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Kazuaki Nagata

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Kazuaki Nagata
JAPAN
Jan 6, 2009
Diet reopens; relief package main focus
Diet convened Monday for a regular 150-day session, with debate to focus on immediate economic relief measures mapped out in the second extra budget bill for fiscal 2008.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 3, 2009
Small parties play up 'big' role in national politics
Political parties with fewer than 20 Diet seats face an identity crisis as the legislature moves closer to a two-party system following the huge gains made by the Democratic Party of Japan in the July 2007 Upper House election.
JAPAN
Jan 1, 2009
Ozawa bids to win over young on Aso's 'otaku' turf
On the last day of 2008, Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa showed up at an event held in Tokyo's Akihabara district — home to Prime Minister Taro Aso's "otaku" geeks fan base — apparently to steal some of Aso's thunder.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 25, 2008
Watanabe vies for change
A snap election is the most effective way to clear the "sense of stagnation" prevailing in Japan, Lower House reformist Yoshimi Watanabe of the Liberal Democratic Party told The Japan Times after voting Wednesday for an opposition resolution to this end.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 25, 2008
Aso failing to lead LDP to promised land
When Taro Aso became prime minister in September, he was chosen by his peers in the Liberal Democratic Party as the man who would reverse their declining ratings. But after three months of the extraordinary Diet session, which closes Thursday, Aso's Cabinet already seems to be in trouble.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 21, 2008
Toy company CEOs dress up to play Santa
To help boost the sagging toy market, toy company executives transformed themselves into one-day Santa Clauses on Saturday to promote their products for Christmas.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Dec 16, 2008
A highway system that ever exacts toll
Expressways have been a prominent feature of postwar Japan's infrastructure-building efforts.
BUSINESS
Dec 13, 2008
Timing of sales tax hike unspecified
Faced with a Lower House election that must come by September, the struggling Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling bloc said Friday the timing of a consumption tax hike will not be specified in its guideline for fiscal 2009 tax reforms.
JAPAN
Dec 6, 2008
Revised law removes barrier to nationality
The revised Nationality Law cleared the Diet Friday but only after lawmakers at the last minute managed to have a clause inserted to prevent what they claimed would be a surge in bogus paternal recognition cases.
JAPAN
Dec 5, 2008
Pension funding expansion faces delay
The increase in the state's funding of the basic pension system to half from one-third doesn't necessarily have to happen next April, Prime Minister Taro Aso said Thursday, indicating the hike will probably be delayed.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 5, 2008
Politicians failing to engage youth
One of the oldest rules in politics the world over is that young people stay away in droves.
BUSINESS
Dec 4, 2008
Aso to break with Koizumi reforms
With the economy in recession and public approval ratings low, Prime Minister Taro Aso signaled Wednesday that Japan must depart from the reformist fiscal policies pursued by former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and his successors.
JAPAN
Dec 2, 2008
DNA center of nationality debate
With concern growing among lawmakers that amending the Nationality Law will engender false cases of paternal recognition, debate is focusing on whether DNA tests should be applied to the process of granting nationality.
JAPAN
Nov 29, 2008
Ozawa showdown low-key as gaffe-prone Aso keeps comments to himself
Outspoken Prime Minister Taro Aso may have finally learned his lesson Friday about holding his tongue.
JAPAN
Nov 27, 2008
Nationality Law tweak lacks DNA test: critics
With the revised Nationality Law expected to clear the Diet soon, some ruling party lawmakers are at the last minute claiming the amendment may spark problems, such as possibly creating a "black market" in false paternal recognition.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 12, 2008
Tamogami ups nationalist rhetoric
Ousted Air Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff Gen. Toshio Tamogami appeared Tuesday before the Diet and defended his contentious justification of Japan's wartime past and upped the ante by calling for the Constitution to be amended to unfetter the military and allow the nation to engage in collective...
JAPAN
Nov 4, 2008
Ozawa takes to Net to woo young
Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa made a fresh attempt Monday to appeal to young voters and Internet users, fielding questions on a Net live talk show in Tokyo ranging from his choice in underwear to Japan's claim to Takeshima.
JAPAN
Oct 27, 2008
Aso vows to cure economic woes
Self-described "manga" enthusiast Prime Minister Taro Aso returned to Tokyo's Akihabara district Sunday to deliver a speech concentrating on the economy.
JAPAN
Oct 24, 2008
Opposition now to drag feet on MSDF bill
In an apparent change of tactics, three opposition parties agreed Thursday to allow for more time to deliberate on the antiterrorism bill in the Upper House as they draft their own response to the global financial turmoil.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 23, 2008
New health insurance system draws protest
Dozens of protesters outside the Diet called Wednesday for abolishment of the controversial health-care insurance system covering the "later-stage elderly" aged 75 and older.
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Ishiba aggravates his own political failures with diplomatic faux pas
Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba is greeted at the APEC summit in Lima by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. The Japanese leader was criticized for remaining seated while meeting several world leaders at the event.
Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
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.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

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A boom for business tourism in Japan?
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