Newshour: Nintendo Saves The Video Game Industry (1988)

 

The 1983 video game crash was devasting to electronic entertainment. Nintendo in order to survive decided to produce home consoles. The Famicom was released in Japan in 1983 and the Nintendo Entertainment System came to North America in 1985. The video game industry remained intact due to Nintendo's new business strategy. The Famicom and NES was marketed as a toy. According to the report from Newshour in 1988 sales hit an estimate of $1.8 billion. Nintendo at the time had two major competitors. This included Sega and Atari. Going into the 1990s, competition would become known as the console wars. The technology was also becoming more advanced. The 8-bit era was considered high tech, but that would not compare to what would come later. Nintendo's rise demonstrates how globalization changed the world economy and culture. A Japanese corporation was seeing success internationally. When new forms of media are introduced, detractors tend to attack it. Some parents were concerned about the time children spent playing video games. Others objected to the focus on boys being the major demographic for sales. Some women complained that female characters were all damsels in distress in Nintendo's games. The 1988 news report criticizes a video game for girls that involved aerobics. Child psychologist Laura Kastner voices this complaint. Kastner did not understand video games are for everyone. Metroid  has female protagonist Samus , Kastner would rather have a game about a woman being promoted in a corporation. Regardless of detractors, Nintendo was able to function in the US. The biggest challenge is not from parents, competitors, or the false notion video games are a horrible influence.  US imposed multiple tariffs in 2025. The following year Nintendo sued the US government. The tariffs caused the increase in prices of Nintendo products. 

Japan's Anti-Militarization Protests

 

A total of 30,000 Japanese citizens have expressed concerns about revisions to the pacifist Constitution. The demonstrations are occurring outside the National Diet Building. These protests could only grow as a more conservative government takes a more militarist foreign policy direction. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is seeking to deploy long range missiles and increase spending on defense. The pivot to anti-China and anti-foreigner sentiments have also been expressed. Japanese conservatives are trying to remove Article 9 for creating a more powerful military force in Asia.  The argument is that North Korea and China are threats to Japan. There is no indication of possible military attacks coming from these countries. Japan cannot afford to be involved in unnecessary conflict. Soldier deaths would reduce even further a shrinking population. The youth are not going to tolerate getting drafted. The loss of life and economic damage would be devastating. The attack on Article 9 has created a new wave of anti-war organizations. We Want Our Future is becoming prominent in the cause to stop militarization. An armed force should be for defense, not starting conflicts overseas. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is trying to complete what Shinzo Abe wanted to do. The Liberal Democratic Party wants to export weapons abroad and participate in various conflicts. The Japanese Self-Defense Forces without Article 9 might be deployed to West Asia, Africa, or other parts of East Asia. The fear is that Japan could be reviving a militarist government similar to the 1930s and 1940s.   

  

Japan Comes Under The Leadership of Sanae Takaichi

 

Japan elected its first female prime minister. Sanae Takaichi now is Japan's head of state. The election of a female prime minister does not mean women's rights will be a priority. Japan is a conservative leaning country. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has expressed her admiration  for Margret Thatcher. Japan could see Thatcherism being applied to Japan with reduction in regulation and monetarist economic policy. The foreign affairs of Japan are going to more hostile to China and North Korea. This explains plans to increase spending on defense.  The push for dismantling the pacifist constitution continues. Japan, like other countries is seeing a wave of anti-immigrant sentiment. Sanar Takaichi is most likely going to crackdown on foreigners working in Japan. The complication is that Japan is seeing decline in population and a growing number of senior citizens. Labor shortages are going to increase, if immigrant labor is curtailed. The work visa program was created to compensate for empty job positions. The Liberal Democratic Party is struggling to hold  political power. The LDP needs to maintain a coalition with the Japanese Innovation Party. Divisions in the political coalition are present over the debate on spending. Sanae Takaichi might not have a long premiership based on the degree of political factionalism. Japan was going through a number of prime ministers until the election of Shinzo Abe. Only illness forced him to resign. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi might have intentions on being head of state for a number of years. Much of this is dependent on how inflation and domestic affairs are handled.     

