menu_open Columnists
Thisanka Siripala

Thisanka Siripala

The Diplomat

We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

Post-Election, Japan Reassesses Policies on Foreigners

Right-wing populists, viral social media posts, and deep-seated economic anxieties have amplified the belief that foreigners enjoy special treatment...

13.08.2025 3

The Diplomat

Thisanka Siripala

Japan Avoids 25 Percent Tariffs With Investment Pledge in Landmark US Trade Deal

The deal reduces tariffs on Japanese exports, including autos and auto parts, to15 percent, in exchange for Japanese investment and import...

26.07.2025 10

The Diplomat

Thisanka Siripala

The Rising Force of Japan’s Ultra-Nationalist, Anti-Immigration Sanseito Party

What began as a fringe movement is now gaining traction, driven by voter dissatisfaction with mainstream political parties and a strong online...

08.07.2025 7

The Diplomat

Thisanka Siripala

Japan Heads to the Polls With Ruling Coalition’s Majority at Risk

The House of Councillors July 20 election exposes the cracks in Japan’s political strongholds and the growing regional-urban electoral divide.

08.07.2025 6

The Diplomat

Thisanka Siripala

Japan’s Democratic Party for the People Mixes Momentum and Backlash

The party’s first-ever seats in the Tokyo legislature come amid scrutiny over its leader’s remarks on gender and overall communication strategy.

01.07.2025 20

The Diplomat

Thisanka Siripala

Can Nippon Ishin no Kai Make a Splash in Japan’s Upper House Election?

As the upper house election nears, Japan’s third largest party outlines its basic policies and stance on pressing issues. 

24.06.2025 10

The Diplomat

Thisanka Siripala

Japan’s Struggle to Resolve North Korean Abductions

Japan’s decades-long struggle to resolve the abduction issue faces another setback as families oppose the government’s latest strategy of opening...

03.03.2025 3

The Diplomat

Thisanka Siripala

Japan’s #MeToo Movement Takes Center Stage With Controversial ‘Black Box Diaries’ Documentary

Japan’s #MeToo icon Ito Shiori faces backlash from her former legal team in Japan, which has delayed the premiere of her feature length documentary...

25.02.2025 20

The Diplomat

Thisanka Siripala

Japanese Broadcaster Fuji TV’s Sexual Assault Scandal Sparks Major Corporate Crisis

Fuji TV has been accused of cover-ups, mismanagement, and botched crisis response following allegations of sexual misconduct involving a celebrity TV...

05.02.2025 4

The Diplomat

Thisanka Siripala