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April 03, 2025
 

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Eric Johnston

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Eric Johnston
JAPAN / FOCUS
Apr 3, 2023
Ryuichi Sakamoto, an outspoken peace and environment activist
The award-winning composer took a particularly strong anti-nuclear stance that put him at odds with Japanese officialdom.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Apr 3, 2023
Rising number of uncontested seats in Japan sparks calls for change
A quarter of candidates in 41 prefectural assembly elections ran unopposed — the second highest ever — prompting even the winners to call for reforms.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Mar 22, 2023
Can Nippon Ishin 'skip' to true national political prominence?
The Osaka-born party faces a make-or-break moment in next month’s series of local elections across the nation.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 8, 2023
Documents scandal involving Cabinet minister an untimely political headache for Kishida
The economic security minister has come under fire for files an opposition lawmaker says is proof she was involved in pushing for a legal reinterpretation of the broadcasting law.
BUSINESS / FOCUS
Mar 6, 2023
Osaka’s exclusion of Dentsu and Hakuhodo expected to impact 2025 Expo
The two companies have been excluded from the event following their indictment over Tokyo Games bid-rigging, but not many ad firms in Japan boast their level of experience.
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 27, 2023
Yamaguchi by-election puts spotlight on dynastic politics
Nobuchiyo Kishi thought reminding voters of his politician relatives was a good move, but he has been accused of just taking over the family business and not caring about voters' problems.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 24, 2023
Ukraine would welcome a visit by Kishida, envoy in Japan says
“From our point of view, it’s extremely important for Kishida … to visit Ukraine and see it with his own eyes, in order to be able to feel what is going on,” envoy Sergiy Korsunsky said.
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 16, 2023
Kishida’s child care plans raise questions about who will pay and how
Details of the proposal have become a hotly debated topic as Japan looks ahead to key local elections in April.
JAPAN / Explainer
Feb 15, 2023
The continuing saga of the Tokyo Games scandal
The arrest of four more people last week has shaken the Japanese Olympic Committee and dealt a further blow to Sapporo’s quest to host the 2030 Winter Games.
JAPAN
Feb 13, 2023
Spotlight falls on Japan LGBTQ bill as G7 summit nears
While Kishida has indicated he favors early passage of the bill, opposition from within his own party could make it difficult for it to clear parliament before the May meeting in Hiroshima.
JAPAN
Feb 7, 2023
Kishida vows to reopen talks on access to graves on Russian-held islands
In response to sanctions over the war in Ukraine, Moscow has suspended visa-free access to the islands for former Japanese residents.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Feb 5, 2023
The Winter Olympics have a climate problem. Could Sapporo be part of the solution?
Sapporo is touting a study showing that among all past hosts, it will be the most climate resilient as the planet warms. But residents are less than enthusiastic about hosting.
JAPAN / Explainer
Feb 3, 2023
The risks, and safety measures to take, for backcountry skiers in Japan
The deaths of two men in Nagano Prefecture, including an American champion skier, was a tragic reminder of the risks involved in backcountry ski trips, even for experts.
JAPAN
Jan 30, 2023
Parliament begins budget talks amid focus on Kishida's tax plans
Attention is increasingly turning to when Kishida might call an election, especially given the divisive issue of tax hikes to pay for increased defense spending and child care policies.
JAPAN
Jan 25, 2023
CDP questions Kishida on defense spending, nuclear power and child care
Calling for a snap election, the CDP's Kenta Izumi blasted the prime minister for pursuing a tax hike for defense spending without parliamentary discussion.
JAPAN
Jan 22, 2023
Kishida heads into parliamentary session with packed — and divisive — agenda
Contentious debates in the Diet over increased defense spending, policies aimed at children and extending the life of nuclear reactors could ultimately seal the prime minister's fate.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 17, 2023
Environment education that connects all the dots
Currently, students in Japan are taught the facts, but not necessarily how they are linked to political and social changes around the world.
JAPAN
Jan 15, 2023
Russia-Hokkaido relations another casualty of Ukraine invasion
'If the prefecture continued to promote exchanges with our Russian counterparts now, there would be the risk of a public backlash,' one official said.
JAPAN
Jan 12, 2023
Bill to amend Japan's immigration laws to be resubmitted to parliament, report says
If the bill, which was shelved before last autumn's extraordinary parliament session, is taken up, it would be one of more than 60 pieces of legislation expected to be debated.
JAPAN
Jan 11, 2023
South Korea aims to finalize 'solution' to wartime labor dispute with Japan, report says
In what experts say is an unusual move, reports indicated that a written agreement between the countries will not be required.
As ‘Buy Canadian’ grows, more U.S. firms say retailers turning away products
Empty shelves with "Buy Canadian Instead" signs are seen in the American Whiskey section of the BC Liquor in Vancouver, British Columbia, on March 10.
A Canadian made a weekend trip to Costco a Japanese pastime
Under the watchful eye of Ken Theriault, Costco representative director and Japan country manager, the American membership-model wholesaler has flourished in Japan.
Meiji says sayonara to bottled milk, a staple of Japan's bathhouses
Meiji bottled milk lined up in a fridge at Kosugiyu, a bathhouse in Tokyo. The sticker urges patrons to enjoy the milk one last time before it’s gone.
Japan, South Korea and China vow to strengthen trade ties amid looming U.S. tariffs
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto (left), South Korean Trade Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk-geun (center) and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao during a trilateral meeting in Seoul on Sunday
The U.S. says Japan has a 700% tariff on American rice. Is that the case?
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt holds up a piece of paper with information about tariff rates at the White House on Tuesday.
Meiji says sayonara to bottled milk, a staple of Japan's bathhouses
Meiji bottled milk lined up in a fridge at Kosugiyu, a bathhouse in Tokyo. The sticker urges patrons to enjoy the milk one last time before it’s gone.
A Canadian made a weekend trip to Costco a Japanese pastime
Under the watchful eye of Ken Theriault, Costco representative director and Japan country manager, the American membership-model wholesaler has flourished in Japan.
On defense, Japan may avoid Trump's worst impulses — for now
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth chat after reviewing an honor guard during a welcome ceremony at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Sunday.
No longer a 'bridesmaid': Yuki Tsunoda prepares for the Red Bull pressure cooker
All eyes will be on Yuki Tsunoda as he makes his Red Bull debut at the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend.
Tokyo tech failures lean into misfortune, mistakes and missteps
Tsuyoshi Domoto in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward on March 28. As an entrepreneur, Domoto experienced plenty of setbacks but maintains a positive attitude and continues to pursue his dreams.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Professional cleaner Hirofumi Sakurai takes a moment to appreciate some photographs in a Gotanda apartment whose occupant died alone.
The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan
By Johan Brooks

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