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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
Nov 20, 2009
Hirano taps secret fund, remains mum
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano said Thursday he withdrew ¥120 million from the Cabinet's secretive discretionary fund but would not disclose how, or if, he used it.
JAPAN
Nov 20, 2009
Hatoyama to Obama on protracted Futenma base relocation: Just trust me
With negotiations on the relocation of a U.S. base in Okinawa snagged, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama revealed Thursday he asked U.S. President Barack Obama for a little faith in his Democratic Party of Japan government.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 19, 2009
Seven Japanese died in fire, DNA tests confirm
Local authorities investigating the deadly fire Saturday at a shooting range in Busan, South Korea, have verified through DNA tests that seven of the victims were Japanese nationals.
BUSINESS
Nov 17, 2009
Oops! Trade chief leaks GDP data
Trade minister Masayuki Naoshima jumped the gun in disclosing Japan's gross domestic product growth data early Monday, raising concerns over the rookie Cabinet's management of information.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 13, 2009
Emperor marks 20th year of reign
Emperor Akihito on Thursday voiced his deep anticipation for global peace, saying new generations must not forget the sacrifices made during the war.
JAPAN / TIES IN THE BALANCE
Nov 12, 2009
Futenma's defenders stress its regional security role
Second of two parts
Japan Times
JAPAN / Q&A
Nov 11, 2009
Never a dull moment when U.S. presidents come calling
U.S. President Barack Obama will make his first Japan visit Friday and exchange views with the new Democratic Party of Japan administration of Yukio Hatoyama on global concerns.
JAPAN
Nov 6, 2009
DPJ flip-flop: Cabinet fund stays secret
The secrecy of the Cabinet's controversial discretionary fund will be maintained, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano said Thursday, contradicting the ruling Democratic Party of Japan's call to disclose the way the shady ¥1.4 billion is used.
JAPAN
Nov 5, 2009
Hatoyama hints he exceeded limit on political funds, calls it a loan
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama indicated Wednesday he may have overbankrolled his political fund management body but claimed it was his understanding that funds in excess of the ¥10 million limit he can personally kick in constituted a loan he would later get back.
JAPAN
Nov 3, 2009
Undeclared income haunts Hatoyama
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama faced a new scandal Monday when it was revealed he failed to declare income from stock sales, giving the opposition ammunition heading into a three-day Lower House Budget Committee session.
JAPAN
Oct 29, 2009
LDP fires salvo at Hatoyama
The Liberal Democratic Party, as the new embodiment of the opposition camp, wasted no time Wednesday in lashing out against the Democratic Party of Japan administration, grilling the Cabinet for lacking a long-term vision on national strategies and Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's political funds scandal....
JAPAN
Oct 27, 2009
Rhetorical Hatoyama opens Diet
Calling his mission the "bloodless Heisei restoration," Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama kicked off a 36-day extraordinary Diet session Monday pledging to revamp postwar politics and establish a society based on his notion of fraternity.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Oct 27, 2009
File-sharing: Handle Winny at your own risk
More than a decade since the heyday of Napster shareware, peer-to-peer file distribution remains a key tool for Internet users exchanging music and movie files online. The leading program in Japan is Winny, an application distributed free of charge since May 2002 by former University of Tokyo researcher...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 24, 2009
DPJ, LDP to feint, not fight for time being
A bell will sound Monday to mark the opening of the extraordinary Diet session and the legislative debut of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's administration.
JAPAN
Oct 22, 2009
Guam move depends on Futenma: Gates
The planned relocation of 8,000 U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam will suffer a setback if Tokyo does not abide by other agreements on the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Oct 21, 2009
Gates: Japan must stick to Futenma deal
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged Japan on Tuesday to stick with its agreements on relocating the functions of the Futenma air base in Okinawa Prefecture.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 16, 2009
After fast start, it's crunch time for Cabinet
The Democratic Party of Japan-led Cabinet heads into its second month Friday, after coming out quickly to usher in a new political era in the wake of the Liberal Democratic Party's long domination.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 10, 2009
DPJ's budget-waste watchdog: ¥3 trillion in fat just a start
The Democratic Party of Japan will pare wherever possible wasteful government spending and also attempt to enhance the quality of the annual budget, state minister Yoshito Sengoku said Friday in an interview.
JAPAN
Oct 9, 2009
Trilateral meet to test Hatoyama slogans
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama hit the ground running in the first days of his administration, traveling to New York and announcing to the U.N. General Assembly that Japan hopes to become a "bridge" between its Asian neighbors.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 7, 2009
Press club faithful fight change
Since its landmark victory in the Aug. 30 general election, the Democratic Party of Japan has continued efforts to shake up the power structure to make good on its promise to create an accountable administration.

Longform

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