Economic Security and Japan’s Economic Diplomacy Strategy in Southeast Asia

Japan is increasingly emphasizing its economic security strategy and has included shaping and maintaining economic rules and order in its newly revised national security strategy.It is carrying out economic diplomacy in Southeast Asia through maintaining the economic influence of the Japan-US alliance,weakening China’s economic influence,and shaping Japan’s strategic autonomy.However,there are notable difficulties reconciling some contradictions in Japan’s diplomatic drives,as its strategic capacity may be insufficient to maintain balanced relations among China,the United States and ASEAN.

Japan’s Quasi-Alliance Strategy:Motivations,Practices and Constraints

The quasi-alliance strategy is part of the national security strategy and lies in the grey area between alliance and neutrality.1 In recent years,major countries,including Japan,have positioned quasi-alliance as a feasible unwritten option in their respective national security strategies.2 Japan’s quasialliance strategy was already in its infancy when former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe first came to power in September 2006 but was put on hold after his resignation in September 2007.

New Trends in Japan's“Indo-Pacific”Strategy

Introduced by the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and inherited and developed by Fumio Kishida,Japan's“Indo–Pacific”strategy has gradually taken shape.This strategy can be deemed a broad vision,covering a wide range of topics and an extensive network of partners,with a strong trend of pan-securitization.It is a comprehensive inter national st rateg y based on Japan's alliance policy and China containment strategy,following a global,security-oriented approach.Driven by considerations such as maintaining its economic status,realizing its long-cherished dream of becoming a political powerhouse,and containing China,Japan has stepped up its“Indo–Pacific”strategy,which may influence global development,undermine regional maritime security,and impede China's reunification process.Meanwhile,Japan's“Indo–Pacific”strategy faces the triple challenge of a strategic overdraft,the unstable economic foundations,and the weak external support.These constraints may not suffice to reverse the direction of Japan's“Indo–Pacific”strategy in the short term but will limit its effectiveness.

Comparison on the Origin and Development of Sophora flavescens in China and Japan

Sophora flavescens , which was first recorded in Shen Nong s Herbal Classic , has the functions of clearing away heat, drying dampness, killing parasites and promoting urination. In its long-term application, traditional Chinese medicine has gradually deepened its understanding of the origin and efficacy of S. flavescens . In order to explore changes in the origin and efficacy of traditional Chinese herb S. flavescens in the history of China and Japan, in this paper, the origin and development of S. flavescens in China and Japan were compared from three aspects: the origin, medicinal efficacy, and processing methods of S. flavescens in China and Japan, hoping to provide clear understanding of the medicinal plant S. flavescens .

Vice-President Liu Hongcai Meets Kamada Takeaki, President of the JCI Japan-China Friendship Association

On December 4th,CAFIU Vice-President Liu Hongcai met Mr.Kamada Takeaki,President of the JCI Japan-China Friendship Association(JCFA),to exchange views on China-Japan people-topeople and youth exchanges.Vice-President Liu Hongcai said that JCFA has long been committed to promoting China-Japan youth exchanges and has played a positive role in enhancing mutual understanding between the Chinese and Japanese youths.

China-Japan-ROK Cooperation Embarks on a New Journey

On May 27,China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Summit Meeting was held in Seoul after a hiatus of more than four years.Li Qiang,Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China,Yoon Suk Yeol,President of the ROK,and Fumio Kishida,Prime Minister of Japan,attended and addressed the Summit.

Global Warming in Japanese Cities from 1960 to 2019 Using Machine Learning

In this study, we investigated the variations in warming between Japanese cities for 1960-1989, and 1990-2019 using principal component analysis (PCA) and k-means clustering. The precipitation and sunshine hours exhibited opposite tendencies in the PCA results. It was found that 1960M and 1990M had a correlation (r = 0.51). The 1960M and 1990M are the mean temperature anomalies in Japanese cities for 1960-1989 and 1990-2019, respectively. There was a strong correlation between temperature and precipitation (r = 0.62). There was an inverse correlation between 1960M and sunshine hours (r = −0.25), but a correlation between 1990M and sunshine hours (r = 0.11). Sunshine hours had less effect on the 1960M but more impact on the 1990M. The k-means clustering for 1960M and 1990M can be classified into four types: high 1960M and high 1990M, which indicates that global warming is progressing rapidly (Sapporo, Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Fukuoka, Nagasaki), low 1960M and low 1990M, global warming is progressing slowly (Nemuro, Ishinomaki, Yamagata, Niigata, Fushiki, Nagano, Karuizawa, Mito, Suwa, Iida, Hamada, Miyazaki, Naha), low 1960M and high 1990M, global warming has accelerated since 1990 (Utsunomiya, Kofu, Okayama, Hiroshima), and normal 1960M and normal 1990M, the rate of warming is normal among the 38 cities (Asahikawa, Aomori, Akita, Kanazawa, Maebashi, Matsumoto, Yokohama, Gifu, Nagoya, Hamamatsu, Kochi, Kagoshima). Higher annual temperatures were correlated with higher annual precipitation according to the k-means clustering of temperature and precipitation. Two of the four categories consisted of places with high annual temperatures and high precipitation (Fushiki, Kanazawa, Kochi, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, Naha, Ishigakijima), and places with low annual temperatures and low precipitation (Asahikawa, Nemuro, Sapporo, Karuizawa).

