Japanese

2022 - 9 - 20

Japan: Submission to the UN Human Rights Committee (Human Rights Watch)

This submission aims to contribute to the Human Rights Committee's (“the Committee”) upcoming review of Japan's compliance with the International Covenant ...

[[4]](#_ftnref4) Human Rights Watch, “Privacy Snapshot: Global: Cisco Webex,” https://features.hrw.org/features/StudentsNotProducts/files/privacy_snapshots/Privacy%20Snapshot%20-%20Global%20Cisco%20WebEx.pdf; “Privacy Snapshot: Japan: schoolTakt,” https://features.hrw.org/features/StudentsNotProducts/files/privacy_snapshots/Privacy%20Snapshot%20-%20Japan%20schoolTakt.pdf; “Privacy Snapshot: Japan: Study Sapuri,” https://features.hrw.org/features/StudentsNotProducts/files/privacy_snapshots/Privacy%20Snapshot%20-%20Japan%20Study%20Sapuri.pdf. Human Rights Watch has documented the persistent and discriminatory barriers transgender people face to change their legally recognized gender under the Gender Identity Disorder (GID) Special Cases Act. [[27]](#_ftn27) “The suffering that [transgender people] face in terms of gender is also of concern to society that is supposed to embrace diversity in gender identity,” they wrote. [[13]](#_ftn13) In March 2021, the groups submitted a petition with 106,250 signatures from Japan and abroad to all Japanese political parties, including the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), [[14]](#_ftn14) calling for the introduction of the Equality Act in the Diet. - Adopt child-specific data protection laws that address the significant child rights impacts of the collection, processing, and use of children’s personal data. In most instances, it was impossible for children to opt out of such surveillance and data collection without opting out of compulsory education and giving up on formal learning during the pandemic. Neither the government, nor the nine EdTech companies, informed children and their parents of the data practices that risked or infringed on children’s rights. Human Rights Watch did not find evidence that MEXT took measures to prevent or mitigate children’s rights abuses by companies, or that MEXT checked whether the EdTech products they were rapidly endorsing were safe for children to use. This submission aims to contribute to the Human Rights Committee’s (“the Committee”) upcoming review of Japan’s compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR or “the Covenant”). Nine out of the ten government-authorized EdTech products reviewed by Human Rights Watch engaged in data practices that unreasonably infringed on children’s rights or risked doing so. It is submitted to the Human Rights Committee in advance of its review of Japan at the Committee’s 136th session. For contacts, the right to privacy is affected by the “mere collection of personal data” in which they lose control over information, in addition to the risk of experiencing potential misuse of their personal data.

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Image courtesy of "Reuters"

Japanese man sets himself on fire in apparent protest at former PM's ... (Reuters)

A man set himself on fire near the Japanese prime minister's office on Wednesday in an apparent protest at the government's decision to hold a state funeral ...

Numerous polls show a majority of Japanese now oppose the ceremony, helping to send Kishida's support plummeting. Links to the Unification Church, founded in South Korea in the 1950s, have grown into a huge problem for current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and the LDP since they emerged following Abe's killing. The suspect in Abe's death has said the church bankrupted his mother and he felt the former prime minister supported it. 27, with some 6,000 people from Japan and overseas set to take part. His state funeral is set for Sept. The man, in his 70s, was unconscious when first found but later told police that he had deliberately doused himself in oil, media said.

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Image courtesy of "CBC.ca"

Man lights himself on fire in Japan in apparent protest of state ... (CBC.ca)

A man set himself on fire near the Japanese prime minister's office in Tokyo early Wednesday in apparent protest against the state funeral planned next week ...

They say Kishida aimed to please Abe's party faction and buttress his own power. The LDP has said nearly half its lawmakers have ties to the church. The man was taken to a hospital.

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

Japanese man sets himself on fire over Abe's state funeral (Aljazeera.com)

Shinzo Abe was Japan's longest-serving prime minister, but polls show more than half of the public opposes the ceremony.

The suspect in Abe’s death has said the organisation bankrupted his mother and he felt the former prime minister supported it. But state funerals are rare in Japan, and the decision has been controversial. A police officer who tried to extinguish the flames was also injured.

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Image courtesy of "India Today"

Japanese man sets himself on fire near PM's office to oppose ... (India Today)

A man set himself on fire near the Japanese prime minister's office on Wednesday after expressing opposition to a state funeral for assassinated ex-premier ...

