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November 22, 2024
 

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Kanako Takahara

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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 Times
PODCAST / deep dive
Oct 19, 2022
Japan reopens its borders. Are tourists ready to return?
Masks? Vaccinations? Yen? You're ready to come to Japan! News chief Kanako Takahara and reporter Will Fee join the podcast this week to discuss whether the country's grand reopening will help its beleaguered tourism sector.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 17, 2022
Unification Church could be stripped of special status after Kishida probe
The group could lose its “religious corporation” status, which makes donations and other revenue made from religious activities exempt from taxation.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 13, 2022
Japan updates advice on clinic visits for COVID patients amid 'twindemic' fears
People between the ages of 12 and 64 with a low risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms have been asked to refrain from going to so-called fever clinics.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 12, 2022
Confusing mix of policies sours start of domestic travel discount campaign
Prefectures have chosen differing kickoff dates and COVID-19 protocols, resulting in a baffling array of eligibility requirements.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 5, 2022
The church, the economy and the funeral: CDP leader grills Kishida
The opposition took the prime minister to task over his party's ties to the Unification Church, the state funeral for ex-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and soaring inflation.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 4, 2022
North Korea fires ballistic missile over Japan for first time since 2017
The missile, which was estimated to have traveled 4,600 km, prompted Tokyo to issue a rare alert calling for residents to take cover.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 3, 2022
Kishida tries to put focus on economy after Unification Church controversy
The prime minister used his speech at the opening of the new parliamentary session to emphasize economic measures, such as those on inflation and raising wages.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 27, 2022
Japan bids farewell to former PM Shinzo Abe with controversial state funeral
Scores of foreign dignitaries, including U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, attended the ceremony, while rallies protesting the controversial funeral were also held.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 23, 2022
Japan to reopen to independent travelers and lift daily arrival cap, Kishida says
The move marks a major policy shift after nearly 2u00bd years of strict COVID-19 restrictions.
Japan Times
JAPAN / FOCUS
Sep 22, 2022
Why Japan has been taking incremental steps to reopen its borders
The Group of Seven's strictest border rules have been eased in slow, incremental steps, much to the chagrin of foreign nationals waiting to enter.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Society
Sep 21, 2022
Even as Japan’s border creaks open, unmarried couples still struggle to reunite
The categories of people allowed entry has been slowly expanded, but those in uncertified relationships have been left out, prompting some to tie the knot.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 12, 2022
Japan plans to reopen to independent travelers in major shift, report says
Tourists, who will need to have been vaccinated three times or submit a negative test result under the new policy, may be able to enter without a visa.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 8, 2022
LDP survey shows 121 lawmakers had substantial ties with the Unification Church
The degree of ties varied, with some lawmakers having been interviewed in a publication linked to the religious group, while two were found to have received organizational election support.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 7, 2022
Japan opens borders to foreign travelers on ‘self-guided tours’
The country also raised the daily arrival cap to 50,000 and dropped a requirement that visitors test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of departing for Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 6, 2022
Japan to shorten COVID-19 isolation period to seven days
For asymptomatic people with the virus, the self-quarantine period will be shortened from seven days to five, so long as they get a negative result from an antigen test.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 1, 2022
Japan clarifies new border rules as it moves to allow most individual tourists to enter
Under the eased restrictions, only tourists who wish to book their travel independently, rather than through agencies, will be denied entry.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 31, 2022
Japan to ease tourism restrictions and raise daily arrival cap to 50,000
Starting Sept. 7, entry will be allowed for nonescorted visitors on package tours and the daily arrival cap will be raised to 50,000.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 30, 2022
Border restrictions causing shift away from Japan studies, survey finds
According to the survey of about 300 foreign academics and students of Japanese studies, 186 respondents said there was less scholarly interest in Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Aug 29, 2022
4chan owner under fire for sexual violence remarks in wake of scandal
2channel founder Hiroyuki Nishimura said that hostesses who entertain men at bars receive high pay in exchange for tolerating sexual violence, triggering harsh criticism.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 26, 2022
Actor Teruyuki Kagawa apologizes after report alleges he groped hostess
The report also said the kabuki performer took off the hostess' bra and passed it around to colleagues in an incident in 2019.
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’

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?
By Kathryn Wortley

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