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July 16, 2024
 

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Jun Hongo

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Jun Hongo
Jun Hongo graduated from Boston University and joined The Japan Times in 2006. He covers a wide range of domestic news, including politics and business. He is an avid Red Sox fan.
JAPAN
Mar 24, 2010
DPJ to punish Kobayashi for inaction on scandal
The Democratic Party of Japan will discipline Chiyomi Kobayashi since she has reneged on her decision to quit the Diet over a scandal involving ¥16 million in shady funds, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Mar 17, 2010
LDP defection not likely to shift power balance
The Monday defection of Kunio Hatoyama from the Liberal Democratic Party has caused a stir in the former ruling party that for most of the postwar era was an electoral juggernaut. But experts and lawmakers say it is unlikely to create a fundamental power shift.
JAPAN
Mar 10, 2010
Kids at pro-North high schools fret tuition waiver snub
For Om Kwan Ja, excluding "chosen gakko" pro-Pyongyang schools from the government's tuition-waiver program would mean more than just having to shell out extra cash for her kids' education. It's a problem that touches on her family's identity, especially for her son, who is studying at Tokyo Korean Junior...
JAPAN
Mar 3, 2010
DPJ-led bloc's vote passes 2010 budget
The Democratic Party of Japan-led coalition passed the fiscal 2010 budget in the Lower House on Tuesday evening, having survived relentless grilling from the opposition over a series of political funding scandals.
JAPAN
Mar 2, 2010
Masuzoe issues reform ultimatum to ailing LDP
Veteran lawmaker Yoichi Masuzoe on Monday issued what could be taken as an ultimatum to his ailing Liberal Democratic Party, saying that a failure to restructure will not only push the public to abandon it but may force its ranks to split as well.
JAPAN
Feb 25, 2010
Politically connect: Twitter use is up
Presumably exhausted from all the heat over his political money scandals, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama recently limited the number of questions he takes from reporters every morning as he leaves his official residence.
JAPAN
Feb 23, 2010
DPJ scandals cost us Nagasaki: Hatoyama
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama acknowledged that his party's political money scandals affected Sunday's gubernatorial race in Nagasaki Prefecture, where the ruling Democratic Party of Japan-backed candidate lost.
JAPAN
Feb 17, 2010
Japan may charge activist on whaler
The government may press charges under domestic law against a New Zealand activist who secretly boarded a Japanese whaling ship in the Antarctic Ocean, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Feb 13, 2010
Hatoyama is tax-dodging king: Yosano
Slamming Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama as "the king of tax evasion in the Heisei Era," the opposition camp Friday continued to attack the ruling Democratic Party of Japan over its recent political funds scandals.
JAPAN
Feb 11, 2010
Edano tasked with polishing Cabinet's image
Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Yukio Edano was appointed the new administrative reform minister Wednesday, as the Hatoyama administration works to clean up the Cabinet's scandal-tainted image.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Feb 9, 2010
Japan team has foot in World Cup door but can it kick?
Japan established its presence in the baseball universe after winning the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006 and repeating the feat in 2009. But when it comes to soccer, the national squad is seen by many as a nonfactor heading into June's World Cup in South Africa.
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Feb 5, 2010
Prosecutors let Ozawa go, for now
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has for now avoided the nightmare of losing a key aide and arguably the government's most powerful string-puller, now that Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa has dodged criminal charges over a shady land deal.
JAPAN
Jan 30, 2010
Hatoyama sets agenda in Diet
Drawing on Gandhi quotes for inspiration, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama called on his colleagues Friday to make 2010 "a new start for Japan" in his first administrative policy speech at the ordinary Diet session.
JAPAN
Jan 28, 2010
Ozawa's sway over DPJ remains absolute
Defying prosecutors and claiming his innocence over a shady 2004 land purchase, Ichiro Ozawa has shown no indications of giving up his status as the administration's kingpin.
JAPAN
Jan 22, 2010
Hatoyama reaffirms innocence
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama again proclaimed his innocence Thursday in a political funds scandal involving donations from his mother, telling the House of Representatives Budget Committee that he is ready to resign if the facts prove otherwise.
JAPAN
Jan 20, 2010
Opposition issues Diet demand to question Ozawa, Hatoyama
The opposition camp used Tuesday's Diet session to issue fresh demands for both Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa to be grilled over their political money scandals.
JAPAN
Jan 17, 2010
Ozawa vows to fight on as DPJ puts on brave face
Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa vowed Saturday to fight on despite the arrests of his key aides over a political funds scandal that could hurt voter support ahead of July's Upper House election.
JAPAN
Jan 16, 2010
Ex-Ozawa secretary spills beans
Tension ratcheted up a few notches at Democratic Party of Japan headquarters this week when prosecutors raided DPJ Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa's office in connection with a shady Tokyo land purchase by the kingpin's fund management body.
JAPAN
Jan 7, 2010
Clash with Ozawa said behind resignation
Finance Minister Hirohisa Fujii's resignation Wednesday is a cause of serious concern for Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's Cabinet, experts said, noting discord with ruling party kingpin Ichiro Ozawa may have influenced the veteran lawmaker's decision to exit.
JAPAN
Jan 5, 2010
Budget to be government's top priority
Passing the fiscal 2010 budget and averting a double-dip recession will be the government's top priority heading into the new year, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said Monday.
Who needs AI when you have Hatsune Miku?
Over the first six months of 2024, a handful of songs using Vocaloid singer Hatsune Miku’s voice have enjoyed widespread attention, underlining a global interest in the character and the technology she represents.
Bloodied Trump survives assassination attempt at political rally
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is surrounded and evacuated by Secret Service agents at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Trump was rushed off stage at the rally after shots rang out.
Shooter came within inches of killing Trump, but left few clues as to why
An aerial view shows the stage where Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump had been standing during an assassination attempt the day before, and the roof of a nearby building where a gunman was shot dead by law enforcement, in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Sunday.
Yen’s woes seem too big for even a BOJ hike this month to solve
The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo
How to beat Japan’s summer heat in ways better for the planet
Tenugui towels hang up to dry at a dyeing company in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on May 8. The durable and versatile tenugui, which many people have in their homes, can be used in many ways to cool one’s body.
The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'
Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.
How to beat Japan’s summer heat in ways better for the planet
Tenugui towels hang up to dry at a dyeing company in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on May 8. The durable and versatile tenugui, which many people have in their homes, can be used in many ways to cool one’s body.
After Trump shooting, U.S. presidential race might take a violent turn
United States Secret Service Counter Snipers stand guard on a rooftop during a campaign rally for U.S. President Donald Trump in Avoca, Pennsylvania, in 2020.
No AC this summer? No problem (for me).
Think air conditioning is a requirement for a Tokyo summer? Think again.
She’s paying ¥1 million to help behind the scenes at the Paris Olympics
Mai Tarumi, who previously volunteered at the postponed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, has a travel budget of ¥1 million for her trip to volunteer at the Paris Games.

Podcast

You can often see generations of families enjoying performances together at Fuji Rock Festival.
Japan’s summer music festivals are feeling the heat in more ways than one

Longform

Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.
The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'
By Tomoko Otake

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