Events/News

On October 18, 2024, a comment of Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law on the Asahi Shimbun article, “Penalty for 'Nose-Exposed Mask' During Shogi Match Ruled Lawful: Player's Lawsuit Dismissed by Tokyo District Court” was published. The article discusses a lawsuit filed by Hachidan player Ichiro Hiura against the Japan Shogi Association, claiming that it was unjust for him to be penalized with a forfeit loss and a three-month suspension from matches for not wearing his mask properly during a shogi match. The Tokyo District Court ruled against his claim and dismissed the lawsuit. Professor Ichihara pointed out that although the Japan Shogi Association mandated mask-wearing at the time, the government's policy, which served as the basis for this rule, was merely a recommendation rather than a legal obligation. She further commented that treating a non-mandatory action as if it were a legal requirement and imposing sanctions accordingly risks excessively restricting individual freedoms.

On October 10, 2024, a comment of Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law on the Asahi Shimbun article, “Chinese Nationals in Japan Face Harassment from Chinese Authorities for Criticizing Their Homeland, Human Rights Organization Reports,” was published. This article discusses a report released by the international human rights organization Human Rights Watch, which documents cases of Chinese nationals in Japan who have faced threats and harassment from Chinese authorities after participating in protests and other activities critical of China. Professor Ichihara highlighted the significance of this investigation, emphasizing that it provides crucial evidence that surveillance and repression by the Chinese government extend beyond its borders and are occurring even in Japan. She further noted that these actions seriously violate academic freedom and freedom of expression and urged Japanese educational institutions to take the necessary measures in response.

On December 27, 2024, an article featuring Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law, who appeared on NHK’s World News 2024 program titled “Where Is Democracy Headed?”, was published. The program reflected on the global elections held in 2024 and discussed the future of democracy. In the first half of the program, the discussion focused on reviewing election trends across various regions and examining the impact of social media on elections. The second half shifted to exploring the fairness of elections. Professor Ichihara emphasized that ensuring free and fair elections requires the safeguarding of “civil liberties.” However, the program highlighted the ongoing suppression of media and civil society in many countries since the mid-2000s. Professor Ichihara further pointed out that while customs and norms have historically supported democratic institutions, the erosion of these “soft guardrails” poses a significant risk to the rapid weakening of democracy.  Professor Ichihara underscored the need to strengthen both “horizontal accountability” and “vertical accountability” across nations as key issues for the future of democracy. Finally, Professor Ichihara mentioned that it is necessary to avoid having democracy become entangled in the discourse of war, rather than discussing democracy in terms of the structure of conflict.

On January 8, 2025, an article titled "Protecting Pro-Democracy Activists from Persecution Based in Japan – A Network of Asian Researchers" appeared in the Chunichi Shimbun, introducing the press conference held in December of the previous year to announce the launch of the Democracy Advocates at Risk (DAR) program. The article highlights that DAR is a program designed to assist pro-democracy activists facing oppression in various Asian countries and regions by facilitating their relocation abroad and providing opportunities to continue their work as researchers or students. It emphasizes that this initiative is the first institutionalized effort of its kind in Asia. Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Institute for Global Governance Research, which serves as the secretariat for DAR, expressed her hopes for the program, stating, "I hope that as a society, we can accumulate shared experiences and develop networks that extend beyond individual connections to become collaborations between organizations."

On December 15, 2024, a press conference was held to announce the launch of the Democracy Advocates at Risk (DAR) program, and the initiative was featured in several newspaper articles, including those in Nikkei, Sankei, and Tokyo Shimbun. Having the secretariat at the Institute for Global Governance Research (GGR) at Hitotsubashi University, the DAR program provides support for pro-democracy activists facing repression in various countries and regions in Asia. Professor Maiko Ichihara of GGR stated, "It is ideal for activists to remain in Asia, as it allows them to continue disseminating information to their home countries more effectively." She further expressed her aspirations for the program, stating, "We aim to secure cooperation from governments and related organizations, and ultimately develop this initiative into a broader regional framework within Asia."

On October 17, 2024, NHK's Mimiyori! Kaisetsu published an article titled "U.S. Presidential Election: Manipulating Public Opinion with Disinformation," featuring comments from Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law. The article explains how, before the presidential election, disinformation aimed at manipulating public opinion was spreading in the United States, with increasingly sophisticated tactics. Professor Ichihara noted that, although public opinion in Japan is not as polarized as in the United States, information laundering is occurring in Japan too. She cautioned that disinformation is becoming easier to spread, as some social media companies are scaling back their monitoring systems.

On October 2, 2024, a comment of Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law on the Asahi Shimbun article, “Prime Minister Ishiba Holds Phone Talks with President Biden, No Mention of Revising the Status of Forces Agreement” was published. This article covers Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's phone talks with U.S. President Biden on the morning of the 2nd, the day after his new cabinet was formed. Professor Ichihara pointed out that Prime Minister Ishiba’s emphasis on revising the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement is similar to the stance of the Hatoyama administration during the Democratic Party's rule. She also commented that setting this agenda as too high a priority could pose potential problems for both the stability of the international order and Japan’s security.

On September 23, 2024, a comment of Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law on the Asahi Shimbun article, “Why is Former Prime Minister Noda the New Leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party? Public Support and the Shift to 'Centrist Conservatism.'” was published. The article covers the election of former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda as the new leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party, with an eye toward a potential change in government in the 2024 House of Representatives election. Professor Maiko Ichihara commented that, while centrism is not an easy path in the age of social media, where populism is gaining ground. In this context, Noda's election as the new leader, a centrist, reflects not only an appreciation for his rhetoric concerning political finance issues but also indicates that social divisions in Japan remain relatively restrained.

On September 20, 2024, a comment of Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law on the Asahi Shimbun article, “Edano's Statement on ‘Interpreting Within the Scope of Individual Self-Defense’ Deemed ‘Groundless’” was published. This article discusses a statement made by former Constitutional Democratic Party leader Yukio Edano, in which he claimed that "an armed attack against a foreign country resulting in threatening Japan’s survival," as permitted under the security laws passed in 2015, could be interpreted as falling within the scope of individual self-defense. Professor Ichihara commented that publishing such an article as a fact-check piece could affect its credibility, and if it is to be published, it should be done so as a regular article.

On August 9, 2024, a comment of Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law on the Asahi Shimbun article, “Nagasaki Caught Up in Global Affairs: Six Ambassadors Absent, Prompting Questions About the Ceremony’s Meaning” was published. This article discusses the unusual situation in which Nagasaki’s Peace Memorial Ceremony was held, following the decision not to invite Israel, resulting in the absence of ambassadors from six major countries, including nuclear-armed nations such as the United States and the United Kingdom. Professor Ichihara commented that this was an independent and political decision made by the city of Nagasaki, and stressed that both politicians and the media should avoid using language that abdicates the sense of ownership.