Eric Johnston - The Japan Times

JAPAN / History

Mar 27, 2018

Tsushima Island was key conduit of Japan's Edo Period trade with Korea

Japan's historic relationship with the Korean Peninsula has often been complicated by mutual misunderstanding and distrust, if not outright hostility. But on Tsushima, a Japanese island off the coast of the peninsula, efforts are being made to celebrate long-ago diplomatic missions with Korea that took...

JAPAN

Mar 27, 2018

Amid tourism rise, Tsushima Island could play evacuation role if tensions flare with North Korea

Within sight of the bright lights and bustling beaches of Busan, sleepy Tsushima Island has little in common with its neighbor located a mere 50 kilometers north, but the island of about 31,000 people has recently become a hot spot for South Korean tourists.

JAPAN / Politics / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE

Mar 25, 2018

Kyoto gubernatorial race puts focus on demographic and economic challenges to come

Faced with a rapidly aging society and a growing socioeconomic gap between its prosperous capital and the rest of the prefecture, Kyoto voters go to the polls April 8 to choose a new governor who will be either a well-connected insider or a complete outsider.

JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE

Mar 25, 2018

Osaka begins prep for largest international gathering in decades

With the summit for the Group of 20 advanced and emerging economies coming to Osaka next year, preparations are underway to host the largest international gathering the city has seen in over two decades.

JAPAN / Politics

Mar 23, 2018

Kagoike certain Akie Abe spoke favorably to him about Moritomo land deal, lawmakers say after detention visit

Politicians pay a visit to the former head of Moritomo Gakuen to ascertain what Akie Abe knew and said about his school's nifty land deal with the government.

JAPAN / Politics / View from Osaka

Mar 17, 2018

Moritomo scandal threatens Osaka leaders too

"A man once thoroughly endued with these three qualities of lying, impudence, and ingratitude will, I believe, scarce want any other titles to preferment and grandeur." — Henry Fielding, from a satirical article on the traits of successful politicians, 1740

JAPAN

Mar 15, 2018

Foreign tourists set new record for hotel stays in Kyoto, with most visiting from China

A survey of 36 major Kyoto city hotels showed that foreigners accounted for 40.5 percent of their total guests in 2017, the highest figure recorded since the survey began in 2014.

JAPAN / 3/11: Rebuilding Tohoku

Mar 11, 2018

Fukushima powers toward 100% goal on renewables as grid and cost woes linger

Seven years after the triple meltdown at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, Fukushima Prefecture remains committed to becoming an international center for renewable-energy research and a domestic pioneer by meeting 100 percent of its energy demand via renewables by 2040.

JAPAN / Politics

Mar 6, 2018

Osaka pushing life sciences and wellness in 2025 Expo bid

Hosting the 2025 World Expo is an opportunity to showcase Osaka and Kansai-based research and technological advancements geared toward taking head-on global issues, such as those that come with an aging society, Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui said in a recent exclusive interview with The Japan Times.

JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE

Feb 25, 2018

Kyoto executives consider making nightlife in Kyoto more tourist-friendly

As residents and tourists in Kyoto complain more about higher prices, hotel shortages and crowds at train stations, shrines and temples, Kansai's corporate leaders are searching for ways to keep visitors coming.

JAPAN / Politics

Feb 25, 2018

Second try at Osaka merger referendum faces stiff headwinds

Political group Osaka Ishin plans to give the unpopular consolidation plan another go despite multiple uncertainties.

JAPAN

Feb 19, 2018

Japan falling behind global leaders in renewable energy use, panel warns in report

Japan is falling behind other leading countries in renewable energy use, while its promotion of coal-fired plants risks hindering the competitiveness of domestic firms in a global market more concerned than ever about carbon emissions.

JAPAN / View from Osaka

Feb 17, 2018

Kansai executives offer advice on improving nation's diplomacy

'Track II diplomacy" is the official neutral-sounding phrase used to refer to diplomatic efforts by "nonstate" actors. In thriller films and books, it's usually portrayed as a game of shadows between powerful but mysterious groups and individuals who may, or may not, be working to save the world.

JAPAN

Feb 14, 2018

Shimane Prefecture group delivers petition to Gov. Zenbei Mizoguchi opposing restart of Matsue reactor

A Shimane Prefecture-based citizens group delivered a petition signed by nearly 48,000 people opposed to the restart of a local nuclear reactor to Gov. Zenbei Mizoguchi on Tuesday.

BUSINESS

Feb 9, 2018

Kansai business leaders seek nationwide support for World Expo bid

Kansai-area corporate leaders urged the local business community on Friday to boost efforts to promote Osaka's bid to host the World Expo 2025, and called on Tokyo to be more involved in the process.

JAPAN / Politics

Feb 5, 2018

Election victory in Nago seen as LDP win but new mayor may prove tough to crack

Sunday's victory in the Nago mayoral election by a candidate who appears to favor the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to the city's Henoko district is widely seen as a political victory for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and a defeat for anti-base advocates in Okinawa, starting with Gov....

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 / 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.

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