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 Eric Johnston

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Eric Johnston
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Mar 31, 2014
War memorials as varied as public's views
The controversial Yasukuni Shrine, a source of perennial tension between Japan and its East Asian neighbors, and the Peace Parks of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are well-known in and out of Japan as the country's representative war memorials, drawing millions of visitors each year.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 23, 2014
Hashimoto wins snap mayoral election amid record low 23.6% turnout
Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto cruises to re-election in a highly criticized snap contest that drew a weak voter turnout rate of just 23.59 percent — the city's lowest ever.
Japan Times
JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Mar 23, 2014
When it comes to tourism, image is everything
The new Osaka Government Tourism Bureau is the latest effort by a Kansai entity to re-brand itself as Japan gears up for a bigger piece of the tourism pie.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 23, 2014
'Culture creation' often easier than it looks
For all the official rhetoric about the need for Kansai's prefectures to set themselves apart from each other, let alone from the rest of the country, the local bureaucracies too often have a herd mentality when it comes to planning and promoting tourism campaigns.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 20, 2014
Lack of interest in Osaka mayoral race threatens to damage Ishin brand
While Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto is all but certain to be returned to office in Sunday's election, a lack of interest among voters and the refusal by the major political parties to field candidates threatens to make the result meaningless.
Japan Times
JAPAN / THREE YEARS AFTER 3/11
Mar 7, 2014
Illegal nuclear dumping in Shiga raises alarms
The illegal dumping in Takashima, Shiga Prefecture, of 300 tons of radioactive wood chips along a river sets off alarm bells.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 6, 2014
U.S. lawmaker pushes Japan to treat 'comfort women' as human rights issue
A key U.S. congressman who is pressing the Japanese government to issue a thorough apology for the wartime 'comfort women' system urges Tokyo to view the matter as a human rights issue, not as a political spat between nations.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 27, 2014
'Comfort women' statues spur debate
In the northern Los Angeles suburb of Glendale, population 192,000, sits a public park with a simple statue that has become a lightning rod in the brewing political storm among the United States, Japan and South Korea over the past few months.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 25, 2014
Okinawa assembly probes why Nakaima reversed base stance
A special investigative committee of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly met last week and early this week to determine why Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima reversed his campaign pledge to get U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma moved outside Okinawa.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Feb 23, 2014
Final season for 'Toru Hashimoto Show'?
Is the Osaka political drama revolving around “third force” failure Toru Hashimoto entering its final season?
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Feb 23, 2014
'Warring States' turmoil alive and well
Japanese historians date the Warring States Period roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. But when it comes to Kansai politics, modern observers could be forgiven for thinking the ancient feuds and jealous rivalries of the regional lords are not yet over.
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 21, 2014
Nippon Ishin to stay out of mayor poll
Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) will officially stay out of the March 23 Osaka mayoral snap election, which its co-leader, Mayor Toru Hashimoto, forced earlier this month after he resigned to protest opposition in the municipal assembly toward merging Osaka's municipal and prefectural governments...
JAPAN / View from Osaka
Feb 15, 2014
Leave Article 9 alone: New Komeito's Osaka women
Political alliances often resemble shotgun weddings. But Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and smaller opposition forces such as Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto's Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) that are pushing to amend the Constitution are now wondering...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 10, 2014
Kennedy to pay highly anticipated visit to Okinawa
U.S. Ambassador Caroline Kennedy arrives in Okinawa Tuesday for a highly anticipated visit that will center on the U.S. military presence and the unpopular relocation of a Marine base within the prefecture.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 7, 2014
Hashimoto submits resignation to assembly
Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto formally submitted his resignation Friday to the head of the municipal assembly, setting the stage for a snap election in mid or late March.
BUSINESS
Feb 7, 2014
More female execs urged in Kansai
An annual gathering of Kansai's corporate leaders closed Friday with calls to strengthen the role of women in society.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 4, 2014
Hashimoto may face only a JCP candidate in election
Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto may run against only a Japanese Communist Party candidate in the snap election he forced by announcing his resignation Monday, while tensions between his Osaka Ishin no Kai (One Osaka) group and its coalition partner, New Komeito, escalate over the future of his Osaka integration...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 3, 2014
Hashimoto calls snap poll
Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto formally announces he will resign and stand again in an election in March to gain support for a referendum on whether to integrate Osaka.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Feb 2, 2014
Hashimoto's costly comeback bid vexes voters
Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto's surprise resignation and second mayoral bid is greeted with criticism and concern in the city and prefecture.
JAPAN
Jan 29, 2014
Women's rights NGO says Momii must resign
A group that sued NHK over Japan's “comfort women” is calling on its new chairman to resign for his comment that “all countries” had similar wartime systems.

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