Tokyo International News Agency

A politician in Japan has sparked widespread outrage on social media after proceeding with a political fundraising party just an hour and a half after a major earthquake struck, later telling reporters that he was "honestly glad" he went through with it. The politician, who holds a responsibility to protect public safety and well-being, is facing severe criticism for a perceived lack of crisis management awareness and empathy for local residents. The controversy centers on a political fundraising beer party organized by a key figure in the largest faction of the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly at a hotel in Kitakyushu City. Despite local residents being gripped by anxiety immediately following the earthquake, the event—which charged an entrance fee of 15,000 yen (about $100 USD) per person—went ahead as scheduled just 90 minutes after the quake, drawing more than 500 attendees. Adding fuel to the fire were the politician's comments to the press following the event. "It ...

A recent statement by UN Secretary-General António Guterres regarding the revision of Japan's Imperial House Law has triggered a firestorm of controversy on social media. During a regular press briefing on the 17th, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Farhan Haq stated, in relation to the potential reform of the law, that the UN encourages all countries to adopt inclusive policies that advance women's rights in all statuses and professions. This remark has ignited a fierce, polarized debate online. The context In Japan, the Imperial House Law currently limits imperial succession exclusively to male descendants in the male line. This restriction has sparked long-standing public debate regarding the sustainability of the imperial family, given the declining number of royals and the lack of male heirs in the younger generation. The UN's intervention is seen by some as an attempt to apply international standards of gender equality to a sensitive, deeply traditional in...