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 Eric Johnston

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Eric Johnston
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 10, 2018
In flood-hit area of Okayama, residents shocked by scale of destruction
Residents were digging out a mud-caked area of Okayama Prefecture on Tuesday, as floodwaters from last week's record rainfall receded to reveal broad swaths of devastation.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 9, 2018
After deadly flooding, traumatized Hiroshima wakes to blue skies, starts getting life back in order
Hiroshima residents start the grim task of cleaning up from the horrific flooding and landslides.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 7, 2018
Tourists visiting western Japan stranded amid flood warnings and canceled trains
Japan's ancient capital braced itself for further rain Saturday night amid concerns about rising rivers, while canceled bullet trains due to severe rain and flooding in western Japan left tourists stranded and scrambling to find alternative routes.
JAPAN
Jul 6, 2018
At least eight dead, 46 missing as record heavy rainfall continues to pound western, central parts of nation
Record heavy rainfall continued to pound western and central parts of the nation Saturday, leaving at least eight people dead and 46 others missing due to landslides and swollen rivers, according to the the Meteorological Agency.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 5, 2018
Overcrowded site and packed buses main complaints of Kyoto tourists as visits hit record levels
The city of Kyoto once again saw record levels of tourists in 2017, with 15.57 million foreign and Japanese visitors spending at least one night in the former capital, city officials said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jun 26, 2018
Gov. Ichiro Matsui works to distribute donations more quickly for those affected by Osaka earthquake
Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui is working to hand out donations quickly to those affected by the June 18 earthquake in northern Osaka Prefecture that killed five and injured over 400.
JAPAN
Jun 25, 2018
Ocean pollution crisis on agenda for next year's G20 summit in Osaka, Yoshihide Suga says
With worldwide concern and political attention rapidly growing over the plastic garbage polluting the world's oceans, Japan has said it will put the environmental crisis on the agenda when it hosts next year's Group of 20 talks, including the leaders' summit in Osaka.
JAPAN
Jun 25, 2018
Kyoto ramps up crackdown on illegal P2P lodging after sluggish start to minpaku law
Police and city officials on Monday agreed to increase closures of illegal private lodging facilities just 10 days after a new national law restricting their operation took effect.
JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Jun 24, 2018
Osaka gears up for final stage of 2025 World Expo bid
With less than five months to go until the host of the 2025 World Expo is decided, Osaka is gearing up for a final push that will include efforts to raise local enthusiasm and draw international attention with financial incentives for countries that can't afford to attend the event.
JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Jun 24, 2018
Kansai entities team up on U.N. development goals as Japan angles for World Expo
When the Group of 20 summit takes place in Osaka a year from now, the bulk of media reporting and commentary will no doubt emphasize what the presidents and prime ministers say about the international financial or geopolitical crisis of the moment, and what dramas are taking place among world leaders...
JAPAN
Jun 19, 2018
Takatsuki residents mourn death of 9-year-old girl, as cleanup in quake-hit Kansai continues
The tributes came as life in the city appeared to be improving on Tuesday with train lines resuming operation.
JAPAN
Jun 18, 2018
At least four killed, more than 300 injured after strong earthquake rattles Osaka
One of the most powerful earthquakes to rock the Kansai region in decades struck Osaka and neighboring prefectures Monday morning, leaving at least four people dead and more than 300 injured.
JAPAN / View from Osaka
Jun 16, 2018
Osaka floats out-of-box thinking for ties with North
Though it remains to be seen how history will judge the June 12 summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, present Japanese and Western views across the political spectrum are generally either skeptical of North Korea's sincerity in honoring any agreement or of America's...
JAPAN
Jun 14, 2018
Osaka makes final pitch to host 2025 World Expo
Osaka made its final pitch Wednesday in Paris to host the 2025 World Expo, emphasizing the Kansai region's history as a center of Nobel-prize winning scientific research and telling expo delegates that the central government is willing to spend ¥24 billion to ensure 100 countries are able to participate...
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jun 11, 2018
If Niigata gubernatorial race was a litmus test, Abe and Nikai passed
In a tight contest with implications for Abe's political fortunes and nuclear power policy, Hideyo Hanazumi beat Chikako Ikeda, who had the support of five major opposition parties.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 10, 2018
Victory of LDP-backed candidate in Niigata gubernatorial race likely to give boost to Abe and key ally
A ruling-party supported candidate wins the Niigata gubernatorial election, providing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and one of his key Liberal Democratic Party allies with a big morale boost in the midst of ongoing Diet scandals.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 6, 2018
Airbnb drops nearly 80 percent of its private home listings ahead of new peer-to-peer rental law
Just over a week before a new law for minpaku goes into effect, rental website Airbnb has dropped nearly 80 percent of its listings for the services in three months.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 1, 2018
Issue of abandoned land slowing rural development in Japan
Nestled in the mountains on the border of Hiroshima and Okayama prefectures is Takahashi, a city of about 31,000 people which lies 30 minutes by train from the popular international tourist destination of Kurashiki.
JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
May 27, 2018
Osaka frets over illegal minpaku ahead of G-20 summit
Imagine a headline splashing out news of tourists being killed by a fire at an illegal short-term lodging facility during the Group of 20 leaders' summit in Japan.
JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
May 27, 2018
Wakayama's governor all-in on casino resort bet
After the Diet finally approves legislation setting the rules on integrated casino resort complexes, the race to win one of the first three casinos will quickly heat up. And nowhere is the competition becoming more intense than in Kansai.

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