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 Eric Johnston

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Eric Johnston
JAPAN / History
Apr 29, 2017
Power politics: Japan's most popular political platforms
Looking back at some of the political platforms that have been heavily endorsed by voters over the past century in a bid to predict where the country might be headed under the 'third generation' of postwar Japanese.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 27, 2017
Mystery deepens over Moritomo land deal as recording with Finance Ministry emerges
The shadowy Moritomo Gakuen scandal takes a new twist after a recording of the land negotiations between its former chief and the Finance Ministry emerges.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 26, 2017
Abe-Putin summit in Russia to spotlight territorial dispute and North Korean threat
From North Korea to scallops, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin have a wide range of items on their agenda when they meet Thursday in Moscow.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 24, 2017
Japan gets real: what to do when the 10-minute missile warning comes
With fears growing that North Korea could hold a nuclear or missile test, officials nationwide respond to a government request to provide information on what to do in the event Japan is targeted.
Japan Times
JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Apr 23, 2017
Kansai leaders grope for ways to keep regional population stable amid projected slide
A projection showing that Japan's population could fall from 127.09 million in 2015 to 88.08 million by 2065 has pushed Kansai leaders harder for more policies and funding to increase the local birthrate, keep younger people from leaving and protect the growing ranks of the elderly.
Japan Times
JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Apr 23, 2017
In collaboration with Starbucks, Kobe brews a renewable energy source
Coffee drinkers in Kobe who are wondering what they can do to help the environment and support local renewable energy projects might consider heading to a Starbucks.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Apr 17, 2017
Japan's private schools fill a niche but at a cost
The saga of scandal-plagued, Osaka-based Moritomo Gakuen, which advocated a nationalist education, has thrown the spotlight on private educational institutions in Japan and how they are operated.
JAPAN / View from Osaka
Apr 15, 2017
The real Moritomo Gakuen story is clear as mud
"If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything." — Mark Twain
JAPAN
Apr 14, 2017
North Korean-run schools fall victim to Tokyo-Pyongyang tensions as funding dries up
As tensions between Tokyo and Pyongyang mount, prefectures begin cutting funding to North Korean-run schools in Japan under a new ministry directive.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 13, 2017
Aspiring Tsuruga's tourism drive hindered by nuclear image
Officials in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, attempting to promote their city as a tourist destination, received a rude shock recently when a survey showed its image was less one of natural beauty and fresh seafood and more one of being a center for nuclear power.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 11, 2017
Cabinet gives the greenlight to Osaka's 2025 World Expo bid proposal
Osaka's bid to host the 2025 World Exposition earned a stamp of approval from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government Tuesday.
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
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
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
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 / 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
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 / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Mar 26, 2017
Timing, like finances, everything for Osaka's new rail links
Shinkansen, route, Osaka, Kyoto, Kanazawa, train

Longform

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