 

The Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Water Released Into The Pacific Ocean

 

Japan has released the water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. The IAEA has claimed that the radiation levels are safe and that releasing the war will cause no harm. It would be erroneous to think that is so. The release of radioactive water not only is a concern for public health, but the the aquatic ecosystem. Marine wildlife will be negatively impacted by this development. More radioactive water is going to be released in the coming decades. Seafood production and the fishing industry are going to experience the economic effects. China has already expressed that it will be cautious about purchase of seafood from Japan. The United Nations approved of Japan's plan of disposal of the radioactive water. There is little evidence that discharge of the water is safe. Tokyo Electric Power which operates Fukushima stated that not abnormalities were observed. Environmentalists are growing frustrated with a number of international institutions that favor the release of the water. The first discharge of water is set to reach a total of 7,800 cubic metres. That is not so large that any damage done cannot be reversible. The releases must be stopped for the sake of public health and environmental protection. The biggest concern is the tritium contamination. As long as contaminated water is being released ban on Japanese imports could become permanent. South Korea  Hong Kong, China, and Macau are banning Japanese aquatic imports. Those in the fishing industry are more anxious about how the discharge of radioactive water could impact their business. The Fukushima disaster has never really ended in this regard. Natural disasters are never going away. Which is why buildings and infrastructure should take into account particular engineering needs.    

Shinzo Abe Has Been Assassinated

 

The former prime minister of Japan has been assassinated. While giving a speech Shinzo Abe was shot and the injury was fatal. This comes has parliamentary elections are to be held Sunday. The gunman has been identified as Tetsuya  Yamagami . Police have stated that he made his own gun and held disdain for Abe. Gun violence is not some phenomenon of a few countries. It can happen anywhere and to anyone. Gun control becomes a challenge if culprits can build their own. Japan has strict gun laws, but in this case it did not aid in crime prevention. The problem extends beyond guns. A bigger question remains about how to stop violence. Growing discontent, isolation, and rage are becoming factors in crime. The information on Tetsuya Yamagami is still being collected. It has been stated that he served in the Maritime Self Defense Force. World leaders were also shocked by the act of violence. There is a growing concern about security of political figures. The public has had to deal with the threat of gun violence on a daily basis and this is going to be the same for politicians. The Liberal Democratic Party now has navigate a political realm without Abe and ensure that it can address the rise in gun violence. 

The Current Status of The Olympics

 

Japan intends to hold the Olympics in Tokyo. The COVID-19 pandemic has derailed may plans for the games. This has made the Japanese public concerned. Some want the games to be cancelled for the sake of public health. Japan has made too much of a financial investment to abandon the Olympics now. What can prevent a surge in COVID-19 cases would be to have more testing and vaccines available. At bare minimum, wearing masks can also help reduce risk. The Olympics are set to start July 23, 2021. It will still be referred to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. These games will not be without controversy. The IOC has recently imposed a protest ban at the games. The new rule is a major contradiction, especially when it is supported by nations that embrace free expression. Russia remains banned from the Olympics. The nation that sports and politics can be separated is impossible. International sports competition is a platform to promote ideology. Countries  around the globe use the Olympics to generate national unity. The Olympics is more than just simple entertainment. Japan was also struggling with issue within its planning committee. The resignation of Yoshiro Mori as Tokyo Olympics president  demonstrated  that there still remains a large amount of sexism in the sports world and wider society. The 2020 Olympics if it does move forward, will be one of the most interesting competitions in sports history. These games are happening during major geopolitical shifts and international disputes. 