Japan's Military Transformation and Sino-Japanese Military Relations

Military reform, which is led by the U. S. and sweeping its way to the rest of the world, has now become one of the hottest topics in inter- national military arena. Japan makes no exception. The reconstruction of its military forces, which is still in progress, is concentrated on the following two aspects. One is the enlargement of the functions of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF). Participation in overseas operations is in-

Komei Delegation from Japan Pledging to Inherit Fine Traditions of the Komei Party and Firmly Upholding Sino-Japanese Friendship

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Prevalence of Anxiety and Associated Factors among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in Japan

Mental health difficulties can impact students’motivation,focus,and ability to communicate with others.Students attending medical universities are more likely to experience anxiety,depression,and other mood changes for thefirst time.However,no study has examined their prevalence among Japanese rehabilitation students.This study investigated the prevalence of anxiety among Japanese rehabilitation students and aimed to identify its predictors.A cross-sectional study was conducted among 148first-year physical and occupational therapy students at a private medical university in Japan in June 2022.Data on sociodemographic and personal characteristics,such as gender,age,subject major,regular exercise,place of residence,and sleeping hours,were recorded using an original questionnaire.Instruments included the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory,COVID-19 questionnaire,and Beck Depression Inventory–Second Edition(BDI-II).The results indicated that 83(56%)and 77(52%)students exhibited state anxiety and trait anxiety symptoms,respectively.Thirty-four(23%)students experienced mild depressive symptoms.Associations were further determined between gender,subject major,handling of stress,loneliness,satisfaction with life,satisfaction with social connections,anxiety about the future,satisfaction with school life,fulfillment of friendships,and depression.Several variables demonstrated a statistically significant association:handling stress(p<0.05;95%CI 0.409–2.472),satisfaction with life(p<0.01;95%CI 0.500–0.897),anxiety about the future(p<0.01;95%CI 1.397–4.087),and depression(total score of BDI-II,p<0.01;95%CI 1.555–100.742).Our results emphasize that universities must establish a system for early identification and support of anxiety and depression in students.

Biomanufacturing in Japan:frontier research from 2018 to 2023

Biomanufacturing(BM)is a multidisciplinary area incorporating the characteristics of living organisms and engineering principles to create valuable products for various sectors,including medicine,energy,and the environment.BM has undergone a remarkable transformation in the last two decades,entering the era of BM4.0 and becoming a pivotal driver of the sustainable revolution.Notably,Japan has made significant advances in BM,contributing to its development through the creation of innovative materials,advanced processes,and interdisciplinary applications.However,because of certain development policies,this research has not been widely recognized on an international level.This paper provides a comprehensive summary of the research progress made by renowned Japanese laboratories and researchers in biomedical materials,bio-three-dimensional(3D)printing,and biomedical applications in the last five years.Their unique contributions are introduced and analyzed,illuminating the distinctive approaches and breakthroughs within each domain.Additionally,this review highlights the current challenges and prospects of BM.The viewpoints presented in this paper are intended to serve as a valuable reference for scholars studying BM in Japan.

Development Thoughts on Promoting China's Tea Export——Analysis Based on the Experience of India and Japan

Ranking the first in tea production and sales globally,China occupies a decisive position in the global tea market.However,China’s tea export still faces problems such as low average export price,few international brands,single export market,and weak ability of market entities to deal with technical barriers to trade.Therefore,the analysis and summary of promotion measures for tea export taken by India and Japan is of great significance to the formulation of China’s tea export promotion policies.

Vice-President Liu Hongcai Meets Takami Kunio,Deputy Representative of GEN,Japan

On August 2nd,Vice-President Liu Hongcai met Takami Kunio,Deputy Representative of the Green Earth Network,Japan.The two sides exchanged views on China-Japan relations and people-to-topeople exchanges.

THE SEA IS NOT A SEWER ASEAN countries protested the release of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water as Japan completed its first round of ocean dumping

A total of 7,788 tons of treated radioactive water had been discharged into the Pacific Ocean from Japan’s wrecked Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant by September 11 in the first round of disposal as planned,said the plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company(TEPCO),according to Japanese daily newspaper Sankei Shimbun.The second round of discharge scheduled for early October will release some 7,800 tons of nuclear-contaminated water.

