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 Eric Johnston

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Eric Johnston
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 19, 2003
War fears put water forum in jeopardy
KYOTO -- The remainder of the 3rd World Water Forum, which is scheduled to end Sunday, was thrown into confusion Tuesday by fears that a U.S.-led war on Iraq is imminent.
JAPAN
Mar 18, 2003
Delegates press severity of African water situation
Participants at a special session of the ongoing World Water Forum voiced satisfaction Monday that Africa's water crisis is firmly on the agenda of the Group of Eight industrial nations.
JAPAN
Mar 17, 2003
Water forum under way as war concerns mount
KYOTO -- With war in Iraq possibly only days away, a leading delegate to the Third World Water Forum declared at the opening session that providing clean water is more important than the looming conflict.
JAPAN
Mar 13, 2003
Abductions new cause for text revisionists
OSAKA -- A group that supports revising history textbooks to exclude or downplay atrocities committed by Japan during the first half of the 20th century is now pushing for inclusion of North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals as an example of human rights abuse.
JAPAN
Mar 3, 2003
Gathering concludes that nuclear power is essential to Japan
OSAKA -- The central government and the prefectures of Fukui, Aomori, and Osaka reaffirmed Sunday that nuclear power remains a vital part of the best possible energy mix for Japan.
JAPAN
Mar 1, 2003
EU envoy advocates talks on North Korea
OSAKA -- The European Union's ambassador to Japan voiced support Friday for efforts to resolve the standoff over Pyongyang's nuclear arms program via negotiations involving the United States, Japan, China, North Korea and South Korea.
JAPAN
Feb 11, 2003
Smoking said drag on image of Osaka
OSAKA -- While municipal officials and local business leaders announce grand construction plans to turn this city into an international center for tourism and conventions, antismoking activist Hiroshi Nogami suggests that to make Osaka more attractive to visitors, they should set their sights much lower...
JAPAN / KANSAI BEAT
Feb 7, 2003
Osaka survey follows ethnic lines
OSAKA -- While Osaka's foreign residents are divided on the need to provide information for medical services in foreign languages, they are in general agreement that schools should teach more about the history, language and culture of other countries.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 28, 2003
Monju ruling delights antinuclear activists
OSAKA -- Antinuclear activists were euphoric over Monday's ruling against the Monju reactor by the Kanazawa branch of the Nagoya High Court, saying the decision will have a ripple effect on similar lawsuits.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 24, 2003
Kansai casinos a dicey proposition
OSAKA -- It's way past dinner time in the back streets of Osaka's Shinsaibashi district. But one establishment advertising itself as an all-you-can-eat Italian restaurant is doing a booming business.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 20, 2002
Pyongyang's abductions spell fallout for Chongryun
OSAKA -- The junior high school girl, who asked to be referred to only as "Son," appeared on the verge of tears when she recalled what happened.
JAPAN
Nov 1, 2002
Abductee support groups push to find other 'missing' Japanese
OSAKA -- North Korea may feel that the abduction issue has been resolved and that Japan should now proceed with normalization talks, but for relatives of the Japanese abductees and their supporters, the five survivors and the eight reported dead by Pyongyang represent just the tip of the iceberg.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 27, 2002
Osaka housewife refuses to be cowed in the face of city hall
The towering stone structure that is Osaka city hall sits like a fortress on Osaka's Nakanoshima island. It might intimidate some who walk into its dimly lit marbled lobby, but not Yoneko Matsuura.
BUSINESS
Sep 24, 2002
EU energy chief details plan to keep oil reserves
OSAKA -- The ideal price for oil is just over $20 a barrel, or $8 less than the current price, the European Union's commissioner of energy and transport said Monday, indicating an EU plan to stockpile oil is in response to unforeseen emergencies.
JAPAN
Sep 23, 2002
Forum focuses on new oil source
OSAKA -- The eighth International Energy Forum moved into its second day Sunday with meetings between Asian energy ministers on how to cooperate more closely to ensure stable supplies in the face of mounting uncertainty in the Middle East.
JAPAN
Sep 21, 2002
Media coverage of abductions criticized
OSAKA -- Korean residents of Japan expressed concern Friday over what they feel has been excessive coverage by the Japanese media of the North Korean abductions but comparatively scarce debate over Japan's legacy of its colonial rule of the Korean peninsula.
JAPAN / ENERGY EQUATION
Sep 20, 2002
Energy goals, needs, realities not in sync
OSAKA -- It was another sweltering summer day in Den Den Town here, with the temperature expected to climb above 30 and humidity at nearly 80 percent.
JAPAN
Sep 19, 2002
Families of abductees vow to keep up pressure
OSAKA -- Family members and supporters of Japanese abducted to North Korea vowed Wednesday to continue pressing the Japanese and North Korean governments for a full account of the kidnappings.
JAPAN
Sep 3, 2002
Little-used Kansai airport likely to finish second runway
OSAKA - Eight years after it opened to great fanfare, Kansai International Airport looks likely to get a second runway in 2007, even as its financial problems continue to mount.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 30, 2002
Bush to seek Koizumi's support
OSAKA -- When Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi meets U.S. President George W. Bush on Sept. 12, he will be encouraged to think broadly about what Japan can do to assist the U.S.-led military campaign against terrorism, a former Japan chief at the Pentagon said.

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