Japan Will Release Contaminated Water From The Fukushima Plant Into The Ocean

 

Ten years after the Fukushima Plant disaster, Japan has decided to release the contaminated water into the ocean. An estimated 1.25 million tons of water from Fukushima  has been treated. The concern becomes what impact will this have on sea life in the Pacific Ocean. The ecosystem could be disturbed by this sudden release of  waste water. Public health is also at risk. The consumption of sea food and the possible contamination of wildlife could make people sick. The waste water contains tritium and radionuclides . The government insists that the treated water will not cause harm. The process is going to be a gradual release. The practice of releasing treated water has been done by various nuclear power plants. Vapor release is a popular method for disposing of water from these facilities. Other Asian nations, environmentalists, and those in the fishing industry have voiced their concerns. So far, the radiation from Fukushima has not caused a major public health crisis. Most of the damage was induced by the earthquake in 2011. Fisheries were negatively impacted by the disaster. Over the next decade, they were able to recover. The fear is of another crisis that could put the industry at risk. Water waste treatment techniques must be done in a way to  preserve the environment and public health. The Daiichi Nuclear Plant is the reason why more research should be done with fusion reactors. A more efficient power source would ensure safety and less reliance on vapor release.  

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics Status

 

The Olympics were rescheduled   due to concerns related to COVID-19. Japan will be hosting the games in 2021. This will be the second time since 1964. The hope is that the pandemic will be either over or controlled by July 21 of 2021. If not, this could cause economic problems for Japan. Hosting the Olympics has been said to be good for a country's  growth. However, large scale investment in stadiums and venues is only temporary. Visitors will eventually leave, along with the financial support that tourism brings. The games have political significance as nations compete on  the world stage of sport. Many countries use the Olympics to deflect away from internal problems or to encourage nationalism in the public. Japan may not be able to do this with the dramatic changes coming from a post-Shinzo Abe era. The Olympics may not even provide unity among Asian nations. Anti-Chinese sentiment is growing globally, which has created tension among world powers. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics could be another extension of this rivalry. If the games to not happen in 2021, then they will be cancelled. So far, it appears Japan has COVID-19 under control to allow for the Olympics proceed as planned. 

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Resigns

 

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced his resignation. One of Japan's longest serving prime ministers will be exiting due to health concerns. Since 2012 he has embarked on a program that was attempting to change Japan economically and politically. Abe sought to have the pacifist constitution replaced. He attempted to get women more active in the Japanese workforce. Abenomics was the term used for his policies regarding the revitalization of the Japanese economy. The COVID-19 pandemic caused challenges for the Japanese workforce and the government was criticized for it management of the crisis. Shinzo Abe stated that his colitis was becoming more intense over the following weeks. Seeing as there is no cure and it has become difficult to treat, this would have effected his duties. A sudden change in leadership could change the political conditions in Asia. The growing tension between the US and China will be a factor. North Korea has remained a regional issue. The question of what is the best plan for economic recovery remains unanswered. Abe has been a political survivor. He first resigned in 2007. Making a comeback, his premiership was accused of scandal. The land sales scandal exposed that Abe and his family were giving preferential treatment to schools politically close to them. Japan is now in the process of selecting a new prime minister.  

Kim Jong Un's Health

Kim Jong Un has fallen ill and some have speculated about his condition. It would be presumptuous to assume that he is in critical condition. Kim Jong Un underwent surgery allegedly for a heart condition and has had a difficult recovery. The concern is that if he were to pass away, North Korea could become unstable. Japan would have more concern about this considering its objection to its nuclear weapons program. China also has significant investment in North Korean affairs and has sent a medical team to advise Kim. This may actually embolden the US to take more aggressive military action. The desire for regime change has never gone away, which became more intense during the Bush administration. President Obama had a policy of strategic patience, President Trump has vacillated between diplomacy and bellicose rhetoric. Besides external threats to North Korea, the question of a successor becomes a problem. So far, it has been members of the Kim family that have ruled North Korea. Commentators have stated the likely candidate could be his sister Kim Yo-Jong. At the moment it can not be certain that North Korea is going through a sudden change in leadership.