Each week, here at Osaka.com, we bring you a selection of some of the top stories about Osaka making the local and national news here in Japan. Sometimes it’s serious, sometimes it’s funny, but it’s always direct to you, from Osaka.
Osaka Sweats on Economic Impact of US Tariffs
Osaka Business and Tourism Chiefs are worried about the economic fallout of fresh tariffs from an increasingly assertive and some would say volatile US Government.
Japan has long enjoyed a stable trading relationship with the US, and Osaka has benefited from this, with imported goods being readily available and also many local manufacturers such as Panasonic benefiting from the ability to export cheaply to the US.
However, current US President Donald Trump looks set to rip-up the diplomatic guidebook. He reiterated this week his intention to impose about 30 or 35% of additional tariffs on Japan. This comes despite seemingly positive talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Washington recently.
President Trump describer Ishiba as “A guy I really like.” After their latest meeting at an international summit in Canada last month.
However, those comments stood in stark contrast to his comments this week.
The President described Japan as “spoiled, very spoiled.”
He added: “With Japan, we’ve had a good relationship. But on trade, they’ve basically been ripping us off for 30 or 40 years.”
Economic Fallout Will Hit Technology and Auto Industries Especially Hard
One Osaka firm especially worried about the implications of increased US tariffs is the vehicle manufacturer Daihatsu. The Osaka-based carmaker relies on The US for more than a third of their international trade, so additional tariffs will have a massive impact.
Daihatsu’s domestic reputation also took a hit recently amidst a wider scandal around car safety certification in 2023.
Panasonic’s recent shift away from US-centric products will give them a bit more leeway. However, they aren’t immune to the potential impact either. There are also concerns from tourism chiefs that the trade dispute with the US may harm relations with Japan, and lead to a possible backlash against visiting American tourists.
Osaka Professor Dismisses “Rise of Far-Right, Anti-Foreigner Parties” Says Economic Issues and Corruption More Important to Voters
Globally there’s no denying that right wing populism is on the rise. In some cases it is fueled by valid concerns about immigration and its economic impact. More commonly though, a general dissatisfaction with the political status quo has opened an opportunity for parties standing on a clear anti-immigration platform. Such parties have seen a surge in support in places such as the US, France, Germany and the UK.
Some are worried that this global trend of scapegoating foreigners may spread to Japan. However, according to one of Osaka’s top political scientists, Japan isn’t likely to see its own version of Trumpism or Reform UK anytime soon. Masaaki Hata, Professor of Political Psychology at Osaka University of Economics doesn’t believe this applies to Osaka, or indeed Japan at large.
Parties like the far-right Sanseito, and Osaka’s own Japan Innovation Party have used anti-foreigner rhetoric in some of their campaign materials. However, Hata highlights the marginal gains these parties made in recent elections as being far more down to dissatisfaction with the ruling LDP than any desire for a more extreme version of Conservatism.
Professor Hata said: “Sanseito got 3.4 percent of the vote in the latest national election. More than 2% of that came from support the LDP bled in light of last year’s political funding scandal.
However, he said: “We must be cautious, and more mainstream parties like the JIP have a responsibility not to lower themselves to scapegoating minorities to try and win a few votes.”
And Finally…
Naomi Osaka has made it to the 2nd round of the Wimbledon Tennis Championship.
The former World Number One and Grand Slam winner overcame Australian qualifier Talia Gibson in here first round match on Tuesday. The result marked only the second time Osaka has won at the London tournament since 2018.
She also reached round 2 last year, in her return to Wimbledon after becoming a mother for the first time in 2023.
Even at her US Open Championship-winning peak, Wimbledon, has proved something of a bogey tournament for Osaka. She has never made it beyond the third round on the grass courts of SW19.
Naomi Osaka has always done better on the hard courts, more commonly seen at the US and Australian Open. Some consider grass courts to be a weakness in her game. However, the Osaka-born ace remains optimistic she can overcome the odds and go far in the tournament.
We at Osaka.com all wish her well for the rest of the tournament.
That’s all for now but be sure to check back again same time next week for another round of this week in Osaka!
