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 Eric Johnston

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Eric Johnston
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 10, 2015
144 local, prefectural governments release statements condemning security bills
Local opposition is growing to security bills that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hopes to push through the Lower House next week, with 144 prefectural, municipal and town governments releasing statements condemning the legislation as of Friday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 9, 2015
U.S., Japan enter 'final' trade talks ahead of possible TPP agreement
Trade negotiators from the U.S. and Japan met Thursday in Tokyo to work out what they hope will be a final bilateral deal needed for the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 7, 2015
Fuel is loaded into Kagoshima reactor as first restart nears
Kyushu Electric Power Co. begins loading fuel into a reactor at its Sendai station in preparation for the first restart under safety standards adopted in response to the Fukushima crisis.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 6, 2015
Hashimoto raises prospect of forming all-Kansai political party
Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto expresses interest in forming an all-Kansai political party, which could split the party into eastern and western Japan factions.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Jul 5, 2015
Kyoto residents rally around Nepal quake victims in charity drive
When earthquakes struck Nepal in April and May, killing more than 8,700 people, relief poured in from around the world. That included aid from a group of friends in Kyoto, for whom the people of Nepal were not far off strangers but friends, and almost family members, who they'd been assisting for many...
JAPAN
Jul 2, 2015
NRA warns it may halt inspections at Mihama reactor Kepco aims to restart
Although Kansai Electric Power Co. aims to extend the life of the Mihama plant's No. 3 reactor by 20 years, the operator may be forced to scrap the 39-year-old facility instead.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 30, 2015
Vote by U.S. Congress stokes hope for TPP progress in July
With the U.S. Congress formally granting President Barack Obama trade promotion authority, proponents of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement in Japan are hoping at least the broad outlines of a bilateral deal for agriculture and auto parts may be worked out when negotiations resume in July.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Jun 29, 2015
Universities must adapt to the times, but only to a point, USC president says
Aristotle's famous saying, "All who have meditated on the art of governing mankind have been convinced that the fate of empires depends on the education of youth," has been the foundation of educational philosophy among modern universities for centuries.
JAPAN / History / ANALYSIS
Jun 23, 2015
In Okinawa, battle continues over the islands' role in national security
It was apparent at Tuesday's ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa that the past has not faded into history, with issues related to the U.S. military causing tension and sharp differences of opinion with Tokyo over the prefecture's role in maintaining regional...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 20, 2015
Ishin no To tries to quell bickering over lawmakers' alternative security bills
More than 30 members of Ishin no To (Japan Innovation Party) gathered in Osaka on Saturday to hash out differences in opinions over three security bills proposed by the party's Diet members.
Japan Times
JAPAN / View from Osaka
Jun 20, 2015
Abe and Hashimoto's political dance will have to avoid stepping on any toes
One month after Osaka voters said no, just barely, to his pet project of fundamentally restructuring the municipal government, Mayor Toru Hashimoto finds himself courted by an increasingly anxious Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who hopes to borrow whatever is left of Hashimoto's influence in the Japan Innovation...
JAPAN
Jun 15, 2015
Ehime revises Ikata nuclear plant evacuation plan
Ehime Prefecture announced Monday revised plans for cooperating with six other prefectures in the event of an accident at its Ikata nuclear plant.
Japan Times
JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Jun 15, 2015
Osaka's assault on ethnic invective stalls
With last week's decision by the Osaka Municipal Assembly to delay a decision on what would have been Japan's first city ordinance to combat hate speech and to issue a nonbinding statement instead, local legal efforts to crack down on racist rhetoric have slowed.
Japan Times
JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Jun 15, 2015
Hate speech may lack clear definition but Kansai trying to squelch it
More than two years after the anti-Korean group Zaitokukai made international headlines with racial slurs and threats of violence, local governments around Japan are making it far more difficult for any group attacking minorities to operate.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 10, 2015
Osaka Municipal Assembly delays decision on banning hate speech
The city council released a statement urging the central government to “promote effective legal measures for the eradication of hate speech” and deferred a decision on a potential ban.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jun 8, 2015
Sincere climate pledge or 'sleight of hand'?
Last week, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet announced Japan would reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 26 percent by 2030, based on 2013 levels. The plan will be presented to delegates at a United Nations conference on climate change in Paris this December.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 27, 2015
Onaga leaves on U.S. trip to lobby against Futenma base relocation
Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga departed Wednesday for a 10-day trip to Hawaii and Washington, where he hopes to take his case against relocating U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to skeptical lawmakers, policy experts and the American public.
Japan Times
JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
May 24, 2015
Cities outshine Tokyo on energy mix with ambitious goal for renewables
The government is preparing to announce its 'best energy mix' for 2030, but its cost projections for nuclear power and renewable energy are raising eyebrows.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 24, 2015
Curtain falls on atomic feud with Kepco
They're nothing but a bunch of overpaid, arrogant jerks who should have been fired long ago for their managerial incompetence, while he's a just another crude loudmouth who has no idea what he's talking about.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
May 22, 2015
Hashimoto likely to continue political career, but in what role?
In the fall of 2007, Osaka's political leaders faced a problem.

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