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 Eric Johnston

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Eric Johnston
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 5, 2018
Incumbent Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine falls in closely watched Okinawa election
In a political victory for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and a defeat for anti-U.S. base forces in Okinawa, incumbent Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine failed in his re-election bid Sunday night, losing to a candidate strongly backed by Abe's Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito.
JAPAN
Feb 2, 2018
Tokyo takes more steps to deal with Sanchi oil spill
Japan steps up measures to deal with what has been described as potentially one of the worst oil spills in decades before it taints Kyushu and Okinawa.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 30, 2018
Gifu election loss bad news for potential LDP challenger to Abe
The loss by a ruling party candidate in Gifu's mayoral election over the weekend has spurred speculation that the outcome may deal a blow to a potential successor to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 25, 2018
Kansai business lobby calls for new diplomatic initiatives to strengthen ties with other Asian nations
One of the Kansai region's leading business lobby groups has called for new diplomatic initiatives to strengthen Japan's relations with other Asian nations, in a bid to reduce regional tensions and consider a defense policy more independent of the present close ties to the United States.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 24, 2018
Okinawa governor expresses anger after third U.S. military helicopter makes precautionary landing in the prefecture
“The U.S. military is out of control. They can't exercise any oversight, there are no signs they will reform,” said Okinawa's governor after another American helicopter made an emergency landing.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 23, 2018
Osaka watching closely as Paris moves closer to withdrawing World Expo bid
Osaka reacted with cautious optimism as Paris moved closer to officially withdrawing its bid to host the 2025 World Expo, leaving only Osaka, Azerbaijan's Baku and Russia's Ekaterinburg in a three-way race to be decided in November by the Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions (BIE).
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 22, 2018
Osaka cautiously optimistic after French media report say Paris will pull 2025 Expo bid
Supporters of the Osaka 2025 World Expo bid have long seen Paris as their main rival.
Japan Times
JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Jan 21, 2018
Japan's Kansai region abuzz over chance to host G-20 and climate gatherings in 2019
2018 has just begun, but Osaka and Kyoto are already looking ahead to 2019, when the prospect of hosting two major international conferences has the local political and business circles excited.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 21, 2018
Fukui weighs new wave of reactors to protect status as Japan's 'nuclear capital'
With 13 commercial nuclear reactors — more than any other prefecture — Fukui has long been Japan's nuclear power capital. Prior to the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and triple core meltdown at the Fukushima No. 1 plant, Fukui's plants provided up to half of Kansai's electricity.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 20, 2018
Residents and expats in Kansai mark Trump inauguration anniversary with protest march
One year after the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, nearly 70 Kansai residents, mostly Americans and Japanese, staged a protest march over the weekend against a leader whose policies, statements and treatment of women and minorities has been internationally condemned as racist and sexist....
Japan Times
JAPAN / View from Osaka
Jan 20, 2018
Journalism tied to those in power must be checked
"If everyone is thinking alike, then no one is thinking."
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 18, 2018
Nippon Ishin no Kai leader and Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui files suit against Niigata Gov. Ryuichi Yoneyama over Twitter comments
Matsui demanded an explanation after Yoneyama made a reference on Twitter to a Nippon Ishin leader who attacks party members voicing different opinions, forcing them to be obedient.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 12, 2018
Pew survey gauges Japanese confidence in media coverage at 65%
A survey by a U.S. think tank finds the majority of Japanese think the domestic media are doing at least “somewhat well” on accuracy.
JAPAN
Jan 9, 2018
Kansai Electric denies it plans to ship nuclear waste from Fukui plants to Aomori site
Kansai Electric Power Co. has denied reports earlier this week that it was planning to ship nuclear waste from its Fukui Prefecture plants to the town of Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, after the idea was opposed by Mutsu Mayor Soichiro Miyashita.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 5, 2018
World Expo 2025: Kansai Economic Federation will open Paris office to directly promote hosting bid
The Kansai Economic Federation will open an office in Paris to directly lobby representatives who will decide the host of the World Expo 2025.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 5, 2018
Many of Japan's thousands of isles await buyers, as depopulation presents challenges around defending the nation's territory
After a slew of recent news reports about North Korean fishing vessels washing up on uninhabited islands, as well as ongoing disputes with China over the Senkaku Islands and intrusions by Chinese vessels into Japanese waters, public and media attention on Japan's uninhabited isles is growing.
JAPAN
Dec 26, 2017
Local governments in Japan look to clamp down on private lodging services with stricter regulations
With the explosion of overseas tourism, local governments are looking to curb the number of illegal outlets that have sprung up in recent years.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 25, 2017
Coast guard's Maizuru base stands on the front line of Japan's poaching and nuclear concerns
Located less than 900 kilometers from North Korea and beside Fukui Prefecture's nuclear power reactors, Japan Coast Guard's 8th Regional Headquarters in Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture, finds some of the nation's challenges close at hand.
Japan Times
JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Dec 24, 2017
Expo, casinos and shinkansen at top of Kansai's 2018 agenda
For Kansai, many of 2017's events will remain newsworthy in 2018. Here are some of the bigger topics expected to be closely followed in the region.
Japan Times
JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Dec 24, 2017
Kyoto to mark 150th anniversary of Meiji Restoration with series of events
Kyoto's long history is one of great prosperity (the Heian Period of a millennium ago, when the arts flourished) and great tragedy (the 1467-1477 Onin War devastated the city). But in more modern times, 1868 was something of an annus horribilis.

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