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 Ayako Mie

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Ayako Mie
Ayako Mie covers Japanese politics and policies for the Japan Times. She started her career as a reporter at Tokyo Broadcasting System in 2001. In 2008, she went to journalism school at University of California, Berkeley as a Fulbright scholar. On returning to Japan in December 2010, she worked for the Washington Post as a special correspondent.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 26, 2016
Duterte vows not to abandon Japan on security matters as he takes more jabs as U.S.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in his role as the chief ally of the United States, on Wednesday pressed Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on the importance of the alliance with the U.S. in terms of securing the region.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Oct 26, 2016
Japan slides to 111th in WEF gender equality rankings
Japan's efforts to bridge the gender divide have failed to translate into substantial change, with the nation sliding to 111th in a global inequality ranking report released Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 25, 2016
Nature of South Sudan conflict will determine if SDF peacekeeping mission is legal
Questions of whether South Sudan is in a state of war or if the cease-fire there is still holding pose a test for the legality of the decision by the Abe administration to extend the Self-Defense Forces' peacekeeping operations there until March.
JAPAN
Oct 24, 2016
Media watchdog slams Tokyo after journalist alleges U.S. military spying
The government is under fire for failing to protect press freedom following a Japan Times report by a British journalist revealing that the U.S. military has spied on him over his activities in Okinawa.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 22, 2016
Tokyo braces for fence-mending role in U.S.-Philippine estrangement during Duterte visit
As Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte prepares to make his first visit to Japan since taking office in June, Tokyo is looking to play peacemaker between Washington and Manila.
JAPAN
Oct 21, 2016
Next SDF team awaits green light for armed rescue missions in South Sudan
The government is making a critical decision that hinges on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's efforts to convince the world that Japan is contributing more proactively to global security.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Oct 20, 2016
Final presidential debate offers no solace for U.S.-Japan relations
The conversation that has so far taken place in the run-up to this year's U.S. presidential election has been a nightmare for Japan.
JAPAN
Oct 19, 2016
Business tops Abe's talks with Brazil's Temer
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Brazilian counterpart, President Michel Temer, agreed Wednesday to pursue economic cooperation in infrastructure projects, while the new Brazilian president seeks foreign investment in a bid to shore up the nation's battered economy.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 17, 2016
Japan denies reported plan to jointly administer Russian-held islands
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga on Monday denied a media report that the government is discussing jointly administering with Russia the disputed islands off Hokkaido as it seeks a breakthrough deal on a row that has prevented the two nations from inking a peace treaty to formally end World War...
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Oct 17, 2016
Abe-Putin summit to open door to isle row solution
When Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in the Russian resort town of Sochi in May, they agreed on one thing: the need for a new approach to settling the dispute over four islands off Hokkaido.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 14, 2016
ASDF scrambled against Chinese aircraft over 400 times from April to September
The Air Self-Defense Force scrambled fighter jets against Chinese aircraft approaching Japanese airspace a record 407 times in the first half of fiscal 2016.
JAPAN
Oct 14, 2016
Japan holding back payment to UNESCO
Japan is facing an uphill battle in its attempt to wield influence at UNESCO.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Oct 7, 2016
Tokyo watches for North Korea nuclear test ahead of Workers' Party anniversary
Signs of activity are detected near the North's nuclear test site ahead of a key anniversary and amid mounting tensions.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 6, 2016
Tokyo faces tough decisions over Japan's role in South Sudan
Defense Minister Tomomi Inada has a mission she can't screw up when she visits the South Sudanese capital of Juba starting Friday.
JAPAN
Oct 5, 2016
Japan at the center of North Korean defection drama in Beijing: reports
Tokyo denies reports that two high-ranking North Korean officials in Beijing are seeking political asylum in Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 27, 2016
In first debate, Clinton rips Trump over Japan comments, reassures nervous Asian allies
In a message that appeared directed at a wary Japan, Hillary Clinton offers reassurances that as president she would honor security commitments in Asia.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 26, 2016
Influential former Chinese Foreign Minister Tang meets Kishida amid chilly ties with Beijing
Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and former top Chinese diplomat Tang Jiaxuan on Monday pledged to enhance bilateral relations amid escalating tensions over sovereignty issues in the East China Sea.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Sep 22, 2016
AIIB holdout Japan risks missing out on the infrastructure contracts it seeks
When Canada said in August it would join the Chinese-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, all eyes turned to Japan and the U.S.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 17, 2016
Abe to seek Cuba's help over North Korea and boost trade during trip
In the first ever visit to Cuba by a Japanese prime minister, Abe hopes to gain Havana's support in dealing with its ally Pyongyang over its nuclear provocations.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 16, 2016
Inada meets Carter during Washington visit
New Defense Minister Tomomi Inada's finds common ground with her U.S. counterpart during her first visit to Washington.

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