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April 06, 2025
 

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Eric Johnston

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Eric Johnston
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 9, 2019
New Year's party skipped as tensions run high between Osaka's ruling coalition partners
As Osaka enters 2019 with a full political schedule, including local and national elections and the Group of 20 Leaders' Summit, relations between ruling coalition partners Komeito and Osaka Ishin no Kai (One Osaka), a local political party, remain tense, creating potential political problems in both...
JAPAN / Society
Jan 9, 2019
Abe's plan to battle Japan's regional brain drain draws mixed reviews
Like other major cities around the world, Tokyo acts as a magnet for the rest of the country, attracting people whose energy and talents spark new businesses and forms of art and culture, which, in turn, attract even more people.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 26, 2018
Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui reveals deal with Komeito to hold referendum on merging city wards
Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui revealed Wednesday that his Osaka Ishin no Kai (One Osaka) political group had signed a deal with Komeito, in April 2017, to hold a referendum on merging the city's wards during the current terms of the prefectural and municipal assembly members, which expire in April 2019.
JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Dec 23, 2018
Most Kyoto firms have no plans to add foreign workers, survey finds
The government may be planning to bring in nearly 345,000 foreign workers by 2023, but in Kyoto, a recent survey shows most firms outside the hospitality sector have no plans to discuss adding overseas laborers to their workforce.
JAPAN / Politics / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Dec 23, 2018
With six months to go until G20 summit in Osaka, Japan sets out its agenda
With six months to go until the Group of 20 summit in Osaka, the basic agenda has been set for discussion on issues of global importance.
Japan Times
JAPAN / View from Osaka
Dec 15, 2018
From G20 to 2025 Expo, many challenges lay ahead for Kansai
In the moments after Osaka was awarded the 2025 World Expo on the early morning of Nov. 24, there was jubilation, back-slapping, and wide smiles. More than a few eyes glittered at the thought of what senior business leaders hoped would be a major cash cow. You could almost hear the clicking of soroban...
JAPAN
Dec 11, 2018
Osaka officials kick off preparations for 2025 World Expo
Within weeks of being awarded the event, Osaka leaders on Tuesday kicked off preparations for the 2025 World Expo.
JAPAN
Dec 11, 2018
Japan's two Aegis Ashore anti-missile candidate sites run into local opposition
Located in northwestern Honshu on the Sea of Japan coast, Akita Prefecture has long been thought of in Tokyo and especially western Japan as remote — part of poet Matsuo Basho's famed "The Narrow Road to the Deep North."
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 28, 2018
Japan gets mixed assessment from U.N. over efforts to curb greenhouse gases
The United Nations warned Tuesday that current national commitments to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions are insufficient to meet a 2030 reduction goal, and that unprecedented and urgent action is required by all nations — especially from members of the Group of 20 — to ensure global warming...
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 26, 2018
Citing G20 security issues, Osaka shuts down over 80% of private lodging operations
Between June and September, over 80 percent of Osaka minpaku private lodgings have been ordered closed by the city, Osaka Mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura said earlier this month.
JAPAN / Politics / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Nov 26, 2018
Time running out for Osaka leaders seeking to push city-prefecture integration plan
When Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui and Osaka Mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura left for Paris early last week for one final lobbying effort for the 2025 World Expo, they left behind a city and prefecture that remain deeply divided over their most basic political goal — the integration of Osaka Prefecture and the...
JAPAN
Nov 24, 2018
As Osaka basks in glow of successful 2025 Expo bid, economic concerns move to the forefront
After Osaka wins the right to hold the event, questions about costs and integrated casino resorts come to the fore.
JAPAN
Nov 24, 2018
Osaka wins bid to host 2025 World Expo
Osaka won the rights to host the 2025 World Expo, beating out rivals Yekaterinburg in Russia and the Azerbaijan capital of Baku, during voting in Paris on Friday.
JAPAN
