you for listening, and take care. [Music]