Kanako Takahara - The Japan Times

April 04, 2025

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Kanako Takahara

Kanako Takahara is a staff writer who has covered national politics, diplomacy, business and the economy at The Japan Times. A graduate of Sophia University, she is currently a national news editor.

JAPAN

Apr 11, 2003

Japan shuns talk of Pyongyang leaving NPT

As a three-month waiting period North Korea had to observe to officially withdraw from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty ended Thursday, Japan refused to acknowledge the validity of its neighbor's actions.

JAPAN

Apr 10, 2003

$100 million in Iraq aid pledged

Japan unveiled Wednesday a framework for humanitarian aid to Iraq that sets a limit of $100 million on financial support for international organizations.

JAPAN

Apr 9, 2003

ODA to be focused on postwar peace-building

With fiscal constraints putting pressure on official development assistance, the nation will focus more on peace-building and postconflict reconstruction, according to an annual ODA white paper endorsed by the Cabinet on Tuesday.

JAPAN

Apr 5, 2003

Koizumi set to woo China with letter

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Friday that Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi will deliver a letter to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao stressing the importance of friendly bilateral ties.

JAPAN

Apr 2, 2003

Matters tied to North Korea dominate 'blue book' agenda

Japan's most pressing diplomatic task is to resolve issues related to North Korea, including its suspected development of nuclear weapons, according to the annual Foreign Ministry "blue book," which was endorsed Tuesday by the Cabinet.

JAPAN

Apr 1, 2003

Bilateral talks center on Pyongyang

Japanese and South Korean lawmakers agreed Monday that multilateral cooperation is vital to resolve North Korea's nuclear crisis and maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula.

JAPAN

Mar 27, 2003

U.S. request to shutter Iraqi Embassy declined

Japan will not shut down the Iraqi Embassy in Tokyo despite a request from the U.S. to do so, a senior Foreign Ministry official said Wednesday.

JAPAN

Mar 22, 2003

Ministries gear up to counter terror threat

Government ministries agreed Friday to prepare for possible terrorist attacks and offer security information to the public as things continue to heat up in Iraq.

JAPAN

Mar 20, 2003

Iraq envoy urges Japan to steer U.S. to peace

The charge d'affaires at the Iraqi Embassy in Tokyo on Wednesday nudged Japan to lean on the U.S. to avert a war in his country.

JAPAN

Mar 19, 2003

Koizumi puts U.S. alliance ahead of U.N.

By announcing his support for a U.S.-led war on Iraq without a fresh United Nations resolution, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi made it clear Tuesday that his government emphasizes Japan's alliance with the United States over U.N.-centered efforts for peace.

JAPAN

Mar 14, 2003

Tanaka cool on North Korea sanctions

Deputy Foreign Minister Hitoshi Tanaka voiced reluctance Thursday to imposing immediate economic sanctions on North Korea, stressing the need to resolve disputes with Pyongyang via dialogue.

JAPAN

Mar 12, 2003

Mexico seeks to bridge U.S.-France divide

Mexican President Vicente Fox told Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Tuesday that his country is considering submitting a fresh resolution to the U.N. Security Council that seeks to bridge the gap between the United States and France.

JAPAN

Mar 9, 2003

Japan backs revised U.N. resolution against Iraq

Japan expressed support Saturday for a revised draft resolution submitted jointly by the United States, Britain and Spain to the United Nations Security Council that sets March 17 as the deadline for Iraq to rid itself of weapons of mass destruction.

JAPAN

Mar 1, 2003

Dialogue urged to bridge East-West gaps

Dialogue is crucial to preventing conflict and promoting mutual understanding in a world where people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds must coexist, according to Delfin Colome, executive director of the Asia- Europe Foundation.

JAPAN

Feb 15, 2003

Chile president stresses need for fresh resolution prior to attack on Iraq

Visiting Chilean President Ricardo Lagos on Friday stressed the importance of the U.N. Security Council adopting a fresh resolution before any military action is taken against Iraq.

JAPAN

Feb 14, 2003

Japan urged to take lead in easing of drug patents

As host of an informal ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization, Japan should take the initiative in easing rules on pharmaceutical patents so developing countries can have better access to desperately needed drugs, according to Dr. Tatsuo Hayashi, president of Africa-Japan Forum.

JAPAN

Jan 30, 2003

Escapee from North Korea stirs refugee debate anew

The high-profile case of a Japanese woman who returned to Japan on Wednesday after fleeing North Korea has rekindled debate over the government's lack of adequate support measures for others in similar circumstances, as well as its reluctance to accept refugees.

JAPAN

Jan 1, 2003

Quest for disputed islands snarled by Suzuki scandals

Japan's efforts to get back the four Russian-held islands off northeast Hokkaido suffered an apparent setback last year.

COMMUNITY / CLOSE-UP

Nov 3, 2002

A 'young blood' at Yokohama's helm

Hiroshi Nakada shocked the nation in March when, at the age of 37, he was elected as the mayor of Yokohama, beating 72-year-old Hidenobu Takahide. Takahide, who died in August, ran the city for 12 years and was backed in the election by the ruling coalition and the opposition Social Democratic Party....

JAPAN / WEEKEND WISDOM

Aug 25, 2002

Hamako fires from the lips at today's lackluster Diet ranks

There have been many politicians who were well-known for their outspokenness while still serving in the legislature.

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Professional cleaner Hirofumi Sakurai takes a moment to appreciate some photographs in a Gotanda apartment whose occupant died alone.

The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan

By Johan Brooks

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

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