Nov 23, 2018
Osaka governor and mayor make last-minute lobbying efforts in Paris to win 2025 World Expo
Officials, including Gov. Ichiro Matsui and Osaka Mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura attend last-minute lobbying efforts in Paris in a bid for the city of Osaka to be awarded rights to stage the 2025 World Expo.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 18, 2018
NGOs worry about their waning influence over the G20
Nongovernmental organizations are concerned whether Group of 20 leaders will heed their views over global issues.
Japan Times
JAPAN / View from Osaka
Nov 17, 2018
Kansai business community sees future foreign worker influx with both hope and concern
The news last week that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government is preparing to admit up to 345,000 foreign workers by 2023 has been met with a combination of hope they will help prop up agricultural, manufacturing and service sectors that are struggling to find workers, and concern that Abe has rushed...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 15, 2018
What's in a name? Sasayama residents to decide whether to become Tamba-Sasayama
What's in a name? That's the question facing voters in Sasayama, Hyogo Prefecture, who go to the polls Sunday to cast their ballots in a mayoral election and a referendum on whether to officially change the municipality's name to Tamba-Sasayama.
JAPAN / History
Nov 10, 2018
Examining Japan's first foray into global warfare
On the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, we examine the country's role in the conflict.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 6, 2018
Climate change issues likely to be one of top points at Osaka G20 summit: Jacques Attali
Dealing with various climate change-related issues is likely to be one of the top points of discussion at the Group of 20 Leaders' Summit in Osaka next June, Jacques Attali, one of the world's most prominent nongovernmental organization leaders, said in an interview with The Japan Times on Tuesday.
JAPAN
Nov 5, 2018
Cooperation and information sharing key in disaster response, speakers tell Hiroshima workshop
Given Japan's vulnerability to natural disasters, and with accelerating climate change widely predicted to increase severe weather patterns, increased cooperation and information sharing is more important than ever to meet the needs of victims.
3D printer used to construct train station building in Japan
A train station building (front) is assembled from parts printed using 3D printer technology, in Arida, Wakayama Prefecture, on Wednesday.
Nissan says it will not take new U.S. orders for Mexican-built Infiniti SUVs
A Nissan manufacturing complex in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Nissan says it will not take new orders from the United States for two Mexican-built Infiniti SUVs following new auto tariffs levied by the U.S.
Japan digs deep to address 'national crisis' caused by Trump tariffs
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks during a news conference at the Prime Minister's Office on April 1. He has said that Japan is facing a "national crisis" following the introduction of new tariffs by the United States.
Tokyo’s KK Line to close for decadelong overhaul as public greenway
People enjoy running and yoga on Tokyo Expressway’s KK Line, a 2-kilometer elevated expressway cutting through the capital’s commercial Ginza district, when it was opened as a pedestrian space in May last year.
Japan promises 'bold and speedy' response to Trump’s surprise 24% tariffs
U.S. President Donald Trump unveils new U.S. tariffs at the White House in Washington on Wednesday.
Tottori takes a bold leap forward in the arts
The city of Kurayoshi in Tottori Prefecture celebrated the opening of its public art museum with festivities such as a parade that drew 1,000 revelers.
Haruki Murakami TV adaptation revisits 30 years of watershed moments
Though Haruki Murakami's trademark whiff of offbeat existentialism is threaded throughout NHK's "After the Quake," the final episode — conceived as a sequel to the story "Super-Frog Saves Tokyo" — is the most stylized, featuring an anthropomorphic talking frog (voiced by Non) and his erstwhile associate Katagiri (Koichi Sato).
Nintendo to launch the Switch 2 on June 5
The controllers for the Switch 2 will attach to the console magnetically rather than sliding on rails as with the original device.
A new human trafficking trend emerges from Myanmar scam centers
Victims of scam centers who were tricked or trafficked into working in Myanmar gather at a compound inside KK Park, a fraud center on the country's border with Thailand, after a multinational crackdown in February.
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.

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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