Current Implementation and Experience of Natural Farming in Japan

The natural farming in Japan mainly includes Mokich Okadas natural farming theory and Masanobu Fukuokas natural farming theory in terms of genre.Natural farming was proposed and implemented to deal with the anabatic soil degradation and food safety problems.Among themꎬMokich Okadas natural farming theory advocates the restoration of the agricultural tradition of the past and combination with modern agricultural science and technologyꎻMasanobu Fukuokas natural farming theory advocates a complete return to natural and traditional farming and puts forward a set of green agricultural cultivation methods focusing on injurious insect control with beneficial insectꎬweed control with green herbaceous plantsꎬsoil reclamation with grassꎬnontoxic and cost￣reducing method based on the Japanese ancient agricultural books.Their natural farming theories have been widely popularized and applied in Japanꎬand its successful experience is worthy of study and reference for China.

Advancing Public Diplomacy during Cold Sino-Japan Relations A Case Study of the Confucius Institute at Ritsumeikan

Tense political relations are seen as a barrier to China's public diplomacy with Japan.Despite various setbacks,Confucius Institutes,a classic example of public diplomacy,have continued to stay open in Japan.This paper uses the Confucius Institute at Ritsumeikan(CIR) as a case study to explore how public diplomacy can be carried out when political relations between China and Japan are cold.It concludes that cold political relations do not necessarily mean public diplomacy will fail.Good cooperation with Japanese partners can bring positive results.Also,choosing the right partner is important;government "interference" should be avoided.Finally,China should deal with each Confucius Institute differently,and Japanese universities' enthusiasm should be stimulated through encouragement and retreat mechanisms.

The accumulation characteristics and exploration potential of oil and gas in the back-arc basin of Japan under the background of high heat flow

The Sea of Japan is located in the southeast margin of Eurasia, in the triangle area of the western Pacific Ocean. Due to the interaction of the Pacific plate, Eurasian plate and Philippine plate, its tectonic environment is complex, forming a typical trench-arc-basin system. At present, 148 oil and gas fields have been discovered in Japan, with an oil and gas resource of 255.78×10^(6) t, showing a good prospect for oil and gas exploration. Based on the previous research and the recently collected geological and geophysical data, the characteristics of tectonic-sedimentary evolution and geothermal field in the basins around the Sea of Japan are analyzed. The results show that the tectonic evolution of the basin is mainly controlled by plate subduction and back-arc oceanic crust expansion, and it mainly undergone four tectonic-sedimentary evolution stages: Subduction period, basin development period, subsidence period and compression deformation period. The overall heat flow value of Japan Sea is high, and it is distributed annularly along Yamato Ridge. The geothermal heat flow value is about 50–130 MW/m^(2), and the average heat flow is75.9±19.8 MW/m^(2), which has a typical “hot basin ”. The high heat flow background provides unique thermal evolution conditions for hydrocarbon generation, which leads to the high temperature and rapid evolution. The authors summarized as “early hydrocarbon generation, rapid maturity and shallow and narrow hydrocarbon generation window”. The type of oil and gas is mainly natural gas, and it mainly distributed in Neogene oil and gas reservoirs. The trap types are mainly structural traps, lithologic traps and composite traps. In addition, the pre-Neogene bedrock oil and gas reservoirs also show a good exploration prospect. The resource prospecting indicates that Niigata Basin, Ulleung Basin and kitakami Basin are the main target areas for future exploration and development.

Financial literacy,behavioral traits,and ePayment adoption and usage in Japan

This study investigates how financial literacy and behavioral traits affect the adoption of electronic payment(ePayment)services in Japan.We construct a financial literacy index using a representative sample of 25,000 individuals from the Bank of Japan’s 2019 Financial Literacy Survey.We then analyze the relationship between this index and the extensive and intensive usage of two types of payment services:electronic money(e-money)and mobile payment apps.Using an instrumental variable approach,we find that higher financial literacy is positively associated with a higher likelihood of adopting ePayment services.The empirical results suggest that individuals with higher financial literacy use payment services more frequently.We also find that risk-averse people are less likely to adopt and use ePayment services,whereas people with herd behavior tend to adopt and use ePayment services more.Our empirical results also suggest that the effects of financial literacy on the adoption and use of ePayment differ among people with different behavioral traits.

The Debate on Democratic Revolution in Japan in the 1920s

Anti-hegemonic movements in Japan had occurred frequently since the early 20th century,and democratic revolution debate in the 1920s was the first significant domestic debate on future development strategy.Various discussions on it from Japanese academia involved state power,absolutism,agrarian revolution,and revolutionary strategy,etc.An analysis of early Japanese scholars’perspectives on the democratic revolution helps to know about the social milieu in Japan at that time,and is of positive significance to comprehend the development process of the current Japanese democratic revolution.

史料所见丁汝昌自尽诸家说及相应价值误判

关于丁汝昌自尽的问题,百多年来聚讼纷纭。实际上,无论是日本人《劝降书》中的巧妙预设,还是中日双方臧否不一的两极认识,也无论是研究者们动用的古今中外标准,抑或史学爱好者凭心情勾画出的丁军门像,都未能完全贴近丁汝昌自决前的心理活动和决绝一念。爬疏原始史料并弄清这一问题,对于客观面对和解释新旧时代遭遇后东亚军政人物的价值判断标准及其实效性,或有补益。