The top or most interesting stories from Japan for January 26
– Whilst no new news on the Japanese ISIS-captive, Kenji Goto has emerged, Chinese paper The Global Times has criticised Japan for its handling of the hostage crisis. The paper, with close links to the Chinese Community Paper, has described the fate of executed-hostage Haruna Yukawa as “more or less the price that Japan has paid for its support to Washington”.
The Japan News has written on how journalists, like Goto, traveling to Syria are normally abducted by the very ‘guides’ they hire to help them enter the country.
Long time friend of Goto, film producer Taku Nishimae, begun a social media campaign to help push for Goto’s release.
– Kansai Prefecture is looking to introduce better anti-hate speech laws after a series of anti-Korean protests by a right wing group called Zaitokukai. The move was initially started after a video of a teenager in Osaka was filmed at one of their protests screaming for a massacre of the local Korean population.
Part of the strategy will include a ‘manners blitz’ that will include anti-racism posters and pamphlets.
– Tepco has admitted it will fail to meet a self-appointed March deadline to clean up contaminated water at the Fukushima nuclear plant. They say it will need another two months to finish its work.
