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April 06, 2025
 

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Eric Johnston

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Eric Johnston
JAPAN / Politics
May 24, 2018
Nuclear policy in focus as campaign begins in Niigata governor race
The Niigata governor's race kicked off Thursday with the future of the prefecture's nuclear power plants taking center stage ahead of the June 10 election. The vote is also seen as a test for how voters view the various scandals surrounding Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Japan Times
JAPAN / View from Osaka
May 19, 2018
Osaka putting the 'cart before the horse' with 2025 expo bid
In early May, Osaka Mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura traveled to South Africa to attend a Japan-Africa economic meeting and chat up Osaka's efforts to host the 2025 World Expo. At the gathering were representatives from dozens of African countries, though it is not clear how many actually had earnest talks with...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 16, 2018
Bill tackling problem gamblers submitted to Lower House to clear way for casinos
The ruling LDP-led coalition along with the nominal opposition party Nippon Ishin no Kai submitted a bill to the Lower House on Wednesday to establish new policies for dealing with problem gamblers.
CULTURE / Books / RECENTLY PUBLISHED BOOKS ABOUT JAPAN
May 12, 2018
'Ask A North Korean' gets its answers from the source
Daniel Tudor's 'Ask A North Korean' is testimony that ordinary North Koreans have more in common with the rest of us than many would have you believe.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 6, 2018
Place your bets: Local governments in Japan weigh the benefits of applying for a casino license
As North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stepped over the border of the demilitarized zone in Panmunjom for a historic summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on April 27, a group of local politicians and international business leaders meeting in Osaka hailed another milestone moment reached that same...
JAPAN
Apr 27, 2018
Cabinet approval of casino bill welcomed in Osaka by politicians and international casino operators
The Cabinet's approval of a casino bill draws praise from Osaka politicians and casino moguls eager to open Japan's first legal gambling dens.
JAPAN
Apr 26, 2018
Osaka governor says casino resort could open by fiscal 2023
Despite a tight construction schedule, political problems in Tokyo and local concerns over funding, Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui said the prefecture could have one of Japan's first casino resorts up and running on an island in Osaka Bay nearly two years before it hopes to host the 2025 World Expo at the...
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Apr 23, 2018
Tourists, take note: As drones multiply in Japan, so do rules governing where they can be flown
Make a trip to any major electronics store today and you're bound to find a section selling drones. Once little more than toys for enthusiasts, today's commercially available drones come in all shapes and sizes and are used for all sorts of purposes, with prices ranging from thousands to hundreds of...
Japan Times
JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Apr 22, 2018
For foreign nationals over 150 years ago, Kyoto’s Fushimi was end of the line
Just before reaching Chushojima Station on the Keihan Line heading into Kyoto from Osaka, or just after crossing the Uji River on the almost parallel Kintetsu train that runs between Kyoto and Nara, two towers that look old and of European design flash briefly into view before disappearing among the...
JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Apr 22, 2018
Security issues worry Osaka residents ahead of 2019 G-20 summit
Beginning this month, both the city of Osaka and the prefecture began preparations to host next year's Group of Twenty leaders' summit, with political and business leaders forming task forces to help with local assistance and promotional efforts prior to the event.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 14, 2018
Scandal-hit Abe moves to shore up base in Osaka ahead of LDP presidential election
Abe told members of the LDP's Osaka chapter Friday evening that he is opposed to a plan to merge the city's 24 wards.
JAPAN / View from Osaka
Apr 14, 2018
'Safe, secure and stable' mantra a winner at the polls
"The people all said, 'Sit down, sit down, you're rockin' the boat.'"
JAPAN
Apr 13, 2018
Britain to have three warships in Japan by year's end, envoy Mark Field says
Two more British warships will join a Royal Navy frigate in Japan by the end of the year to help enforce sanctions on North Korea, while plans are underway for British ground troops to conduct an exercise with their Japanese counterparts to assist in an international effort to enforce sanctions on Pyongyang,...
JAPAN
Apr 10, 2018
Japan's former chief negotiator for talks on North Korea warns that U.S. lacks expertise on Pyongyang
As discussions continue over when and where a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will take place, Japan's former chief negotiator for multilateral talks aimed at ending the North's nuclear program on Tuesday warned that the current U.S. administration has virtually...
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 8, 2018
Nishiwaki triumphs in Kyoto gubernatorial race, vows to continue policies of predecessor
Kyoto voters cast their ballots for the status quo and closer relations with Tokyo on Sunday, electing a candidate with strong ties to the central government who promised to continue the policies of the previous governor and who was backed by all major political parties except the Japanese Communist...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 5, 2018
Kyoto turns to crowdfunding to maintain lesser known cultural assets
In an effort to get younger people more involved with preserving Kyoto's traditional culture, a local heritage association has begun a crowdfunding campaign that seeks small, individual donations for the repair of temples, shrines and cultural assets.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 2, 2018
2019 G-20 summit to be held on June 28-29, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga announced
The 2019 Group of 20 leaders' summit in Osaka will take place on June 28 and 29, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga announced Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 2, 2018
Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui eyes second referendum on merger plan during nationwide elections in 2019
Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui announced Monday that a second referendum on whether to merge Osaka's wards might be held during the nationwide local elections in April 2019, six months later than the governor and his supporters originally hoped for.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 2, 2018
Assemblies from Niigata to Tottori criticize handling of Moritomo probe as threat to democracy
Municipal and prefectural politicians are calling the document-tampering scandal a threat to Japan's democracy and ratcheting up calls for key figures to testify in the Diet.
JAPAN
Mar 29, 2018
Kyoto University says no to military-related research despite spike in Defense Ministry funding
In fiscal 2017, the Defense Ministry allotted u00a511 billion for military technology-related research, an 18-fold increase over the previous fiscal year.
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.
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
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