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 Eric Johnston

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Eric Johnston
Reporters gather in front of the Upper House parliamentary building on Thursday in Tokyo. Prosecutors raided LDP lawmaker Yasutada Ono's office, which is located in the building, the same day.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Dec 28, 2023
Second LDP member’s office raided over political funds scandal
Upper House member Yasutada Ono became the second lawmaker to have his offices searched by prosecutors in connection with the scandal.
Tokyo prosecutors raid lawmaker Yoshitaka Ikeda's office in Nagoya on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 27, 2023
Prosecutors raid LDP lawmaker's home and offices over unreported funds
Prosecutors entered Yoshitaka Ikeda's Tokyo and Nagoya offices on suspicion that he violated the Political Funds Control Law.
Former education minister Kisaburo Tokai, who has been tapped as Liberal Democratic Party policy chief, speaks to reporters Thursday at the Prime Minister's Office.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 21, 2023
Kishida makes more LDP leadership changes in bid to restore trust
The changes come a week after he dismissed four key members of his Cabinet who were also Abe faction members suspected of receiving unreported funds.
Prosecutors head to the office of the Liberal Democratic Party faction led by former Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 19, 2023
Prosecutors search sites linked to scandal-hit LDP factions
Prosecutors searched the biggest faction, once led by late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and another led by former LDP Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai.
Salmon on sale in Sapporo on Dec. 1. The region has been hit hard by a Chinese ban on Japanese seafood products following the release into the ocean of treated, tritium-laced water from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
JAPAN / Society / Regional Voices: Hokkaido
Dec 15, 2023
Hokkaido to face issues around Rapidus, seafood and '2024 problem'
An influx of foreign residents is expected in Chitose, while China's ban on marine products continues to hurt the region.
Incoming Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi arrives at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 14, 2023
Kishida axes Abe faction members from government over funds scandal
In replacing nearly a dozen ministers and officials, the prime minister is attempting to contain the worst crisis of his administration so far.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno attend a Cabinet meeting in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 8, 2023
Kishida walks tightrope after new funds allegations against Matsuno
The top government spokesperson is believed to have received kickbacks from his faction totaling more than ¥10 million over the last five years.
Osaka's Yumeshima island in November
JAPAN / Society
Dec 5, 2023
Osaka Expo woes weigh on city's casino resort project
Given the logistical and timing issues facing the expo, there are concerns over whether the casino resort can be built on schedule.
Construction is underway at the venue for the 2025 Osaka Expo on Yumeshima, a man-made island, in the city of Osaka on Monday.
JAPAN / Society
Nov 29, 2023
Russia becomes latest country to pull out of Osaka Expo
The announcement is more bad news for the troubled event, which already faces pavilion construction delays, skyrocketing costs and little public support.
With COP28 taking place during a year set to be the hottest on record, the need for more progress has never been greater.
JAPAN / Society
Nov 29, 2023
Japan's relationship with coal likely to be in focus at COP28
With the climate talks taking place during a year set to be the hottest on record, the need for more progress has never been greater.
Newly elected Yawata Mayor Shoko Kawata (right) receives flowers at city hall on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 22, 2023
LDP and CDP join forces against Nippon Ishin in local elections
While such coordination isn't uncommon, in the past it has generally been aimed at beating candidates from the Japanese Communist Party.
Tunnel construction for the Hokkaido Shinkansen has proved slow in some areas due to geological reasons and the difficulty of blasting through the earth.
JAPAN / Society / Regional Voices: Hokkaido
Nov 20, 2023
Tight labor market puts Hokkaido Shinkansen 2030 goal in doubt
The 212-kilometer route now under construction will link cities between Hakodate, at the southern tip of the prefecture, and Sapporo.
Ichiro Ozawa (third from right) with other members of parliament at a ceremony to launch a new party in Tokyo in July 2012.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 15, 2023
Ichiro Ozawa is once again looking for a way to defeat the LDP
The octogenarian political veteran is looking to cap his long career with another successful drive to defeat the ruling LDP at the polls.
State Minister of Finance Kenji Kanda (left) and Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki attend an Upper House session in Tokyo on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 13, 2023
State minister of finance resigns in further blow to Kishida
Kenji Kanda submitted his resignation after admitting that his firm had failed to pay fixed asset taxes.
Hiroyuki Hosoda is elected as Lower House Speaker in November 2021.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 10, 2023
Former Lower House speaker and LDP heavyweight Hiroyuki Hosoda dies
The seasoned lawmaker served in key posts in the government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, including as chief Cabinet secretary.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishda speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 9, 2023
Kishida rules out snap election amid record low popularity
The prime minister has once again ruled out a snap election as he faces record low popularity ratings and growing criticism from within his own party.
Land Minister Tetsuo Saito (center right) visits Yumeshima, the venue for the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Japan Expo, on Nov. 3.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 9, 2023
Troubled 2025 Osaka Expo could see further cost increases
Amid numerous challenges, Osaka officials hope no further discussions on increasing the budget of the troubled event will be needed.
Former Prime Minister Naoto Kan celebrates on Oct. 23, 2017, after prevailing in a close race in a single-seat constituency in Tokyo in a general election the previous day, winning on the ticket of the then-newly created Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 3, 2023
With Naoto Kan's exit from the CDP, some see a generational shift
The exit of the former prime minister, a high-profile figure and political veteran from the CDP’s liberal wing, comes at a time of change for the party.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida replies to questions at Friday's budget committee session at the Diet in Tokyo.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 27, 2023
Amid scrutiny, Kishida emphasizes tax cuts to pull out from deflation
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan has heavily criticized the government for its belated response to rising inflation.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida listens as Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan chief Kenta Izumi speaks in parliament in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 24, 2023
Tough questions for Kishida in parliament over spending plans
Japan’s main opposition party began its scrutiny of Kishida's economic stimulus package as the country struggles with inflation and stagnant wages.

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