Seijigiri: In-depth analysis of Japanese politics

Every other week, Garrett DeOrio and Ken Worsley get together to record Seijigiri, which takes a hard look at the political issues facing Japan. You can listen to Seijigiri here at Trans-Pacific Radio, or you can subscribe and get each episode automatically, as they're released. It's easy to subscribe to Seijigiri: Just copy and paste the RSS feed link for Seijigiri into iTunes or your favorite RSS reader. Don't forget to come here and comment on the issues!

Seijigiri #56: North Korea, a new US ambassador, Aso and Hatoyama square off, and a look at the the extra budget

Filed under: Seijigiri Releases, Trans-Pacific Radio
Posted by Ken Worsley at 12:27 am on Sunday, May 31, 2009

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The 56th edition of Seijigiri opens with a discussion of North Korea’s recent nuclear weapon test. Co-hosts Garrett DeOrio and Ken Worsley consider what steps Japan might take in reaction to the test, and discuss recent rabble that Japan should declare itself a nuclear power - and why that won’t happen.

After that, new US ambassador to Japan John Roos is discussed. While Joseph Nye was the presumptive choice for this post, it seems as though the Obama administration has gone down the path of rewarding a major campaign fundraiser with a plum position. Some of the predictable knee-jerk reactions to this decision are discussed along with the issues facing Mr Roos going forward.

Next on the agenda is a discussion of last week’s Diet debate between Prime Minister Aso Taro and new Democratic Party of Japan President Yukio Hatoyama. After that, the discussion turns to a look at the extra budget, which the ruling party is hoping to pass through the Diet in the coming weeks. Just what is taxpayer money going to be spent on?

Finally, we would like to encourage everyone to come to the Pink Cow in Shibuya on Thursday, June 4 at 7:30pm for the first ever live edition of Seijigiri. More details can be found here.

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Posted by Ken Worsley at 11:13 pm on Monday, May 18, 2009

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Seijigiri #54: Fallout fom the Nakagawa Incident, and Koizumi Ramps up the Pressure

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Seijigiri #52: Armitage in Tokyo, Six Party Talks, and the Aso Premiership Under Siege

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Seijigiri #51: Barack Obama and the US/Japan Alliance

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Seijigiri #50: The economic stimulus package, Aso’s approval ratings, election talk off the table, and the US-Japan alliance

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Seijigiri #49: Aso on Policy, Ozawa’s Response, TV in the Diet and Depictions of Aso in the Foreign Media

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Seijigiri #48: Aso Taro as Next Prime Minister, LDP Policy, Speculation on an October Election, and Marukawa’s Polictical Funds Report

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Seijigiri #47: Fukuda’s new cabinet, government spending, the extraordinary session, DPJ leadership, North Korea, and Garrett’s trip to Hiroshima

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