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 Reiji Yoshida

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Reiji Yoshida
Reiji Yoshida is a staff writer and deputy manager of the Domestic News Division. Since joining The Japan Times in 1993, he has intensively covered domestic politics, diplomacy and defense issues as well as the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 7, 2017
Diet endorses pact to export civil nuclear technology to India
The Diet on Wednesday endorsed the controversial Japan-India civil nuclear cooperation agreement that will allow the nation's firms to export nuclear materials and technology to India for nonmilitary use.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 6, 2017
DP plays political hardball in bid to slow passage of conspiracy bill
In a last-ditch effort to block the enactment of a contentious bill to criminalize conspiracies, the Democratic Party submitted Tuesday a motion to the Upper House calling for the removal of Kozo Akino, the chairperson of the chamber's Judicial Committee.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 2, 2017
Email verifies document behind Kake-Abe scandal: Democratic Party
Democratic Party lawmakers say email messages sent to senior education officials suggest the document implicating Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the Kake Gakuen scandal is authentic.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 1, 2017
Lower House panel gives nod to one-off abdication bill
The Lower House Steering Committee greenlights a one-time bill to let Emperor Akihito abdicate, paving the way for passage by the chamber.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
May 30, 2017
High-profile journalist with close Abe ties accused of rape
A 28-year-old woman has accused a former TV reporter, regarded as one of the journalists closest to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, of raping her two years ago.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 29, 2017
Abe denies Kake approval process 'distorted,' claims friend won project due to 'regulatory reform'
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe denies the education ministry's approval process for a veterinary project was 'distorted' and claims instead that his friend won the project due to 'regulatory reform.'
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
May 29, 2017
Brewing Kake Gakuen scandal points to alleged Abe favoritism
On Thursday a former top ministry official dropped a bombshell in a hastily held news conference in Tokyo.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
May 26, 2017
Strange Yomiuri story signals Maekawa being targeted for authenticating Kake papers
An unusual story in a conservative daily raises suspicions that a former education official is being targeted for verifying the documents behind Prime Minister Abe's latest influence-peddling scandal.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 25, 2017
Ex-education official vouches for Kake papers, says he has copies
The education ministry's former top bureaucrat says the documents behind Prime Minister Abe's latest scandal are real and that he's willing to testify about it in the Diet.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 24, 2017
Former lawmaker and finance chief Kaoru Yosano dies at 78
Former Finance Minister Kaoru Yosano, known as one of the top policy mavens among lawmakers, has died, an employee of his office said Wednesday. He was 78.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 24, 2017
Former defense chief courts controversy by questioning Abe plan to revise Constitution
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe should clarify the rationale behind his latest proposal to revise the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution, LDP heavyweight Shigeru Ishiba told The Japan Times.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 23, 2017
Top SDF officer warns North Korea close to mastering technology for hitting Japan with nukes
Given enough time, North Korea will likely succeed in developing a nuclear warhead small enough to be mounted on a ballistic missile capable of directly striking Japan, the Self-Defense Forces' highest-ranking officer warned Tuesday.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 21, 2017
North Korea fires off medium-range missile in 'challenge to the world'
North Korea launches an apparent medium-range ballistic missile in what Prime Minister Shinzo Abe termed a “challenge to the world.”
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 18, 2017
No-confidence vote falters, paving way for conspiracy bill to be rammed through Lower House
The no-confidence motion against Justice Minister Katsutoshi Kaneda was delaying the controversial conspiracy bill, which will likely be rammed through the powerful Lower House next week.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 17, 2017
Princess Mako's engagement likely to renew debate over female succession
The planned engagement of Princess Mako to a commoner has highlighted a critical question facing the Imperial family: Can the Imperial system survive without drastic reforms to its succession system?
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 16, 2017
Princess Mako, granddaughter of Emperor, set to marry ex-classmate
The prospective fiance was identified as Kei Komuro, a 25-year-old graduate student at Tokyo's Hitotsubashi University who also works at a law firm.
JAPAN / Politics
May 15, 2017
Abe's refusal to clarify Article 9 proposal worries opposition
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's recent proposal to revise the Constitution's war-renouncing Article 9 has sparked debate, anxiety and speculation.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 14, 2017
North Korea test-fires what could be new kind of longer-range missile
North Korea launches what Japan called a potentially “new type of ballistic missile” in a test of South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who was sworn in just a few days ago.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 11, 2017
Abe and Moon agree to work on 'future-oriented' ties in first phone chat
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and new South Korean President Moon Jae-in get acquainted in a forward-looking phone chat grounded by reminders about history and the “comfort women.”
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 11, 2017
Koike agrees to foot bill for temporary Olympic facilities but neighbors irked by delays, loose ends
Gov. Yuriko Koike pushes Tokyo's Olympic preparations forward by agreeing to foot the cost of building temporary facilities outside the capital, but not everyone is happy.

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