Recent news surrounding Japanese politics shows interesting dynamics in domestic policies and relations with other countries. Japan, under the leadership of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, continues to strive to strengthen its geopolitical position in East Asia and respond to global challenges. In October 2023, Kishida announced a strategic shift in Japan’s defense policy, significantly increasing the military budget to deal with threats from North Korea and China. In the past decade, Japan has shifted from a defensive posture to a more proactive one in its defense policy, including strengthening its alliance with the United States. The new plan includes increasing military spending to 2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the next five years. This step is expected to increase Japan’s defense capacity, especially in the face of potential missile attacks from North Korea which continues to develop its nuclear program. Apart from defense issues, Japan’s domestic politics are also influenced by increasingly pressing demographic issues. With an aging population and ever-lower birth rates, Kishida stressed the importance of pro-family policies. His government has launched initiatives to support births and finance children’s education, to encourage population growth and reduce the demographic burden in the future. Environmental issues are also a major focus on Japan’s political agenda. The Kishida government is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and increasing the use of renewable energy. New renewable energy projects, including solar and wind power, are expected to reduce Japan’s dependence on fossil energy. In this process, Japan is also trying to increase cooperation with ASEAN countries to share green technology and innovation. Then, in the realm of foreign policy, Japan strengthened strategic relations with the G7 countries and expanded cooperation with Australia and India within the Quad framework. Recently, Kishida visited India to discuss regional trade and security issues. This meeting emphasized Japan’s commitment to supporting stability in the Indo-Pacific through active diplomacy. Meanwhile, at home, Kishida’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is facing challenges from increasingly vocal opposition parties. This problem is associated with government policies which are considered slow in responding to people’s needs, especially amidst rising inflation and skyrocketing prices of basic commodities. In future elections, the possibility of continued LDP dominance remains in question, depending on the party’s ability to address these issues effectively. Finally, in the context of international politics, Japan also plays a role in dialogue regarding security and stability in the Pacific region. For example, Japan’s participation in joint military exercises with other countries is increasingly strengthened, confirming Japan’s position as a power committed to maintaining regional security. Despite all these dynamics, Japanese politics continues to attract attention, both domestically and internationally, reflecting its complex historical, cultural and modern challenges.