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November 23, 2024
 

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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
Jun 26, 2014
Activists demand action on sexism
While the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party hope the furor over misogynist comments will swiftly blow over, others are continuing to press for a crackdown on discriminatory behavior in politics.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 24, 2014
Abe offers concession on collective defense
The Abe administration gave some ground Tuesday to New Komeito in the ninth round of the coalition defense talks, offering tougher conditions before Japan would be allowed to exercise the long-prohibited right to collective self-defense.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 20, 2014
Mine-clearing in combat zones pushed for SDF
An LDP politician argues Japan can join collective-security operations after Prime Minister Abe fudges his stance on mine-sweeping, which is deemed use of force by international law.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jun 20, 2014
Confident LDP plays up victories as Diet session comes to a close
A confident Liberal Democratic Party trumpets its achievements as the 186th Diet session winds down as laying strong foundations for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's security and political goals.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 17, 2014
Abe team presents draft statement on collective self-defense
The Abe administration has tabled a draft statement that could allow Japan to effectively exercise the right to collective self-defense, but the ruling coalition remains divided.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 13, 2014
Article 9 ball in New Komeito's court as Abe rushes collective defense talks
Ruling coalition partner New Komeito mulls new defense principles from the Liberal Democratic Party that would let Japan use collective self-defense in nearly any circumstance.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 11, 2014
Abe bulldozes over DPJ in self-defense debate
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe once again underlined the necessity of reinterpreting the war-renouncing Constitution to allow Japan to engage in collective self-defense during a debate Wednesday, while the main opposition leader failed to capitalize on the opportunity to attack Abe and roll back his influence...
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 10, 2014
LDP seeks defense deal by Friday
Unless the ruling coalition strikes a deal this week, Cabinet will be unable to approve the use of collective self-defense during the current Diet session, a senior Liberal Democratic Party minister says.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jun 10, 2014
Tensions mount over security talks
A showdown looms as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pressures the ruling coalition to agree to overhaul Japan's pacifist security stance, possibly as early as Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 6, 2014
Abe drops SDF combat mission proposal
Japan's security talks take a twist as Prime Minister Abe's team says the SDF won't take missions in combat zones, after trying earlier to scrap the term 'non-combat zone.'
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 3, 2014
Officials push to scrap limits on SDF missions
The Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner, New Komeito, discuss whether to overhaul limits on the Self-Defense Forces.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 29, 2014
Ishihara to leave Ishin, form right-wing party
Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) co-leader Shintaro Ishihara said Thursday that he will soon launch a party "more conservative" than the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, allowing torn Nippon Ishin to merge, as planned, with a center-left party and perhaps trigger a sweeping realignment of...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 28, 2014
Hashimoto, Ishihara to break up Nippon Ishin; opposition realignment seen accelerating
The co-leaders of Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) agreed Wednesday to split the second-largest opposition party in two — a move that is likely to shake up the political arena.
JAPAN / Politics
May 28, 2014
Abe continues Diet push on collective self-defense
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made his case again Wednesday for enabling Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense, amid discussions between the Liberal Democratic Party and junior coalition partner New Komeito on security scenarios that would require Japan to defend the U.S. and other friendly...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 27, 2014
Ruling bloc spars over defense shift
The Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito are in the midst of wading through a number of thorny scenarios relating to national defense, including one that has sparked outrage from the coalition's junior partner.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
May 26, 2014
Security revamp mulls SDF role in policing coastal areas
The push to address low-intensity conflicts explores the idea of letting the SDF assume the policing functions of the Japan Coast Guard to respond more quickly.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 22, 2014
Komeito to LDP: Self-defense not same as collective defense
The Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito remain at odds as the ruling coalition debates the contentious proposal to revamp defense policy by reinterpreting the Constitution.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
May 21, 2014
LDP touts moves to bolster 'Abenomics'
Corporate tax cuts, stronger corporate governance and closing the tax gap between one- and two-income households are among the Liberal Democratic Party's recommendations for inclusion in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic growth strategy, due by the end of next month.
JAPAN / Politics
May 20, 2014
Divided coalition begins defense talks
The ruling coalition kicked off discussions Tuesday aimed at overcoming a fundamental division on whether the Cabinet should reinterpret the Constitution and upgrade Japan's defense posture in a changing security environment.
JAPAN / Politics
May 19, 2014
Concerns grow in ruling coalition as debate over Article 9 begins
Ruling coalition lawmakers voice concerns about reinterpreting Article 9 in the name of collective self-defense on the eve of a long debate on the matter.
Japan approves ¥21.9 trillion stimulus plan
The policy chiefs of the Democratic Party for the People, Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito — Makoto Hamaguchi (left), Itsunori Onodera (center) and Mitsunari Okamoto — shake hands after reaching an agreement on an economic stimulus package on Wednesday.
Tokyo Metro’s overseas efforts begin in earnest with London deal
Tokyo Metro will soon have a role in the running of London's Elizabeth Line, a major train route serving the U.K.’s capital city and environs.
Saitama court bans demonstrations over anti-Kurd hate speech
Kurdish people in Japan in 2015. A court injunction has banned acts that defame the Japan Kurdish Cultural Association and are disrespectful, such as putting up banner flags or handing out fliers with hate speech like “Refugees should go back to their home countries.”
China reinstates visa-free travel for Japanese nationals
Beijing Daxing International Airport
U.S. aircraft carrier returns to Japan carrying navy’s ‘most capable fighter’
U.S. 7th Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Fred Kacher speaks to reporters shortly after the arrival of aircraft carrier USS George Washington at Yokosuka naval base in Kanagawa Prefecture on Friday.
Shohei Ohtani wins National League MVP award
Shohei Ohtani celebrates after hitting a three-run home run against the Padres during the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles last month.
The slow-burn success of ‘A Samurai in Time’
A 19th-century warrior gets struck by lightning and wakes to find himself in 21st-century Kyoto in Junichi Yasuda’s surprise hit “A Samurai in Time.”
Around a quarter of Japan married couples in their 20s met through dating apps
A survey released by an organization promoting “Good Couples Day” shows that 24% of couples in their 20s met their marriage partner through a dating app.
'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.

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