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Naoaki Hidani (Photo credit: Takahiko Hara)

The Drone Revolution of the U.S. and Japan

By Naoaki Hidani, Fellow of Pacific Alliance Institute

FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2018, file photo, a convoy of assault amphibious vehicles of U.S. Marine Corps, left, and Japan Self-Defense Forces, right, is driven during the Self-Defense Forces Day at Asaka Base in Asaka, north of Tokyo. Japan's Cabinet has approved a record 5.26 trillion yen ($47 billion) defense budget as the country seeks to bolster its arms capability by increasingly buying advanced U.S. weapons. The budget plan endorsed Friday, Dec. 21 rises 1. 3 percent from the previous year, a seventh annual increase since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took office in 2012. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

EDITORIAL: Japan becomes the world’s fourth-most powerful military

By THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, second from right, delivers a speech during an annual rally, calling on Russia to return disputed islands which Japan calls the Northern Territories and Russia calls Kuril Islands, in Tokyo Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019. Abe vowed to take a “step-by-step” approach in resolving a territorial dispute with Russia left over from World War II. Abe said that settling the conflict over islands north of Hokkaido that are controlled by Russia was difficult but necessary. Japanese slogans in the background read: &quot;Return the Northern Territories.&quot; (Shinji Kita/Kyodo News via AP)

Japan’s Abe vows to resolve territorial dispute with Russia

By HARUKA NUGA and KAORI HITOMI - Associated Press

Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso speaks during a budget committee meeting at the lower house of the parliament in Tokyo Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019. Aso reluctantly apologized for saying childless people are to blame for the country's rising social security costs and its aging and declining population. Aso said Tuesday that he apologized if some people found his remarks &quot;unpleasant.&quot; (Yohei Kanasashi/Kyodo News via AP)

Japan finance minister Aso sorry for criticizing childless

By MARI YAMAGUCHI - Associated Press

This May 2017 file photo shows Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force's helicopter carrier Izumo off Yokosuka, south of Tokyo. Japan's Defense Ministry said Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, that it will not send Izumo to South Korea’s southern port of Busan, where it was scheduled to join a multilateral naval exercise beginning in April off of the country's coasts. The announcement comes as the two Asian neighbors were locked in disputes over military issues and wartime history. (Kyodo News via AP, File)

Japan cancels port call by warship in South Korea amid row

By Mari Yamaguchi - Associated Press

A customer picks up a bottle of wine imported from Spain after being priced down at a retail store in Chiba, near Tokyo, Friday, Feb. 1, 2019. The European Union and Japan have inaugurated a landmark deal they say will boost trade between the two economic powers and sends the message that international agreements still have a purpose in an age of increasing protectionism. The agreement that comes into effect Friday will scrap nearly all tariffs on products both sides trade in. (Kyodo News via AP)

As US questions free trade, EU and Japan usher in new deal

By RAF CASERT - Associated Press

Players of Qatar run to celebrate after winning the AFC Asian Cup final match between Japan and Qatar in Zayed Sport City in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Feb. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Qatar beats Japan in Asian Cup final for first major title

Associated Press

Lee Yong-su, left, a former South Korean sex slave who was forced to serve for the Japanese military in WW II, watches a statue symbolizing sex slaves during the funeral ceremony for another sexual slavery victim Kim Bok-dong in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Feb. 1, 2019. Hundreds of mourners gathered Friday near the embassy for the funeral of Kim forced as a girl into a brothel and sexually enslaved by the Japanese military in WWII. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Woman enslaved by Japan’s military mourned near protest site

By KIM TONG-HYUNG - Associated Press

FILE - In this June 12, 2018, file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump reaches to shake hands with North Korea leader Kim Jong Un at the Capella resort on Sentosa Island in Singapore. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Stephen Biegun preps North Korea economic package to reward Kim Jong-un denuclearization

By Guy Taylor - The Washington Times

Japan PM vows to step up China ties but bolster defense

By MARI YAMAGUCHI - Associated Press

Fans at a restaurant in Tokyo celebrate as Japan's Naomi Osaka wins against Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova at the Australian Open tennis women's final on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Japanese fans celebrate Osaka’s rise to top of tennis world

By JIM ARMSTRONG - Associated Press

Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic hits a backhand to Japan's Naomi Osaka during the women's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)

The Latest: Ram-Krejcikova win Australian Open mixed final

Associated Press

In this Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, photo, Takakito Usui, a transgender man, cries while speaking during a press conference after Japan's Supreme Court handed down in Okayama, western Japan. Japan’s top court has upheld a law requiring sterilization for transgender people to get their gender changed on official documents but acknowledged the law is increasingly becoming out of step with the international standard. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan court upholds sterilization to register gender change

By Mari Yamaguchi - Associated Press

FILE - In this Tuesday, July 10, 2018 file photo, Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki, of Japan, smiles during warm ups before a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif. Ichiro Suzuki has agreed to a minor-league deal with the Seattle Mariners paving the way for the 45-year-old to play in Seattle’s season-opening series in Japan. Suzuki’s agent, John Boggs, confirmed the agreement on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo, File)

Mariners won’t promise spot to Ichiro after Japan trip

By TIM BOOTH - Associated Press

In this Feb. 12, 2015, file photo, then-Chairman and CEO of Renault-Nissan Carlos Ghosn addresses media during a press conference held in Paris. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon, File)

Renault names new leaders to replace Carlos Ghosn, jailed in Japan

By Sylvie Corbet - Associated Press

Roberto Azevedo, Director General of the World Trade Organization, WTO, attends a session at annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

The Latest: Soros warns on China, urges US take tough line

Associated Press

FILE - In this April 25, 2016, file photo, then Renault-Nissan's CEO Carlos Ghosn speaks during a press conference held at the Auto China 2016 in Beijing. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, that Ghosn, who is fighting breach of trust and other charges in Japan, resigned as head of Renault. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

The Latest: Nissan CEO welcomes Renault leadership change

Associated Press

FILE - In this March 8, 2010, file photo, a woman walks by sculptures of whales, the symbol of the southwestern Japanese town of Taiji. Japanese whalers are discussing plans ahead of their July 1, 2019 resumption of commercial hunting along the northeastern coasts for the first time in three decades. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)

Japan whalers discuss plan to resume commercial hunt July 1

By MARI YAMAGUCHI - Associated Press

The headquarters of Japanese advertising company Dentsu Inc. is seen in Tokyo Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019. One of Japan's most powerful companies, the giant agency Dentsu Inc. is part of an investigation into alleged vote-buying connected with landing the 2020 Olympics for Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

French Olympic probe raises questions about Japanese firm

By STEPHEN WADE - Associated Press

FILE - In this Tuesday, July 10, 2018 file photo, Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki, of Japan, smiles during warm ups before a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif. Ichiro Suzuki has agreed to a minor-league deal with the Seattle Mariners paving the way for the 45-year-old to play in Seattle’s season-opening series in Japan. Suzuki’s agent, John Boggs, confirmed the agreement on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo, File)

Ichiro Suzuki agrees to minor league deal with Mariners

By TIM BOOTH - Associated Press