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November 22, 2024
 

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Mizuho Aoki
Mizuho Aoki is a staff writer covering local news, including the current Tokyo gubernatorial race, education and aviation-related stories. She graduated from Hitotsubashi Universty with a degree in social science.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 16, 2015
Lower House passes security bills amid protests
Tens of thousands of angry voters in the streets. Opinion polls recording deep-seated public unease.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 15, 2015
Amid angry scenes, ruling parties force security bills through Lower House committee
A special Diet committee has sign off on legislation that would expand the scope of Self-Defense Forces' missions overseas, setting the stage for a vote in the Lower House.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 10, 2015
Ishin, DPJ press ruling coalition to amend security bills ahead of Lower House vote
With passage of the government's national security bills through the Lower House coming into sight, deliberations on counterproposals submitted by the two largest opposition parties kicked off Friday at a special Lower House committee, in parallel with the state-sponsored legislation.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 8, 2015
Ruling bloc restates intention to plow security bills through Diet
The political storm over the government's security bills is intensifying as the ruling bloc restates its plan to ram the bills through the Lower House as early as next week.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 2, 2015
Ishin no To adopts counterproposal to security bills
The second largest opposition party has adopted counterproposals to the Abe administration's contentious security bills that include tougher conditions on Self-Defense Forces' operations.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 26, 2015
Media fire back at LDP for targeting revenue of newspapers critical of security bills
Calls from the younger ranks of the LDP to “punish” media organizations critical of the national security bills “by taking their ad revenues” sparks an industry outcry.
JAPAN
Jun 26, 2015
Government releases first female empowerment guidelines
Japan releases its first guidelines on female empowerment so women can play a more active role in a society that customarily treats them less than equal.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jun 22, 2015
Shima has high hopes for long-term windfall from G-7 meet
Just before departing for this year's Group of Seven summit in Germany earlier this month, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced that Shima, situated at the end of a peninsula in Mie Prefecture, will be the main venue for next year's annual gathering.
Japan Times
JAPAN / NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Jun 21, 2015
Time running out for South Korean 'comfort women' as average age approaches 90
Year after year, their numbers dwindle. Now, with the average age of former "comfort women" in South Korea approaching 90, time is running out.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 19, 2015
Temp workers dealt blow as dispatch bill clears Lower House
Opposition lawmakers leave in protest as the Lower House passes a bill to let companies use temporary workers as long as they want instead of hiring them full time.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 4, 2015
House of Representatives passes bill to lower voting age
The legislation to reduce the minimum voting age to 18 from 20 will enfranchise some 2.4 million 18- and 19-year-olds ahead of next year's House of Councilors election.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 1, 2015
Abe says SDF could provide logistic aid to foreign forces in Middle East, Indian Ocean under new laws
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says the Self-Defense Forces could provide logistic aid to foreign militaries in the Middle East and the Indian Ocean, detailing for the first time specific regions where Japanese troops could offer rear-area support under contentious security legislation.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 1, 2015
Abe forced to apologize after heckling DPJ lawmaker
As heated debate continued Monday in the Lower House over controversial security legislation, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was forced to apologize for barking at an opposition lawmaker during a previous session and interrupting her question.
JAPAN / Politics
May 27, 2015
Abe lays out scenarios for SDF dispatch if security bills pass
If contentious security reform bills are enacted by the Diet, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says Japanese forces could hypothetically be dispatched to mine-sweeping operations in the Strait of Hormuz.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 26, 2015
Lower House finally takes up contentious security bills
The Lower House kicks off much-awaited deliberations on two contentious security bills that would greatly expand the scope of the Self-Defense Forces' missions overseas, and opposition lawmakers immediately go on the attack.
JAPAN / Politics
May 20, 2015
SDF will only be deployed to 'safe' places, Abe says
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe rebuffed criticism on Wednesday that the government's contentious security legislation would put Self-Defense Forces personnel at greater risk, saying they would provide logistics support in areas that are safe.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 19, 2015
Ishin no To elects new leader, may align with opposition
In a desperate bid to keep its members united and stave off the party's collapse, Ishin no To (Japan Innovation Party) rushes to elect Secretary-General Yorihisa Matsuno as its new president.
JAPAN / Politics
May 18, 2015
Ahead of Diet debate, security experts urge Japan to stick to 'defense-only' policy
A group of noted security experts urge Japan to stick to its 'defense-only' policy ahead of the Diet debate over expanding the SDF's overseas role.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 15, 2015
Peace or war? Diet plays security bill name game
The government says two safely named security bills endorsed by the Cabinet are for “peace,” but the titles aren't flying with everyone.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
May 15, 2015
Experts split on proposed SDF reforms; poll suggests public wary
Two noted experts interviewed by The Japan Times have contrasting views of Prime Minister Abe's ambitions to alter Japan's postwar security posture.
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Ishiba aggravates his own political failures with diplomatic faux pas
Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba is greeted at the APEC summit in Lima by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. The Japanese leader was criticized for remaining seated while meeting several world leaders at the event.
Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?
By Kathryn Wortley

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