Josep Solano

The message published this week by the Embassy of Iran in Japan is not merely another piece of diplomatic propaganda. It is also a reflection of the gradual transformation of the global geopolitical narrative. The Iranian statement portrays Tehran as a besieged power that, despite sanctions, wars, and Western pressure, continues to resist while repeatedly opting for diplomacy. The United States is depicted as the true destabilizing force in the Middle East: a power that imposes sanctions, sabotages negotiations, and routinely relies on military pressure as an instrument of foreign policy. This narrative is not new. What is new is…

For decades, Japan maintained a delicate balance between historical reconciliation and national interest. Successive governments expressed remorse for the legacy of the Second World War, while emperors such as Akihito and Naruhito cultivated an image of restraint and reconciliation across Asia. The controversy surrounding Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in 2026 is therefore not about whether Japan apologizes for its wartime past, but about how historical memory is increasingly being integrated into Tokyo’s strategic diplomacy. During recent visits to the United States and Australia, Takaichi’s gestures of remembrance have been solemn, highly visible and politically significant. Ceremonies at memorials in Canberra…

As Japan marks Midori no Hi this Monday, the usual calm of Golden Week feels somewhat out of sync with the pace of events beyond its borders. While millions of people travel or return to their hometowns, the government is moving in a very different direction, dispatching ministers, envoys and business delegations across Europe and the Global South. The message is unmistakable: Tokyo wants to be seen not just as a reliable partner, but as a central actor in an increasingly unstable international landscape. And yet, back in Japan, the mood is shifting in a more cautious direction. In recent…

While the central government in Tokyo continues to navigate the political sensitivities of immigration with characteristic caution, a quiet revolution is taking place in Japan’s hinterlands. Faced with an existential demographic crisis, Japan’s prefectures are no longer waiting for a signal from Kasumigaseki. They have stepped into the vacuum, conducting their own brand of "labor diplomacy" to secure the human capital necessary for their economic survival. For decades, Japan’s approach to foreign labor has been centralized, rigid, and often reactive. However, the disconnect between national policy and regional reality has reached a breaking point. In the industrial hubs of Aichi…

Japan stands at a crossroads where economic security appears to take precedence over international openness. Under the administration of Sanae Takaichi, Tokyo has constructed a legal architecture that, instead of attracting the talent necessary for strategic sectors, is complicating its integration. This trend toward "inward innovation" suggests an attempt to progress in fields such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence while effectively restricting the global circulation of knowledge. Economic Security Minister Kimi Onoda is leading this shift toward stricter controls. The new security clearance system requires companies to conduct exhaustive vetting of foreign professionals, including their family ties and backgrounds. This…

The case of Idrissa Gogo is more than a legal dispute; it is a profound litmus test for Japan’s self-proclaimed ambition to become a global magnet for talent. As the Ministry of Justice moves toward tightening language requirements for specialized visas, the sight of a high-level academic fighting for the right to contribute to the Japanese intellectual landscape exposes a jarring contradiction in the nation’s immigration philosophy. For years, the "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" visa has been the primary gateway for global professionals. The government’s recent proposal to mandate a CEFR B2 (JLPT N2) proficiency level for these roles is…

Something important happened in Tokyo last Wednesday. It didn’t make the front pages, but it should have. The Sasakawa Peace Foundation launched the Center for Mediation Support. It sounds like a technical, bureaucratic step but it is actually the start of a quiet revolution in how Japan talks to the world. For decades, Japan followed a very predictable script. They were the world’s reconstruction experts. They arrived with the checks after the fighting stopped to build bridges and hospitals. It was vital work, but it was passive. Japan waited for the end of the story to show up. Even the…