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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.

On March 6, 2024, NHK published an article about the February 25 broadcast of the Sunday Debate titled "Two Years Since the Invasion of Ukraine: A World in Turmoil, and the Prospect of Ending the War," which featured Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law. The article summarizes an in-depth discussion of the path to ending the war, now two years after Russia's military invasion, as Ukraine's counteroffensive struggles to achieve expected results and some defensive setbacks emerge. Professor Ichihara noted the need to consider the positive and negative effects of the invasion on the international community. She highlighted the difficulty of focusing public and diplomatic attention on a single crisis in today's information-saturated society, which is also grappling with issues in places like Israel, Gaza, Myanmar, and Sudan. In the latter half of the discussion, when asked about Japan's future role, Professor Ichihara emphasized that Japan's diplomatic stance tends to be influenced by Western agenda-setting. However, as a leading Asian nation, Japan must pay attention to Asian issues, such as the situation in Myanmar, and actively take the lead.

Comment on "Chain Izakaya Personnel Making Places for Foreign Part-Timers: It is My Place" [in Japanese]

On July 7, 2024, a comment of Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law on the Asahi Shimbun article, “'Laugh Once a Day' Ordinance Passed by Yamagata Prefectural Assembly, Opponents Cite 'Disregard for Human Rights'” was published. This article covers the opposition raised against the "Ordinance to Promote Health through Laughter," submitted by the Liberal Democratic Party in the Yamagata Prefectural Assembly, with criticism focusing on concerns over the disregard for human rights. Professor Ichihara commented that while she does not oppose the emphasis on laughter as a measure of happiness, the objective should not be to make laughter itself the goal. Instead, she emphasized that the Assembly should focus on discussing how to create a society where people naturally find themselves smiling and enjoying life.

An article based on a roundtable discussion that Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law participated in, “Democracy Turning Its Back on the International Order: Can Pride and Strategy for Global Engagement Be Recovered?” was published in the January 31, 2024 issue of Gaiko. The article discusses the direction we should take in light of ongoing political divisions and conflicts in Western countries, continued support for Ukraine, information warfare during the conflict, the challenges faced by global democracies, and the confrontation with China. Professor Ichihara stated that the United States is failing to maintain any of the requirements of a hegemonic power. She emphasized the need to reconsider the significance of the United States and to rebuild its foreign and security policies accordingly, in addition to discussing the outlook for the situation in Ukraine. She also mentioned the media cooperation agreement signed between China and Russia, stressing that measures against disinformation should be implemented through international cooperation. Finally, she highlighted the importance of Japan's diplomacy, emphasizing the need for proactive efforts to maintain and establish freedom in Asia.

On April 24, 2024, a comment of Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law on the Asahi Shimbun article, “Just for Being Born Rohingya: The Persecution in a Border Town Today” was published. This article is about the Rohingya people who continue to face discrimination and persecution in the harsh situation in Myanmar. Professor Ichihara pointed out the cruelty faced by the Rohingya: stripped of their Myanmar citizenship and subjected to discrimination as stateless individuals, while simultaneously being conscripted as Myanmar nationals. She commented that the Japanese government and the international community should recognize the legitimacy of the National Unity Government (NUG) from a human rights perspective.

On April 24, 2024, a comment of Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law on the Asahi Shimbun article, “The Hidden Power Behind Prime Minister Modi's Popularity: A Skillful Social Media Approach and the Media Landscape Today” was published. The article is about an interview with Professor Hiroki Miwa of Teikyo University regarding the upcoming general election to decide the next Prime Minister of India, which is said to be the "world's largest election" with approximately 968.8 million voters. Professor Ichihara pointed out that in India, both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Modi and the opposition parties are using troll farms to spread misinformation, resulting in a chaotic election battle. Furthermore, she emphasized that domestic political actions such as the arrests of opposition leaders cannot be overlooked under the Modi administration. She highlighted the importance of international non-state actors calling attention to these issues.

A video titled "Information Warfare: Democracy, Authoritarianism, and the Battle to Shape Public Perception," co-produced by The Japan Times and the Institute for Global Governance Research (GGR), Hitotsubashi University, was released on March 27, 2024. In this video, Professor Tetsuro Kobayashi of Waseda University, Professor Maiko Ichihara of Hitotsubashi University, and Mr. Jonathan Soble from Kreab Tokyo engage in a discussion on whether Japan is an outlier in the disinformation age. They argue that Japan's unique language, media culture, and attitude of not placing too much trust in online political statements have, as a result, coincidentally proven to be strong against anti-democratic influence campaigns. However, they also caution that Japan's weak global communication skills, along with advances in disruptive technologies like generative AI, may expose the country to future threats. Professor Ichihara notes that the Japanese government’s communication style is relatively reactive, and in an era where social media quickly spreads emotionally charged information, it is essential for the government to adopt a more proactive approach to delivering messages filled with inspiration and positive emotions.

On 6 February 2024, a comment of Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law on the Asahi Shimbun article, “Hong Kong Police Issue Warrant for Canada-Based Agnes Chow on National Security Law Violation for Failing to Appear” was published. This article discusses how Agnes Chow, a Hong Kong democracy activist currently residing in Canada, has been placed on Hong Kong’s wanted list on suspicion of violating the National Security Law after failing to appear for routine check-ins. Professor Ichihara stated that the actions of the Hong Kong authorities amount to rule by fear. She further commented that the Hong Kong government and the Chinese Communist Party behind it should recognize the weakness inherent in needing to suppress the actions of a single citizen to such an extent, as well as understand that such an approach will incur significant long-term costs to the welfare of citizens and the nation’s economy.