But state funerals are rare in Japan, and the decision has been controversial. While Abe was not a member of the church, he addressed affiliated groups, and his death caused renewed scrutiny of the sect and its ties to politicians in Japan. He was campaigning for ruling-party candidates in upper-house elections in the Nara region, when he was shot by a man who allegedly believed the former leader had ties to the Unification Church. The agency said a note was found near the man, expressing his opposition to the funeral. The television station said a police officer who tried to extinguish the fire was injured in the process. Police, the prime minister's office and the cabinet office all declined to comment on the reports.

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Image courtesy of "Nikkei Asia"

Japan to boost cybersecurity for defense contractors (Nikkei Asia)

TOKYO -- The Japanese government will tighten up cybersecurity standards for defense contractors, going well beyond defending against a breach of a sy.

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Image courtesy of "Reuters"

Japan weighs plan for ban on hotel guests without masks -media (Reuters)

Japan's government is considering allowing hotels to refuse entry to guests who do not wear masks and follow other measures to control infection during an ...

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com

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Image courtesy of "swissinfo.ch"

Japanese man sets himself on fire in apparent protest at former PM ... (swissinfo.ch)

A letter opposing Abe's state funeral was found nearby, media added. Abe, Japan's longest-serving premier, was gunned down at a campaign rally on July 8. His ...

Numerous polls show a majority of Japanese now oppose the ceremony, helping to send Kishida's support plummeting. Links to the Unification Church, founded in South Korea in the 1950s, have grown into a huge problem for current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and the LDP since they emerged following Abe's killing. The man, in his 70s, was unconscious when first found but later told police that he had deliberately doused himself in oil, media said.

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Shinzo Abe: man sets himself alight in protest at state funeral for ... (The Guardian)

Protester sustains widespread burns as Japan wrestles with legacy of leader whose death revealed scale of politicians' links to Unification church.

[at least ¥1.7bn ($12m)](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/06/japan-state-funeral-shinzo-abe-opposition), with most of the money going on a huge security operation. In all, about 6,000 people are expected to attend. A Mainichi Shimbun poll conducted at the weekend showed support for Kishida at 29%, down six percentage points from late August. Media reports said the protester, who is in his 70s, regained consciousness and told police that he had doused himself in oil before setting it alight. [fierce criticism](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jul/12/shinzo-abe-controversial-vision-japan-constitution). More than 75% said the government was spending “too much” on the funeral. [first sitting US president to visit Hiroshima](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/27/barack-obama-first-us-president-to-visit-hiroshima-japan). [damaged](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/23/japan-pm-fumio-kishida-popularity-dives-unification-church) the prime minister, Fumio Kishida, who announced his support for a state funeral within days of Abe’s death. [state funeral](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/22/shinzo-abe-state-funeral-growing-opposition-japan) for the country’s former prime minister, [Shinzo Abe](https://www.theguardian.com/world/shinzo-abe). [Sun Myung Moon](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/01/revelations-shinzo-abe-death-unification-church-moonies-political-influence-japan), was encouraged to establish a presence in [Japan](https://www.theguardian.com/world/japan) by Abe’s grandfather and postwar prime minister, Nobusuke Kishi, as a counter to communism and trade unionism. [shot dead](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/08/shinzo-abe-japans-former-prime-minister-dies-after-being-shot) in July. [plunged into poverty](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/11/mother-of-shinzo-abe-killing-suspect-member-of-moonies-church) 20 years ago when his mother, a church member, donated large sums of money to the organisation.

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Image courtesy of "NBC News"

Man sets himself on fire in Japan in apparent protest of Shinzo Abe ... (NBC News)

The planned state funeral for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been criticized as more details emerge about his links to the Unification Church.

General Assembly](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/world-great-peril-un-chief-warns-global-leaders-rcna48473) meeting of world leaders. [Fumio Kishida](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/japan-prime-minister-fumio-apology-kishida-shinzo-abe-assasssination-rcna45589) is in New York for the annual [U.N. They say Kishida aimed to please Abe’s party faction and buttress his own power. The LDP has said nearly half its lawmakers have ties to the church. He gave a speech Tuesday expressing disappointment over the Security Council’s failure to respond to the Russian invasion of [Ukraine](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/occupied-ukrainian-regions-vote-join-russia-war-counteroffensive-rcna48475) because of Russia’s permanent veto and called for reforms that would allow the U.N. The man was taken to a hospital.

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Image courtesy of "Kyodo News Plus"

Japan PM Kishida urges world to reaffirm rules-based order, reform ... (Kyodo News Plus)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida urges the world to reaffirm the importance of the rules-based international order amid ongoing war in Ukraine and ...

