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 Eric Johnston

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Eric Johnston
JAPAN
Mar 13, 2011
Basic nuclear policy questioned
OSAKA — Severe damage to the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant had the central government and local authorities in neighboring towns racing Saturday to evacuate residents and implement previously agreed upon emergency response measures.
JAPAN
Mar 11, 2011
Senators irked by the lack of base progress
OSAKA — A key U.S. senator involved in Japan relations said Wednesday evening the appointment of Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto comes at a critical moment for both countries.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Mar 1, 2011
Latest volcano show: Shinmoe
OSAKA — In late January, Mount Shinmoe, one of a cluster of volcanoes on a mountain range straddling Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures, woke back up.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 12, 2011
Long honeymoon over for Hashimoto
OSAKA — Three years into his first term, Osaka Gov. Toru Hashimoto continues to enjoy some of the highest ratings of any politician, with media polls showing 70 to 80 percent of the electorate approve of his job performance.
BUSINESS
Feb 11, 2011
Kansai biz chiefs call for TPP entry, more investment
KYOTO — Kansai's corporate leaders concluded their annual seminar Thursday by calling on Prime Minister Naoto Kan's government to swiftly join the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade agreement, and for increased investment in infrastructure projects they say are necessary for the region to compete...
BUSINESS
Feb 10, 2011
Kansai seeks to up profile in Asia
KYOTO — Kansai's annual gathering of corporate leaders kicked off Wednesday in Kyoto with calls for young people to go abroad and for the region's identity to be strengthened within Asia.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Feb 8, 2011
Victors bask after political hat trick
OSAKA — At an October reception in central Nagoya for delegates to the U.N. COP10 meeting on biodiversity, Mayor Takashi Kawamura seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself. As he was leaving, his face flushed red, he suddenly broke into English, singing the gospel classic "We Shall Overcome" but...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 7, 2011
Kawamura, Omura win in elections
OSAKA — Riding a wave of populist support and local voter discontent with party politics, Nagoya voters returned former Mayor Takashi Kawamura to office Sunday night and elected his ally Hideaki Omura as governor of Aichi Prefecture.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 2, 2011
Kyoto plan to boost visitors with aquarium irks locals
KYOTO — The ancient capital of Kyoto, already a major tourist destination, is moving forward with plans to further boost the number of domestic and international visitors.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 20, 2011
Governor pitches cash for TOEFL-sharp Osaka schools
OSAKA — Osaka Gov. Toru Hashimoto plans to offer a total of ¥500 million to high schools whose students score highest on the Test of English as a Foreign Language to boost competition and raise the level of language proficiency.
Japan Times
JAPAN / AT JAPAN'S EXPENSE
Jan 5, 2011
Trade pacts one thing, immigrant labor another
Fourth in a series
JAPAN
Jan 4, 2011
Sea Shepherd hurt hunt, Japan urged audit: cables
OSAKA — Japan admitted to the United States that actions by the activist group Sea Shepherd had curtailed its annual whale hunt but opposed Washington's efforts to have it politically engage fellow whaling nation Iceland to reduce its catch, WikiLeaks cables revealed Monday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Dec 14, 2010
Is prefectural alliance a step toward superstates?
OSAKA — After years of planning, a regional alliance of seven prefectures was created earlier this year and held its first meeting this month.
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Nov 30, 2010
Nakaima victory helps Kan, U.S.
NAHA, Okinawa Pref. — The re-election of Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima on Sunday is a much-needed victory for Prime Minister Naoto Kan's government, which clearly wanted him to win, and the United States, who saw his opponent as a threat to the entire U.S. military presence in the prefecture.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 29, 2010
Okinawa sticks with Nakaima
NAGO, Okinawa Pref. — Okinawa voters decided to stay the course and hope for better economic times by re-electing incumbent Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima, 71, to a second term Sunday night.
JAPAN
Nov 28, 2010
Nakaima, Iha make last pitches in Okinawa gubernatorial race
NAHA, Okinawa Pref. — The candidates for the Okinawa gubernatorial election spent their final day on the campaign trial Saturday, telling voters their ballots represent a referendum not only on the prefecture's future, but also the future of Prime Minister Naoto Kan's government and Japan's military...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 23, 2010
Japan hand Chalmers Johnson dead at 79
OSAKA — American author and scholar Chalmers Johnson, whose views on postwar Japan angered American academics and Japan experts in the late 1980s but influenced a generation of students studying the country, died Saturday in California at age 79.
JAPAN
Nov 7, 2010
Chinese, Russian finance chiefs snub APEC meeting in Kyoto
KYOTO — Just days before the leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum gather in Yokohama, Japan's worsening relations with two of the bloc's members threatened to overshadow the APEC finance ministers' summit in Kyoto on Friday and Saturday.
JAPAN
Nov 7, 2010
Protesters call for end to APEC meets
KYOTO — Japanese opposed to the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum meetings rallied in Kyoto on Saturday to call for ending them, saying they have done nothing more than increase the gap between the poor and the wealthy.
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Oct 31, 2010
Deal called biggest since '97 Kyoto pact
NAGOYA — Nearly two decades after its creation, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity has finally realized one of its main goals.

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