Japan's Fire Festival and Key Political Updates Highlight January News
On January 18, 2025, high school archery club members participated in a spectacular fire festival in Kushimoto, located in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan. During the event, the archers shot flaming arrows to ignite a vast 100,000 square-meter turf-covered field, creating a mesmerizing display against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean.
The festival not only showcased local traditions but also drew attention to several significant developments in Japanese politics and international relations. A new United Nations standard inspired by Japan's volunteer probation officer system is currently in progress, as revealed by government sources. This initiative aims to address global concerns regarding recidivism and is expected to culminate in draft guidelines that will be finalized by the end of the month during an expert meeting in Vienna. Japan is actively seeking the adoption of these guidelines at the U.N. General Assembly later this year.
In political news, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba emphasized the importance of retaining a majority in the upper house during the upcoming summer elections. Following a challenging year that saw his coalition government form a minority following lower house elections, Ishiba expressed confidence in their ability to secure a commanding presence in the upper house. He articulated this commitment during a television program as Japan's parliament prepares for a new 150-day session.
Meanwhile, in the United States, TikTok went offline just hours before a newly enacted federal law was set to ban the application. This development followed a Supreme Court decision requiring the Chinese-owned platform, ByteDance Ltd., to divest its U.S. operations or face a nationwide shutdown, citing national security concerns.
Domestic attention also focused on the upcoming World Expo in Osaka, where Prime Minister Ishiba visited the venue to assess progress. With less than three months remaining until the expo's commencement, organizers are grappling with slower-than-anticipated advance ticket sales, leading Ishiba to pledge measures to ensure the event's success.
Additionally, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya departed for the U.S. to attend President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, aiming to engage key figures in the incoming administration. Iwaya's agenda includes potential discussions with Senator Marco Rubio, who is awaiting Senate confirmation as the nominee for U.S. Secretary of State, to facilitate a future summit between Trump and Ishiba.
Internationally, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation announced its commitment to provide up to 800 million euros (approximately $822 million) in loans to a major German telecommunications firm to support the expansion of 5G services. This agreement comes at a time when Germany is striving to minimize reliance on Chinese technology in its telecommunications infrastructure, particularly those provided by Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corporation.
On the sports front, Japan's Ruka Hirano secured a silver medal and fellow countryman Ayumu Hirano took home bronze in the snowboarding halfpipe event at the Laax Open in Switzerland. The competition was won by Australia's Scotty James, who achieved a remarkable score, further solidifying his reputation in the sport.