Kishida, during a four-day stay in New York through Friday, plans to meet leaders of other nations on the sidelines of the U.N. Kishida urged other leaders to take advantage of the U.N. Japan has long expressed its desire to become a permanent member of a reformed Security Council. Kyiv has recently taken back many areas of the country from Russian control, aided by military support from the United States and some other Western countries, while Moscow continues to launch offensives. Instead, its operations have shown a widening rift between members such as the United States and other Western countries imposing economic sanctions on Moscow and others refraining from fully or immediately joining them. Charter, said Kishida, the first Japanese leader to give a speech in-person at the assembly's annual general debate session since 2019.

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Image courtesy of "Reuters"

Russia's invasion of Ukraine tramples U.N. charter: Japan PM (Reuters)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine as destabilising ...

It should never be tolerated," Kishida said. "Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a conduct that tramples the philosophy and principles of the U.N. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com

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Image courtesy of "Associated Press"

Japan PM calls for UN reforms to address Russian aggression (Associated Press)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed disappointment Tuesday over the failure of the United Nations Security Council to respond to the Russian ...

Japan is to serve as one of the non-permanent members of the Security Council beginning in January. He expressed disappointment over the failure of negotiators last month to reach an agreement on the “We must face the reality that the integrity of the United Nations is at risk because of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, which is a U.N. Japan has promoted a reform plan with Germany, India and Brazil as the Group of Four since 2004. Japan has long sought to reform the U.N. Russia is a permanent member of the U.N.

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Image courtesy of "Barron's"

Man Sets Himself On Fire Near Japan PM's Office (Barron's)

A man was taken to hospital unconscious after apparently setting himself on fire near the office of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday, ...

Kyodo news agency and other outlets said police were called to the scene after reports a man was "engulfed in flames". The television station said a police officer who tried to extinguish the fire was injured in the process. TV Asahi said the man set himself alight after telling police he was opposed to plans for a state funeral for assassinated former prime minister Shinzo Abe.

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Image courtesy of "CNN"

Japanese man 'sets himself on fire' to protest Shinzo Abe's state ... (CNN)

A Japanese man in his 70s has been taken to hospital in Tokyo after setting himself on fire near the prime minister's office, according to Japan's public ...

Despite his wins at the ballot box, Abe was no stranger to controversy. [reverberated across](https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/20/asia/shinzo-abe-legacy-china-japan-indo-pacific-intl-hnk/index.html) the world and [huge crowds gathered](https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/09/photos/gallery/shinzo-abe-react-070922/index.html) on the streets of Tokyo to pay their respects. [died](https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/08/asia/japan-shinzo-abe-dies-shooting-intl-hnk/index.html) from excessive bleeding in July at the age of 67 after being shot while giving a public campaign speech. [longest-serving prime minister](https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/08/asia/shinzo-abe-former-japan-pm-death-intl-hnk/index.html), holding office from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2020 before resigning due to health reasons. [state funeral for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe](https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/08/asia/shinzo-abe-former-japan-pm-death-intl-hnk/index.html) later this month, CNN affiliate TV Asahi reported. A Japanese man in his 70s has been taken to hospital in Tokyo after setting himself on fire near the prime minister’s office, according to Japan’s public broadcaster NHK.

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Image courtesy of "Voice of America"

Japanese Man Sets Himself on Fire in Apparent Protest of State ... (Voice of America)

Police officers and firefighters investigate the site where a man protesting a state funeral for former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe set himself on fire, ...

Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, was assassinated on July 8 while delivering a speech at a campaign rally in the western city of Nara. News reports say the man, believed to be in his 70s, sustained burns over a large part of his body but was conscious when he was taken to a hospital. A police officer who tried to put out the fire was reportedly injured.

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Image courtesy of "Bloomberg"

Why Young Japanese Are More Likely to Back Abe's State Funeral (Bloomberg)

In a country where voters are increasingly opposed to a state funeral for Shinzo Abe, support for the event remains high among younger Japanese who see ...

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Image courtesy of "The Japan Times"

Even as Japan's border creaks open, unmarried couples still ... (The Japan Times)

When the coronavirus pandemic first broke out, Stefano Volonte, an Italian teacher, translator and interpreter, was planning to move to Japan to start a ...

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A man sets himself on fire in an apparent protest of Japanese leader ... (NPR)

TOKYO — A man set himself on fire near the Japanese prime minister's office in Tokyo on Wednesday in an apparent protest against the state funeral planned ...

