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 Eric Johnston

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Eric Johnston
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 7, 2017
Kinki finance staff met with Osaka officials five times to hash out Moritomo's school application
The Osaka Prefectural Government announced Thursday that staff from the Finance Ministry's Kinki Local Finance Bureau met with its officials five times over 16 months to discuss scandal-plagued Moritomo Gakuen's application to open a new elementary school, placing pressure on officials in the final meeting...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 4, 2017
Task force looks into minimizing social cost of casinos
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe kicked off the inaugural meeting Tuesday of a government task force that will make recommendations on licensing and operating integrated resorts with casinos.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 31, 2017
Osaka investigators search Moritomo Gakuen over dubious cost estimates
The Osaka Prefectural Government sends investigators to search the headquarters of nationalist school entity Moritomo Gakuen for evidence of fraud regarding subsidies for a new elementary school.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 29, 2017
Plans to scrap reactors on hold as NRA raises concerns over nuclear waste
The Nuclear Regulation Authority on Wednesday postponed a decision on whether to approve decommissioning plans for five old reactors, raising questions about whether deadlines for scrapping the units can be met.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 28, 2017
U.S. Supreme Court refuses to review challenge to California 'comfort women' statue
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear a case calling for the removal of a "comfort women" statue in California, ending a three-year legal challenge brought by U.S. plaintiffs supported by the Japanese government.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 28, 2017
Takahama reactors may soon restart after court overturns injunction
The Osaka High Court overturned an injunction issued against the restart of Kansai Electric Power Co.'s No. 3 and No. 4 reactors at its Takahama facility in Fukui Prefecture.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 27, 2017
Abe rejects calls for wife to testify in Diet on Moritomo land scandal
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe rejected more calls from the opposition Monday for his wife, Akie, to testify before the Diet over whether she offered a ¥1 million donation to Osaka-based private school operator Moritomo Gakuen, saying it was unnecessary.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 26, 2017
Moritomo Gakuen scandal another history Japan's nationalists may wish to rewrite
It began as a dream. Conservatives and nationalists, angry at what they saw as a public education system that taught a self-denigrating, incorrect view of Japan's 20th century history and upset at social changes they felt had led to a loss of respect among children for Japan's traditional values and...
Japan Times
JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Mar 26, 2017
Timing, like finances, everything for Osaka's new rail links
Shinkansen, route, Osaka, Kyoto, Kanazawa, train
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 25, 2017
Matsui takes jab at Abe's explanations as school land scandal closes in
Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui accuses Prime Minister Abe of being deceptive in denying that a tacit agreement on a nationalist school existed between him and the head of Moritomo Gakuen.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 23, 2017
Kagoike links Osaka governor, Diet members to widening land scandal, says employees knew about alleged Abe donation
Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui and three current and former Osaka Diet members were named by Moritomo Gakuen head Yasunori Kagoike on Thursday as being involved in a shady land deal that has shaken the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Osaka's relationship with the ruling coalition.
Japan Times
JAPAN / View from Osaka
Mar 18, 2017
Moritomo scandal delivers an education in Japanese politics
"Our subjects ever united in loyalty and filial piety have from generation to generation illustrated the beauty thereof. This is the glory of the fundamental character of Our Empire, and herein also lies the source of Our education."
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 16, 2017
Abe donated to new Moritomo school, Kagoike claims
The head of scandal-tainted Moritomo Gakuen, Yasunori Kagoike, told a delegation of Diet members that he received a donation from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 15, 2017
War of words erupts between Inada and head of Osaka school operator
Defense Minister Tomomi Inada faced a barrage of questions over her relationship with Moritomo Gakuen, as a war of words erupted between her and the wife of the controversial school operator.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 14, 2017
Akie Abe's connection with Moritomo Gakuen scandal puts role of Japan's first lady under spotlight
Is the wife of a prime minister a public official who should be subject to legislative rules and bureaucratic regulations on her activities, or a private citizen who shouldn't be held accountable over the political impact of her activities?
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 13, 2017
Pressure continues to mount on Moritomo Gakuen chief
Pressure on Yasunori Kagoike, head of scandal-plagued Moritomo Gakuen, in the Diet and in Osaka Prefecture showed no sign of abating Monday even though he withdrew his application to open a new elementary school and indicated last week he would resign.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 10, 2017
Moritomo Gakuen head to resign, withdraw controversial school application
Moritomo Gakuen President Yasunori Kagoike announced his intention to resign Friday after telling Osaka Prefecture that he was withdrawing an application to approve the opening of a new elementary school.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 9, 2017
On-site investigation at Moritomo Gakuen suddenly cut short; new fraud claims emerge
Thursday night visit by prefectural officials shut down when the school's staff allegedly interfered with the investigation.
JAPAN
Mar 8, 2017
Japan's border islands to get ¥5 billion boon for tourism, defense
The government has earmarked ¥5 billion in increased economic assistance to 71 islands off the coast of eight prefectures, as concerns over declining populations are compounded by recurring intrusions into sovereign territory by foreign vessels.
JAPAN
Mar 7, 2017
Moritomo Gakuen overstated school construction costs in ministry filing, records show
Moritomo Gakuen, under fire for a questionable land deal with the government, vastly overstated construction costs for a new elementary school in paperwork submitted to the land ministry, records show.

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