Author: Jacques Quass de Vos South African and Japanese cities are hardly comparable unless we want to play a game of “spot-the-difference.” Firstly, its populations are vastly different: urban South Africa is comprised of a plethora of races and cultures – each one proportionally significant – as opposed to the generally homogenous population of Japan.…
Author: Jacques Quass de Vos New Bank of Japan (BoJ) governor, Kazuo Ueda, might have his hands full after accepting what may be the most difficult task in contemporary central banking. Being the first academic instated as BoJ governor since the post-war era, it has been said that Ueda could lack necessary support from constituencies…
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Japan’s New Security Policy
Author: Cüneyt Aksoy In December 2022, Japan unveiled a new National Security Strategy (NSS) [1] together with three additional defence-related documents, namely the National Defence Strategy, Defence Buildup Programme, and the new Guidelines on Maritime Security, that lays out its security strategy and defence priorities for forthcoming years.[2] The new National Security Strategy is only…
In this interview, Scarlett Cornelissen, SUJC director, engages in a discussion with ‘Japan Up Close,’ the online magazine of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The discussion focuses on the longstanding diplomatic ties between Japan and African states, and Japan’s development cooperation with Africa. There is also discussion of the implications of these relations and the…
Author: Jacques Quass de Vos The third wave of coffee washed over Japan like a rich, aromatic tsunami. Along with it came a new kind of cultural space. Not the kind of place where you would merely buy a cup of coffee to flip open your Mac and ask for the Wi-Fi password; no, Japanese…
Author: Jacques Quass de Vos It is no secret that Japan has the highest debt-to-GDP ratio globally, clocking in at 258.2% according to the April 2023 World Economic Outlook[1]. Sources: Data from International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook, 2023). Japan’s General Government Gross Debt (% of GDP). Graph by Jacques Quass de Vos. Since the…
Author: Inge Odendaal The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on the global travel industry, leading to the implementation of stringent border controls and travel restrictions worldwide. Japan, like many other countries, took measures to contain the virus, resulting in significant disruptions to its tourism sector. These measures had far-reaching consequences, including a sharp decline…
Author: Inge Odendaal Japan is bidding farewell to its COVID-19 policies and restrictions. Since early 2020, the country has implemented various measures to control the spread of the virus, including border closures, population movement restrictions, mask mandates, and a shift to online education and teleworking.[1]Japanese residents restructured their lives to avoid closed and crowded places…
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The G7’s 49th Summit in Japan
Author: Gerhard van Niekerk The Group of 7 (G7) will commence their 49th annual summit in Hiroshima, Japan, on the 19th of May 2023. The G7 is a multilateral forum established in 1975 with member states including some of the world’s most influential powers, namely France, the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), Germany,…
Author: Scarlett Cornelissen Japanese popular cultural goods and content have gained global prominence and influence over the past decades. Japanese animation films (anime) and video games were the first to develop an international following in the 1980s. Since then, the popularity of manga has also grown and it is now consumed on a significant scale…