As the only nation attacked with nuclear weapons, should Japan join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)?

POLITICS: Japan election kicks off (0:10 - 2:55)

• Campaigning for the Oct. 27 general election has officially begun. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba seeks a fresh mandate to restore trust in politics, with over 1,300 candidates vying for 465 seats in the House of Representatives. Ishiba faces criticism for deflecting attention from an LDP slush fund scandal and backpedaling on key policy promises.

NATIONAL: Japan prepares for Taiwan-China tensions (3:28 - 5:59)

• Prime Minister Ishiba and Defense Minister Gen Nakatani address growing tensions between Taiwan and China. Japan is monitoring the situation closely, with concerns about missile threats near Japanese waters.

NATIONAL: 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for atomic bomb survivors group (6:00 - 8:39)

• Nihon Hidankyo, a group of atomic bomb survivors, wins the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for their advocacy to abolish nuclear weapons. Jeff reflects on Japan's stance on nuclear weapons and reader reactions.

CRIME: Cross-dressing man arrested at Nagoya bathhouse (8:40 - 11:30)

• A bizarre crime story involving a 22-year-old cross-dressing man arrested for entering the women’s changing room at a Nagoya bathhouse. Jeff share readers’ thoughts on the story and its implications.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Crazy Japanese car names (11:31 - 16:30)

• Jeff highlights some of the strange and humorous names Japanese automakers give their vehicles. From the Nissan Cedric to the Daihatsu Canbus, listeners hear some of the funniest reader comments on the odd car names spotted in Japan.

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As the only nation attacked with nuclear weapons, should Japan join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)?