Japan
Latest in Japan
Japanese Bill Paves a Princess’ Path to Power
A woman hasn’t ascended to the Japanese throne since 1770, but a new bill could allow one to inherit the world’s oldest monarchy. The prospect of an empress has riled the country’s old guard and divided the imperial family.
New Museum Documents Lives of Japan’s ‘Comfort Women’
A new Tokyo museum presses the cause of the “comfort women” of World War II who were used as sex slaves by the Imperial Army. On Friday, Amnesty International renewed appeals to compensate the women and for Japan to issue them a fuller apology.
Japan Installs Caution Signal for Sex Traffic
Japan has revised its criminal law to stipulate human trafficking as a crime and punish those involved. Activists, however, remain alarmed by foreign-staffed sex parlors that have made the country a haven for traffickers.
In Japan, Women’s Constitutional Rights in Peril
Japan’s ruling party is pursuing drastic revisions to the country’s constitution, including rewording the guarantee of gender equality. Women’s rights advocates say that if the revisions pass, Japan will return to “a dark period of history.”
‘Comfort Women’ Await Apology from Japan
The aging women who suffered as sex slaves in Japan’s World War II army–so called comfort women–are still hoping for an official apology. As time runs out for many of them, activists are working to provide them with mental and physical care.
Child Caretakers Push for Better Wages, Benefits
A small but growing number of child-care workers are joining unions to boost wages, benefits and job security in one of the country’s lowest paying occupations. A national umbrella organization is now focusing its efforts in California.
Japan’s Fertility-Treatment Boom Pressures Women
In Japan, fertility treatments are booming as more couples have trouble conceiving. Women’s activists say the trend puts more pressure on women in a culture that too often judges women by their ability to reproduce.
Japan Officials Rue Rape ‘Jokes’ that Spur Critics
After leading politicians brushed off a gang-rape case in Tokyo, women’s rights activists took it as a cue to step up their criticism of what they regard as rampant sex-discrimination.
Japan’s Battlers of Sex Abuse Confront Culture, Law
A Japanese organization is offering for the first time advocacy services for victims of sexual violence. In doing so, the group confronts a culture that inhibits women from talking about their abuse and a legal system that is lenient on rape.