The Diplomat | Author
Thisanka Siripala
Thisanka Siripala is an Australian-Sri Lankan cross platform journalist living in Tokyo.
Thisanka Siripala is an Australian-Sri Lankan cross platform journalist living in Tokyo. She specializes in Asia-Pacific news and current affairs while predominantly covering Japan and North Asia-related politics, business, and socio-economic shifts. She is an honors graduate from The University of Melbourne with a degree in International Relations, Media Studies, and Japanese language.
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November 16, 2023
Japan’s ‘Balanced’ Position on Palestine Fails to Impress
By Thisanka Siripala
In Japan, protests calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza are at odds with the government’s stance in the Israeli-Hamas war.
October 20, 2023
Japan’s Fishing Sector Struggles After China Seafood Ban
By Thisanka Siripala
Japan is ramping up efforts to counter China’s seafood ban amid the controversial wastewater release from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant.
October 04, 2023
Japan Announces Economic Stimulus to Combat Cost of Living Crisis
By Thisanka Siripala
Japan’s escalating consumer inflation is compounded by stagnant wages and a sliding yen.
September 18, 2023
Japan’s Top J-pop Agency Battles Fallout From Sex Abuse Scandal
By Thisanka Siripala
The country's most prestigious talent agency is in damage control amid growing public outrage over sexual abuse.
September 05, 2023
Japan Marks 100th Anniversary of the 1923 Kanto Massacre
By Thisanka Siripala
Campaigners fight to keep the massacre of ethnic Koreans in the spotlight, despite the government's disinterest in interrogating the dark history.
September 01, 2023
Japan Battles Backlash After Releasing Wastewater From Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant
By Thisanka Siripala
The release of treated but still radioactive wastewater into the Pacific Ocean has exacerbated tensions with neighboring countries.
August 09, 2023
Osaka 2025 World Expo Plagued by Rising Costs and Construction Delays
By Thisanka Siripala
The Osaka World Expo is rushing to prevent an exodus of international participants as construction costs surge.
July 28, 2023
Japan’s LGBTQ Community Battles Tradition and Ultraconservative Politics
By Thisanka Siripala
Securing legal protections for sexual minorities is agonizingly slow in a country playing catch-up.
July 17, 2023
Japan Forges Closer Ties to NATO
By Thisanka Siripala
Kishida champions the Free and Open Indo-Pacific message at the NATO summit.
July 03, 2023
Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Edges Closer to Discharging Treated Wastewater Into Pacific
By Thisanka Siripala
The controversial release of treated wastewater from the wrecked Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is moving forward despite opposition.
June 29, 2023
Japan’s Victims of Forced Sterilizations Fight For State Compensation
By Thisanka Siripala
The government is taking a tough stance against compensating victims of the erstwhile Eugenic Protection Law.
June 20, 2023
Victims of J-pop Talent Agency Speak Out About Sexual Abuse
By Thisanka Siripala
Japan has been rocked by allegations that the late J-pop music mogul Johnny Kitagawa was a serial sexual predator.