The state funeral is scheduled for next Tuesday at the Budokan martial arts arena in Tokyo. The suspect in Abe's assassination reportedly believed his mother's large donations to the church ruined his family. They say Kishida decided to hold a state funeral to please Abe's party faction and buttress his own power. More protests are expected in coming days, including the day of the funeral next week. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is in New York for the annual U.N. Police called it an attempted suicide and refused to give further details because the case involved no criminal intent.

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Image courtesy of "Canary Media"

Green hydrogen will power production of Japanese whisky Hakushu (Canary Media)

Using renewable electricity, Suntory will produce hydrogen to supply heat for distillation and fuel its buses and trucks.

[Canary Media’s special coverage](https://www.canarymedia.com/climate-week-nyc-2022) of Climate Week NYC September 19–25. But crunching the numbers reveals that only using bursts of surplus renewables doesn’t power enough hydrogen production to make projects cost-effective. (Currently, nearly all industrial hydrogen production is derived from fossil fuels and emits greenhouse gases.) Clean or “green” hydrogen production comes from electrolyzers, which run electricity through water to generate pure hydrogen molecules. [Southern Alps](https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2021/06/japan-travel-a-hikers-guide-to-the-japanese-southern-alps/) of Yamanashi prefecture. “It will not emit any greenhouse gases and will also generate enough green energy for the surrounding communities,” Ono said.

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Image courtesy of "TheTravel"

10 Tranquil Japanese Gardens To Visit In The U.S. In Spring (TheTravel)

There's no need to go to Japan to experience its splendor. The botanical beauty of traditional Japanese gardens is closer than one might think.

The park is also home to a genuine, bright crimson Byodo-In Temple, which was built in 1968 to mark 100 years of Japanese immigration to Hawaii and is a smaller reconstruction of its namesake in Japan. The Japanese Garden of Peace was a gift from Japan to the U.S, one that symbolizes 'the complicated but firm friendship between the two countries, as the museum explains. Not merely a Japanese zen garden in Hawaii, but one in a cemetery? San Fernando Valley's Japanese Garden named 'Suihoen' boasts a trio of gardens 'of water and fragrance.' Set over six-and-a-half acres, the gardens, 'dry meditation,' 'wet-strolling,' and 'tea' were designed by Dr. Showcasing a minimalist display inspired by hundreds-of-years-old Japanese customs and practices, Seiwa-en brings the Land of the Rising sun's historic enchantment to Missouri. The site offers tons of tradition, boasting a tiered waterfall, an island, a koi fish pond, a tea garden with an old-style tea house, and a courtyard garden that leads to a Japanese bathhouse. This garden's official name is 'Rohouen,' which combines three Japanese words: 'ro' for heron, 'ho' is the word for the mythical phoenix, and 'en' for garden - a befitting name for a true Japanese garden in Phoenix. The seventeenth-century Japanese house - Shofuso (meaning Pine Breeze Villa) - first began its exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. In the modern day, the United States intrigue with Japanese gardens continues, and, thanks to a long relationship with these horticultural and architectural wonders from across the Pacific, many sublime samples exist for people to enjoy today - some of which may be closer to home than Americans realize. Japanese gardens are one of the Lands of the Rising Sun's most splendid experiences, offering a collective taste of the nation's natural beauty sculpted into an artistic format - one that is instantly recognizable as authentic Japanese landscaping botany and architecture. Boasting a tea house and koi pond within its enchanting spaces, this dot on Arizona's map offers a sense of old Japan's calming outdoor aura that made the country's signature curated gardens a place of rest and retreat. While WWII distracted the enthusiasm for Japanese gardens in the country for a time, the public eventually resumed its preoccupation with these stunning masterpieces, with hobbyists continuing their pastime procuring the Land of the Rising Sun's lawns across the 50 states once again.

Alice Technologies partners with Japanese giant Shimizu (Construction Dive)

The deal comes after a summer filled with action for Alice, which recently landed partnerships with massive firms such as Osaka-based contractor Takenaka ...

“With Alice, we can simulate thousands of ways in which we could build a complex project,” said Shuntaro Kano, a representative of Shimizu’s Silicon Valley Innovation Center, in the press release. - Alice’s software is an “optioneering” platform that allows contractors to utilize data and compare their plans to construction options during different phases such as bidding, preconstruction and more. “It makes junior people way more able to perform like senior people.” Other contech companies recently [announced strong funding rounds](https://www.constructiondive.com/news/6-summer-top-contech-funding-rounds/630276/), and [software companies are upping the offerings](https://www.constructiondive.com/news/new-and-updated-software-that-contractors-should-know-about/631167/) available to contractors. Both companies will use Alice’s products on their jobsites.

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