Eric Johnston - The Japan Times

JAPAN

Oct 4, 2016

Absence of sunny summer coupled with heavy rains foreshadow lackluster crops

September was one of the wettest and cloudiest months on record for large parts of the country, according to the Meteorological Agency, and local governments are warning that the lack of sunlight and damage from typhoons and heavy rains will likely affect agricultural output.

JAPAN

Oct 4, 2016

Nuclear cash cow Monju now a liability for residents as plant faces ax

In February 1983, Mayor Koichi Takagi of Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, spoke to residents in the town of Shiga, Ishikawa Prefecture, who were hoping the town would be chosen as the site for a new nuclear power plant.

JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE

Sep 25, 2016

Kansai uses subsidies to fill empty homes, but persuading aging population to pull up stakes remains a challenge

Some central Japan prefectures and even cities like Kyoto and Nara are increasingly adopting measures to reduce the number of vacant homes, including via subsidies for owners.

JAPAN / Politics / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE

Sep 25, 2016

New website to help track Diet members' money trails

An Osaka-based nonprofit organization has announced it will create an online group dedicated to letting any member of the public follow politicians' money trails.

JAPAN / View from Osaka

Sep 17, 2016

There must be a sense of deja vu in Osaka after Yuriko Koike's election

Wasteful bureaucratic spending. Local politicians who smell money as they make Olympics-related plans. An assembly dominated by a clique of good ol' boys in the Liberal Democratic Party who run local government as their fiefdom. All challenged by a hawkish outsider of a governor who is media-savvy and...

JAPAN / Crime & Legal

Sep 16, 2016

High court rules Okinawa governor's order to stop U.S. base work 'illegal'

The Naha branch of the Fukuoka High Court finds Gov. Takeshi Onaga's cancellation of a landfill work order contravened the law.

JAPAN

Sep 15, 2016

As Monju decommissioning nears reality, Fukui politicians lash out

News that the central government is finalizing plans to decommission the Monju fast-breeder reactor in Fukui Prefecture has sparked anger and fear among local politicians about what will happen to their economy, and could make Fukui's cooperation in restarting other reactors more complicated.

JAPAN

Sep 14, 2016

East Hokkaido waits on Abe-Putin talks over Russia-held isles

In Hokkaido's far east, Nemuro feels nothing like a typical Japanese city. Mist and fog often shroud the area in the summertime. During July and August, while much of the country bakes in 30 degree-plus temperatures, it's just over 20 degrees in Nemuro.

JAPAN

Sep 8, 2016

Kansai airport begins vaccinating workers after measles outbreak

So far 39 people have been infected, mostly younger airport employees who were never vaccinated against the disease.

JAPAN

Sep 7, 2016

26 Okinawa mayors demand U.S. base reductions amid increased tensions

The mayors of 26 towns and villages hosting U.S. bases in Okinawa plan to formally present new demands Thursday calling for Tokyo to reduce the prefecture's burden in supporting American military personnel and fundamentally revise the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement.

JAPAN / ANALYSIS

Aug 31, 2016

Governors' moves muddle reactor restart bids

Political moves by the governors of Kagoshima and Niigata over the last week, one sudden and one that was mostly expected, are likely to affect plans in both prefectures to restart or continue running nuclear reactors.

JAPAN / EXPLAINER

Aug 29, 2016

Terror financing laws limited by burden of proof

Last month it was revealed that a Bangladeshi former associate professor at Kyoto's Ritsumeikan University was wanted by police for his suspected involvement in the Dhaka terrorist attack that killed 20 people in a cafe, including seven Japanese. Mohammad Saifullah Ozaki had been teaching business administration...

JAPAN / Politics

Aug 25, 2016

U.S.-friendly Maehara able to find common ground with LDP

Former Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara, who is expected to run for president of the opposition Democratic Party, brings a wealth of experience and an America-friendly reputation to the race.

JAPAN / Politics

Aug 23, 2016

In bid to go national, Osaka Ishin no Kai changes its name

Osaka Ishin no Kai, the nation's only Osaka-based national political party, changed its name Tuesday to Nippon Ishin no Kai in an attempt to increase its appeal in other parts of Japan, especially Tokyo.

JAPAN / History

Aug 22, 2016

Civility shown to Russo-Japanese War POWs lives on as Matsuyama's legacy

Tucked away in a tiny corner of Matsuyama, on a hillside not too far from the famous Dogo Onsen hot springs resort, lies a unique graveyard. Inside lie gravestones for 98 Russian POWs who died during the 1904-1905 Russo-Japanese War, a somber reminder of a time the city is nevertheless generally eager...

JAPAN / Politics / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE

Aug 21, 2016

Osaka Ishin tactics strike chord with Koike but will LDP stand idly by?

Is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government about to adopt Osaka's approach to local government reform, leading to an Osaka-centric political party expanding its influence to the nation's capital?

JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE

Aug 21, 2016

Osaka urged to spend more on arts ahead of Olympic extravaganza

A call by an influential Kansai business group for the Osaka prefectural and municipal governments to increase their budgets for art and culture has sparked debate between the governor and business circles over how to best do that.

JAPAN / View from Osaka

Aug 20, 2016

The content of culture: In Osaka, who should pay?

A report released by a Kansai business group earlier this month notes the amounts for the art and culture budgets of Osaka prefecture and Osaka city are well below national averages on a per person level, and has a lot of tongues wagging about Osaka being run by a bunch of philistines.

JAPAN

Aug 12, 2016

Shikoku MOX plant restarts amid outcry over fresh quake fears

Shikoku Electric restarts the Ikata No. 3 reactor on the narrow Sadamisaki Peninsula as protesters seek court injunctions over safety fears renewed by the quakes in Kyushu.

JAPAN

Aug 9, 2016

Overseas media outlets praise Emperor's efforts for peace, reconciliation

Overseas media reaction to Monday's recorded video address by Emperor Akihito, in which he indicated a desire to abdicate, praised his efforts at peace and reconciliation in Okinawa and parts of Asia.

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