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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
Jul 22, 2016
Okinawa protests erupt as U.S. helipad construction resumes
Hundreds of riot police clash with protesters as the construction of U.S. helipads resumes in Okinawa's Northern Training Area as part of a land deal with U.S. forces.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 20, 2016
Turkish ambassador urges Japan to crack down on businesses backing Gulen
The Turkish Ambassador calls for Japan to crack down on Turkish businesses thought to be raising funds for U.S.-based fugitive cleric and alleged coup mastermind Fethullah Gulen.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 15, 2016
Japan steps up rhetoric over Okinotorishima in wake of Hague ruling
Tokyo doubles down on its claims that Okinotorishima is an island and not rocks under international law.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / DECISION 2016
Jul 8, 2016
Ruling bloc may push emergency powers amendment to Constitution after Sunday's poll
The ruling coalition claims that the time is not right to discuss a revision but many people are unconvinced.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / DECISION 2016
Jul 6, 2016
A ruling bloc win in Sunday's poll puts Constitution in crosshairs
Keiko Hirai was surprised to see a letter addressed to her and her husband from the Self-Defense Forces, urging their 15-year-old son to enroll in a special high school run by the Ground Self-Defense Force after graduating from junior high.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 5, 2016
Japan, U.S. agree to narrow definition of 'civilian component' protected by SOFA
The Japanese and U.S. governments limit the extent to which U.S. military workers are protected under the Status of Forces Agreement in Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / DECISION 2016
Jul 5, 2016
Japanese politics a man's world as few females stand in 2016 Upper House election
A key issue female Japanese voters focus on in election season is whether the men who dominate politics are serious about welcoming more women to their ranks.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jul 4, 2016
U.S. serviceman arrested over drunken driving in Okinawa
A U.S. serviceman in Okinawa was arrested early Monday for drunken driving, the first such arrest since the U.S. military lifted a curfew there that was imposed to quell local furor over the murder of a Japanese woman linked to a civilian U.S. base worker.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 2, 2016
Seven Japanese among hostages killed during Dhaka siege: Suga
All the seven Japanese citizens who were previously unaccounted for after a 12-hour hostage crisis in Dhaka were found and pronounced dead at a local hospital, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a news conference in Tokyo late Saturday night.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 24, 2016
Brexit could hamper Japan's efforts on EU deal: analysts
Britain's historic decision to leave the European Union could hamper Japan's efforts on a trade deal with the EU as well as its relationship with Asian and other global partners, analysts said.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 22, 2016
Test launches show North Korea making progress in developing midrange missile
Two new test-fires confirm the North's progress in developing its intermediate-range Musudan missile, says the Defense Ministry.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 17, 2016
Japan, Russia to resume talks on disputed isles off Hokkaido next week
Tokyo and the Kremlin will on Wednesday resume negotiations on the decades-old territorial row over Russian-held islands off Hokkaido, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida announced Friday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 16, 2016
Former Sri Lanka president urges more development projects with Japan
Amid a proliferation of development deals in Sri Lanka, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa says his country and Japan could work on more projects together, including hospitals and highways.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 15, 2016
Chinese spy ship enters Japan's territorial waters for second time since end of WWII
In an aggressive move, a Chinese naval reconnaissance vessel enters waters near Kuchinoerabu Island off Kagoshima Prefecture.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 13, 2016
Travelers to U.S. urged to be vigilant after mass shooting
The Foreign Ministry has urged travelers to exercise caution when visiting parts of the U.S. that could be targets for terrorism, following Sunday's mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 9, 2016
First Chinese warship to skirt Senkakus triggers protest from Tokyo
Tokyo denounced Beijing on Thursday after a Chinese frigate entered a contiguous zone just outside Japanese territorial waters in the East China Sea.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 3, 2016
Police to step up patrols in Okinawa after woman's murder
The government vows to increase police presence in Okinawa amid fears about crimes by U.S. military personnel.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
May 30, 2016
Obama visit highlighted differences in Japan and U.S. over 'an apology'
Prior to U.S. President Barack Obama's recent Asian visit, many of his critics back home were already mocking the trip, calling it an "apology tour."
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 27, 2016
Obama makes history, confronts past in Hiroshima
The U.S. president paid tribute to atomic bombing victims, reaffirmed U.S.-Japan ties and called for the elimination of nuclear weapons.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 26, 2016
Anger over Okinawa murder grows despite Obama's 'deep regret' over the incident
A day after U.S. President Barack Obama expressed deep regret over the slaying of an Okinawa woman linked to a U.S. former marine, anger over the incident showed no signs of abating Thursday with Okinawa lawmakers calling for withdrawal of the U.S. Marines from their prefecture.

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