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November 22, 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
Feb 9, 2012
Plan for new marketplace on Tsukiji site gets mixed reviews
Moves by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to build a new marketplace on the site of the Tsukiji market have drawn mixed reactions, with some critics saying it is an attempt to bulldoze through the controversial relocation of the famed fish market to a new site.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 31, 2012
Foreigners' poor test grades force rethink on nurse tests
Non-Japanese applicants hoping to become certified nurses could see the government's notoriously rigorous exams get easier with the inclusion of English-language tests and a new set of communication exams based on basic Japanese.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 26, 2012
Nation logs its first trade deficit since 1980
Japan suffered its first trade deficit in over three decades in 2011, a year that saw natural disasters and a nuclear crisis, a historic rise in the yen and a sharp drop-off in global demand stemming from the European financial crisis.
BUSINESS
Jan 25, 2012
BOJ downgrades '11 growth forecast
The Bank of Japan on Tuesday revised downward its economic growth forecasts for fiscal 2011 from 0.3 to minus 0.4 percent, citing the impact of Europe's sovereign debt issues and the yen's appreciation.
BUSINESS
Jan 24, 2012
Weak euro's perks said few, unlike dollar's
Having reached a historic high against the dollar last year, the sky seems to be the limit for the yen as it forges on against the euro.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jan 24, 2012
Nadeshiko Japan eyes London Olympic gold
Japan's overtime defeat of the United States in the 2011 women's World Cup soccer finals inspired a nation suffering from the March 11 disaster and ensuing nuclear crisis. This year will see the club dubbed Nadeshiko Japan attempt to repeat their success at the Summer Olympics in London. Following are...
JAPAN
Jan 21, 2012
Japan urged to both engage with, hedge on China
Japan will have to carry out a delicate balancing act to develop healthy relations with China, and this will involve both collaborating with the emerging superpower and maintaining strong bilateral ties the United States, a group of professors and former diplomats said Friday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 17, 2012
Entrance exam system faces review
The education ministry on Monday ordered a review of how the nation's unified college entrance exams are managed after delays and slipups affected more than 4,500 test-takers over the weekend.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 14, 2012
Noda hoping latest reshuffle bucks trend of dismal failures
Cabinet reshuffles are generally called a gamble prime ministers take to reverse dismal approval ratings, but in recent years most of them have failed miserably.
JAPAN
Jan 13, 2012
Iranian oil imports to be cut to aid U.S. pressure: Azumi
Japan is ready to reduce crude oil imports from Iran to help Washington put pressure on Tehran to give up its nuclear program, Finance Minister Jun Azumi said Thursday in Tokyo.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 6, 2012
ODA transforming Mozambique
Japan's international aid took a back seat in 2011 as the nation was besieged by natural and man-made disasters, a historically strong yen and political turmoil that unseated yet another prime minister.
JAPAN
Jan 5, 2012
Tohoku orphans get aid despite donation shortfall
Financial aid is on the way faster than anticipated for children who lost family in the March 11 disasters, but donations are still short of covering all of those in need.
Japan Times
JAPAN / NUCLEAR AWAKENING
Jan 1, 2012
DIY cesium scanning store may be 'new normal'
Kashiwa, about 30 km northeast of Tokyo, is known for its humble beginnings as a 1970s bedroom community for Tokyo workers.
JAPAN
Dec 25, 2011
Fiscal health deteriorates despite Noda's pledges
On paper, the draft of the fiscal 2012 budget appears to indicate Japan has found a way to trim about ¥2 trillion in spending compared with the current year, but in reality the national debt is snowballing as bond issuance will exceed tax revenues for the third year in a row.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 22, 2011
BOJ warns recovery has 'paused,' keeps rate policy
The Bank of Japan said Wednesday it will maintain its zero interest rate policy but gave a somber assessment that a pickup in economic activity has "paused."
JAPAN
Dec 21, 2011
Immigration changes to come as new law takes effect in July
The revised immigration law will take effect next July 9 and the government will start accepting applications for new residence registration cards on Jan. 13, the Cabinet decided Tuesday, paving the way for increased government scrutiny through a centralized immigration control of foreign nationals....
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 16, 2011
Business confidence battered by strong yen, Europe's crisis
Business sentiment among large manufacturers deteriorated in December, according to the Bank of Japan's quarterly "tankan" index released Thursday, underscoring the growing concern over Europe's sovereign credit risk and the persistent rise of the yen.
JAPAN
Dec 7, 2011
Specifics on consumption tax increase due before end of month: Azumi
The government will aim to specify when and by how much the 5 percent consumption levy will be hiked in the social security and tax reform plan it hopes to present by year's end, Finance Minister Jun Azumi said Tuesday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 26, 2011
Woodford: Board must be purged
Rehabilitating disgraced Olympus Corp. should begin with the ouster of many of its current board members, former President Michael C. Woodford said Friday in Tokyo.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Nov 22, 2011
Last trial brings dark Aum era to end
The Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by condemned killer Seiichi Endo, lowering the curtain on the trials over the cult's heinous crimes, which began in the 1980s and culminated in the 1995 nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway system.
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Russia fired experimental ballistic missile at Ukraine, Putin says
Ukrainian firefighters work on a spot following an airstrike in Dnipro on Thursday.
Ishiba aggravates his own political failures with diplomatic faux pas
Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba is greeted at the APEC summit in Lima by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. The Japanese leader was criticized for remaining seated while meeting several world leaders at the event.
Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
'Tokyo Swindlers': Get deep into the minds of real estate con artists
In Ko Shinjo's "Tokyo Swindlers," a group of con artists manipulates real estate giants into falsified deals within the highly competitive, quick market.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?
By Kathryn Wortley

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

mission sustainability vol.12 : Kose Corp.Kose takes pride in creating beauty in the world
mission sustainability vol.12 : Kose Corp.Kose takes pride in creating beauty in the world

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