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Emperor Naruhito ascended to the throne on 1 May 2019, following his father Emperor Akihito's abdication.[103] In 2021, Japan successfully hosted the Summer Olympics, which had been postponed from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic;[104] the country secured third place with 27 gold medals.[105] Amidst global events, Japan took a firm stance against Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, swiftly imposing sanctions,[106] freezing Russian assets, and revoking Russia's favored nation trade status, a move praised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Japan establishing itself as a leading world power.[106]
Shinzo Abe’s Historic Tenure and Resignation (2019–2020)
On November 19, 2019, Shinzo Abe became Japan's longest-serving prime minister, surpassing Katsura Tarō’s 2,883-day record. Abe continued his tenure until health concerns prompted his resignation in September 2020, making him the longest continuously serving prime minister, with 2,798 consecutive days in office. Yoshihide Suga, a close ally of Abe, succeeded him and faced immediate challenges, particularly the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 Pandemic and Japan’s Response (2020–2021)
In early 2020, Japan, like many other countries, faced the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic. The country initially responded with donations of masks, medical supplies, and financial aid to China as the virus spread. Despite efforts to control the outbreak, cases surged in Japan by March 2020, leading to restrictions and efforts to minimize the pandemic’s impact on public health and the economy.
The pandemic caused the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, originally scheduled for that year. The Games were eventually held in the summer of 2021, albeit without international spectators and under strict health protocols, marking a symbolic moment of resilience for Japan during a global crisis.
Technological Milestones and Supercomputer Achievements
In June 2020, Japan achieved a technological triumph when its Fugaku supercomputer was declared the most powerful in the world, boasting a performance of 415.53 PFLOPS. Developed by the RIKEN research institute and Fujitsu, Fugaku became a global leader in fields such as industrial applications, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics, representing Japan’s ongoing commitment to technological innovation.
Political Changes and Fumio Kishida’s Premiership (2021–2022)
Yoshihide Suga's tenure as prime minister was short-lived, as he announced in September 2021 that he would not seek re-election as the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Fumio Kishida was elected as the new leader of the LDP and became Japan’s 100th prime minister on October 4, 2021. Shortly afterward, the Reiwa era's first general election took place on October 31, 2021, with the LDP retaining its majority, albeit with a reduced number of seats.
International Affairs and Russia-Ukraine Conflict (2022)
Japan took a firm stance against Russia following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, joining Western allies in imposing sanctions. It became the first Asian country to exert pressure on Russia, signaling a more assertive role in international politics and aligning with other democratic nations against aggression.
The Assassination of Shinzo Abe (2022)
On July 8, 2022, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated in Nara by Tetsuya Yamagami, shocking the nation and the world. Given Japan's extremely low rates of gun violence, with only 10 gun-related deaths between 2017 and 2021, the assassination was a rare and tragic event that underscored the fragility of even the most secure societies.[107]
Shifts in Defense Policy and Military Expansion (2022)
In December 2022, Japan announced a significant shift in its military policy, opting for counterstrike capabilities and increasing its defense budget to 2% of GDP by 2027.[109] Driven by growing security concerns related to China, North Korea, and Russia, this change is expected to make Japan the world's third-largest defense spender, following only the United States and China.[110]
[]Additionally, Japan experienced increased regional tensions after China conducted "precision missile strikes" near Taiwan in August 2022.[108] For the first time, Chinese ballistic missiles landed in Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), prompting Japan's Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi to declare them "serious threats to Japan's national security."
Natural Disasters and Political Scandal (2024)
On January 1, 2024, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Ishikawa Prefecture in the Noto Peninsula, resulting in 213 deaths and numerous injuries. The disaster once again tested Japan's resilience and ability to respond to natural calamities.
In the political realm, the 2024 Japanese slush fund scandal further destabilized the political landscape. This scandal led to indictments of several LDP lawmakers, including Yasutada Ōno and Yaichi Tanigawa, both of whom resigned from the party. The controversy severely impacted Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s approval ratings, and his administration faced growing criticism and anti-government sentiments, making him one of the most contentious figures in recent Japanese politics.
Japan’s Space Exploration Achievement (2024)
On January 19, 2024, Japan became the fifth country to successfully land on the Moon with the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) mission. This milestone marked a significant achievement in Japan's space exploration efforts, demonstrating its technological capabilities and ambition to contribute to lunar exploration.