What is going on in Japan today?
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Japan has fallen to fifth place in nominal GDP, overtaken by India in early 2026. (Ranking: USA, China, Germany, India, Japan).
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Japan's National debt is highest in the world relative to its economic output (GDP), exceeding 230% of GDP.
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Japanese yen is trading at a 34-year low against the United States dollar.
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Japan imports nearly 90% of its energy and its food self-sufficiency rate stood at 38% for fiscal 2024.
(Side note: Is rice bceoming unaffordable in Japan? - rice ball, mochi and shusi; it's a cornerstone of its history, spirituality, and national character. A typical Jap consumes 82.1 kg of rice per year — for comparison, Americans consume about 10.8 kg. Bad news is price of rice in Japan raisen by 91% in 2025.) -
Japan has now recorded negative real wages in 36 of the past 40 months.
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Japan's birth rate hit its lowest point in 125 years in 2024; fewer than two deaths for every birth.
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Over 20% of magnitude 6+ earthquakes globally occur in or near Japan.
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Japanese manufacturing sector accounts for approximately 20% of the nation's GDP is on steady decline. (Chinese EV, US tariff, car chips supply disruption......). A ban or significant drop in Chinese tourists due to political tensions (like comments on Taiwan by Japan's PM) is estimated to cause a noticeable drop in Japan's GDP, with projections ranging from 0.2% to 0.36%.
Ignoring all it domestic difficuties, Japan is doubling down on pleasing USA:
- Japan holds the largest amount of U.S. debt (Treasury securities) exceeding $1 trillion.
- Japan is on track to meet its goal of spending 2% of GDP on defense by March 2026, two years earlier than originally planned, making it the world's third-largest spender, spendin will be funded by planned income tax hike starting 2027.
- Japan to act as the US's key (military and geopolitical) player in raising Taiwan starit tension.
- Japan pledged to gift USA $550 billion:
https://www.stlouisfed.org/on-the-economy/2025/nov/analyzing-japan-550-billion-pledge-invest-us
Is it wise for Japan to pick a fight with China?
AIMHO.
Ukraine came out and said Navalny's death wasn't in fact Putin (as Biden and the US Policy makers were so quick to decry)! David & Elizabeth react to the news in this short reaction video!
This class was taught LIVE on November 8, 2023, at 06:00 PM CT (-6GMT)
The Hidden Machinery: America's Foreign & Military Affairs Exposed.
Steel yourself for an unflinching deep dive into the clandestine mechanics of US foreign and military policy. Have you ever pondered how decisions that impact millions, both domestically and globally, are truly made?
In this electrifying chapter, we tear apart the polished façade of diplomacy to reveal the shadowy interplay of interests, agendas, and power games that shape America's moves on the global chessboard.
As we journey through the intricate maze of foreign policy, you'll confront pressing questions that demand answers: Is there a clear, consistent strategy steering the ship of state, or are we adrift, pushed and pulled by the undercurrents of vested interests, secret pacts, and hidden allegiances?
Explore the controversial realms of the military-industrial complex—a symbiotic behemoth where industry, military, and politics collide in a ...
Media Manipulation: The Silent Puppeteer of the American Psyche.
Ever feel like the stories you see and hear are crafted more for theater than truth? That there's a script behind the "breaking news"?
In this incendiary chapter, we pull back the curtain on the media's metamorphosis from its role as the "Fourth Estate" - a watchdog of democracy - to its current avatar as a powerful player with vested interests and hidden agendas.
Dive deep into the murky waters of media evolution, from objective reporting to sensationalism, from public service to profit-driven enterprises.
Unearth the tactical maneuvering of media platforms that, under the guise of delivering news, often serve tailored narratives designed to sway, to incite, and sometimes, to mislead blatantly.
Arm yourself with knowledge as we dissect the machinations of this colossal industry, revealing its strategies to capture your attention, mold your perceptions, and dictate the national conversation.
This chapter isn't ...
U.S. military is reopening and restoring the historic North Field airbase on Tinian Island (part of the Northern Marianas, near Japan) to create more hubs for power projection in the Pacific, countering China, with significant restoration work completed on the WWII-era runways and infrastructure. This strategy, called Agile Combat Employment (ACE), aims to use multiple dispersed locations for aircraft, revitalizing forgotten airfields like Tinian's to support modern military operations and enhance rapid deployment in potential future conflicts. The approximate air distance between China and Tinian Island varies depending on the specific cities, but it is generally around 3,500 to 4,700 kilometers (2,100 to 2,900 miles).
https://www.newsweek.com/inside-us-plans-to-reopen-wwii-air-bases-for-war-with-china-11286002
Stage 1 - Gold accumulation:
China's gold accumulation in its modern form began with the gradual liberalization of its gold market in 1979, with significant central bank purchases being consistently reported since the mid-2000s and a notable acceleration in recent years.
The goal is currency independent.
Stage 2 - implemented strict export licensing controls on silver
Starting from January 1, 2026, treating it as a strategic material like rare earths to secure domestic supply for industries such as solar and EVs. This requires government approval for exports (for 2026-2027), affects around 60-70% of globally traded refined silver
The goal is Green industries/energy independent, with the ultimte aim to achieve "Electrification of energy supply". (Energy security)
**At the same time, China modernises its infrasturctues, strengthen its military capabilities, widening its communication coverage, extending innonvation into universe ...
