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 Eric Johnston

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Eric Johnston
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 21, 2018
Kansai airport bounces back from typhoon but Kobe, Itami likely to help out anyway
Passengers were happy that the main international gateway to western Japan was all but back to normal more quickly than expected.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 20, 2018
With Abe re-elected, local governments now look for him to deliver on campaign promises
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe secured strong support from the Liberal Democratic Party's local chapters in securing a third term as president of the party.
Japan Times
JAPAN / View from Osaka
Sep 15, 2018
Does Kansai need three international airports?
Twenty-four years after Kansai airport's opening, Typhoon Jebi roared through, flooding the main runway, parts of the main terminal building and dislodging a tanker in the adjacent bay that drifted into the facility's connecting bridge.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 13, 2018
Kansai airport's Terminal 1 to partially reopen following flooding from Typhoon Jebi
Efforts are also moving forward to accept new domestic and international flights at nearby Kobe and Itami airports.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 13, 2018
Meet the top contenders seeking to lead Okinawa: Atsushi Sakima and Denny Tamaki
Campaigning for the Sept. 30 Okinawa gubernatorial election officially kicked off Thursday, with two main candidates vying for leadership of the prefecture — Atsushi Sakima, 54, and Denny Tamaki, 58.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Sep 11, 2018
U.S. base relocation top issue in Okinawa gubernatorial election
Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga's death last month at age 67 from pancreatic cancer came just over three months before the originally scheduled gubernatorial election and just days after he announced the prefectural government would take steps toward retracting permission for landfill work related to a new...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 10, 2018
Fate of U.S. base remains unresolved after Okinawa assembly elections
Voters in 25 Okinawan cities, towns and villages went to the polls Sunday to elect assembly members ahead of the Sept. 30 gubernatorial race, including the closely watched match in Nago, where the results failed to deliver a clear verdict on a controversial U.S. military base.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 9, 2018
Okinawans vote in key local municipal assembly elections; U.S. base issue tops Nago residents' balloting
Voters in 25 Okinawan cities, towns and villages went to the polls Sunday in key local municipal assembly elections ahead of the Sept. 30 gubernatorial election.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 7, 2018
As Kansai airport partially reopens, officials discuss temporarily routing some flights elsewhere
The central government and Kansai region officials push a proposal to temporarily route some international flights to Osaka's Itami airport and Kobe Airport following the temporary closure of Osaka International Airport.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 6, 2018
Abe announces typhoon-hit Kansai airport will reopen to some domestic flights Friday
The airport remained closed Thursday after Typhoon Jebi caused flooding that damaged the main runway and tarmac, and drove a tanker into the bridge connecting the facility to the mainland.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 5, 2018
Kansai counts the cost of Typhoon Jebi
Osaka and the Kansai region spent Wednesday cleaning up after Typhoon Jebi roared through the area Tuesday, causing widespread damage.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Sep 1, 2018
Crafting a Japanese gin: Domestic distilleries are producing low-volume, high-quality batches that source local ingredients
While rooftop beer gardens with cold glasses of one's favorite suds are the popular way among many in Japan to cool off during the hot summer and early weeks of autumn, gin, whether served neat with a bit of water, over the rocks, mixed in a tonic, or as one part of an endless variety of exotic cocktails...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 30, 2018
Former Japanese diplomats, U.N. experts recall Kofi Annan's support and commitment
Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who died earlier this month, was remembered by former Japanese diplomats and U.N. experts as a strong supporter of Security Council reform plans that could have given Japan a permanent seat.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 29, 2018
How one Hokkaido town curbed population decline in graying Japan
In early August, as much of the country suffered through some of its hottest temperatures on record, a small town in Hokkaido welcomed visitors from around the world to an annual photography festival that celebrated the outdoors.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 26, 2018
Nara steps up efforts to deal with record numbers of deer and tourists
It's getting ever more crowded in the ancient capital of Nara as record numbers of two-legged visitors encounter record numbers of four-legged residents, creating concerns about the health and safety of both groups.
Japan Times
JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Aug 26, 2018
Osaka teachers resist mayor's plan to raise achievement test scores
Stung by the poor results of a national achievement test covering math, science, and Japanese, Osaka Mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura wants to raise scores on next year's exam by linking the test results to personnel evaluations and bonuses for school principals and teachers.
Japan Times
JAPAN / History
Aug 24, 2018
Tourism boom highlights evolution of Japan guidebooks
The nation's continuing tourism boom has been accompanied by countless new guidebooks and websites on all things Japanese. Today, those who want to learn about Japan are spoiled for choice. But that was not always the case.
Japan Times
JAPAN / View from Osaka
Aug 18, 2018
Osaka leaders revel as casinos bid for attention
When the Diet passed a law governing the operation of integrated casino resorts last month, public celebrations were few. Media polls showed strong public opposition to casinos, with respondents citing worries about problem gamblers and more crime.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Aug 9, 2018
Gov. Takeshi Onaga's death muddles long-standing U.S. base relocation plan in Okinawa
The passing of the late governor came less than two weeks after he announced he was revoking predecessor Hirokazu Nakaima's 2013 approval of a permit for the Henoko project.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 8, 2018
Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga, long a voice for those opposed to U.S. bases in the prefecture, dies at 67
Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga died Wednesday evening at age 67 following hospitalization related to pancreatic cancer.

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