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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 Times
JAPAN
May 31, 2011
Evacuees long for hometowns
Land minister Akihiro Ohata in early May said the government will construct temporary housing for all March 11 evacuees in time for the Bon holidays in mid-August. But speaking to those already living in such accomodations in Fukushima Prefecture makes it clear such housing units are not homes, and rebuilding...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 31, 2011
Radiation zone farmer grubs his way to survival
Masanao Usami tosses over a container the size of a wine case and carefully spreads the contents that fall out, including tree bark, dead leaves and warm soil.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 28, 2011
Fukushima observatory chief offers solace of stars
With neon signs in the city of Fukushima switched off due to power shortages, making nighttime darker than usual, Hiroaki Ohno gazed up one night following the March 11 disaster and felt a sense of awe.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 27, 2011
ALT returnee: Fukushima stable
Bidding family and close friends farewell is never easy, but American Travis Hauan said his parents and girlfriend were "pretty cool" about it — even though he was heading thousands of kilometers away to Fukushima Prefecture amid the ongoing nuclear crisis.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 26, 2011
One tough job: selling Fukushima
Hands down, the workers at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant trying to cool off the reactors have one of the toughest jobs in Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 23, 2011
Tamura residents challenge hot zone for short trip home
Residents of Tamura, Fukushima Prefecture, were allowed to visit their homes in the nuclear no-go zone for two hours Sunday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 15, 2011
Presentient proves key at second Japan Times Spelling Bee
Twelve-year-old Yuichi Yoshioka was crowned the winner Saturday of The Japan Times Spelling Bee after correctly spelling the word presentient and landing a spot in the annual National Spelling Bee contest next month in Washington.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 12, 2011
Nuclear energy at a crossroads
The choice Japan must soon make over the future of its energy policy will determine whether it will develop safer nuclear power plants, expand reliance on other energy sources or remain in power-save mode for decades to come.
JAPAN
Apr 14, 2011
World right to slam nuke program mismanagement: expert
Japan deserves international scorn for mismanaging its nuclear power program and unless the government acts quickly the odds of further catastrophes remain high, a leading seismologist said Wednesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 13, 2011
Crisis keeps foreign students away from classes
Incessant aftershocks and the fear of radiation leaking from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant are dissuading foreign students from starting their new academic year in Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 12, 2011
Nation's unpreparedness ahead of disaster is blasted
A month after the earthquake and tsunami obliterated cities along the Tohoku coast, Japan is struggling to limp back to some semblance of normalcy while coming to grips with the unprecedented disaster.
JAPAN
Apr 12, 2011
High radiation well past no-go zone: Greenpeace
Radiology experts from Greenpeace urged the government to revise their evacuation protocol Monday after they found high levels of radiation around the greater Fukushima area and in the region's fresh produce.
JAPAN
Apr 7, 2011
Ex-governor blasts Tepco's cozy ties
Earthquakes and tsunami are unavoidable natural events, but the ongoing disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant was induced by "human errors" stemming from cozy ties between bureaucrats and Tokyo Electric Power Co., former Fukushima Gov. Eisaku Sato told The Japan Times on Wednesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 3, 2011
Fukushima farmers seek to prove their food is safe
Farmers from Fukushima Prefecture affected by the nuclear disaster held an open-air market Saturday in Tokyo amid the spread of unfounded rumors over the safety of their fresh produce.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 2, 2011
Volunteer sensitivity to locals' needs called for
Tohoku communities hit by the earthquake and tsunami last month are gradually embarking on the road to recovery, with some finally able to call on volunteers outside the region for help thanks to restored infrastructure.
JAPAN
Mar 31, 2011
NGO finds high levels in safe area
Radiology experts from Greenpeace urged the government Wednesday to expand the evacuation zone around the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant after they found high levels of radiation outside the 20-km mandatory no-go zone.
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Mar 30, 2011
Latest find sounds scary but risk is limited
Revelations that low amounts of plutonium, a component of nuclear bombs, were detected in soil near the Fukushima No. 1 plant sent shock waves across the nation Tuesday.
JAPAN / Q&A
Mar 29, 2011
Long-life cesium top threat to seafood
The damaged Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant is contaminating seawater with heavy amounts of iodine-131 and other radioactive materials.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 27, 2011
Signs of disaster were there to see
On Feb. 23, 2005, Kobe University professor Katsuhiko Ishibashi appeared before the Lower House Budget Committee and pointed out the risks of operating nuclear power plants in earthquake-prone Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 25, 2011
Child care firms and others scramble for bottled water
Nursery schools, supermarkets and manufacturers scrambled to secure enough supplies of bottled water Thursday following news that tap water in Tokyo and other prefectures was found to be contaminated with levels of radioactive iodine dangerous to infants aged 1 or younger.

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