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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
BUSINESS
Apr 5, 2016
Japanese lawmakers lock horns over TPP
Kicking off Diet deliberations on ratifying the pact, the ruling and opposition parties lock horns over the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies / ANALYSIS
Mar 31, 2016
How modularization felled Japan's electronics titans
Toshiba, Sharp, Sony, Hitachi and Panasonic — these companies were the pride of Japan for decades after their electronics took the world by storm.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 29, 2016
Budget clears Upper House as focus shifts to possible tax hike delay, double election
The Upper House easily passes the hefty fiscal 2016 budget as the opposition focuses on whether Prime Minister Abe will again delay the consumption tax hike.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 24, 2016
Japanese man who reportedly tried to join Islamic State group arrives back home
A 23-year-old Japanese man who was reportedly trying to join the Islamic State militant group has returned to Japan after being deported by Turkish authorities who captured him close to the Syrian border.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 24, 2016
New emergency icon system denotes disaster shelters
The government has urged prefectures and municipalities to put five redesigned emergency icons into use to guard against tsunami, floods, landslides and other disasters.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Mar 18, 2016
Suspicions Abe will again delay tax hike bolstered by pro-government daily
Speculation that the delayed second stage of the consumption tax hike will be postponed yet again was reinforced Friday after a pro-government daily reported that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is considering the option.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 17, 2016
Hostage video of missing Japanese journalist Jumpei Yasuda raises fears of ransom
The video has sparked speculation of behind-the-scenes contact between his kidnappers and the government.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 14, 2016
Introducing Minshin To, Japan's new main opposition force
In English tentatively called the Democratic Innovation Party, Japan's new main opposition force will be named Minshin To.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Mar 14, 2016
The centuries-old charm of Japan's cherry blossoms
The time of year much awaited by many people across the country is finally near: the blooming period of the nation's beloved sakura (cherry blossoms).
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 11, 2016
Japan marks fifth anniversary of devastating 3/11 disasters
Millions observe a moment of silence across the nation to mark the fifth anniversary of the March 2011 quake and tsunami.
Japan Times
JAPAN / REVISITING 3/11
Mar 10, 2016
Fukushima researcher says region still 'stigmatized' by 2011 disaster
Hiroshi Kainuma thinks a lot about Fukushima. He's written a number of books and held hundreds of lectures on the crisis since 2012, but these days, he's concerned with the public's perception of his hometown.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 9, 2016
U.N. panel drops criticism of Japan's male-only Imperial lineage after Tokyo protests
A U.N. committee agrees to remove criticism of Japan's male-only Imperial succession from a report after Tokyo complained.
JAPAN / History
Mar 8, 2016
Suga slams findings of U.N. panel on discrimination, cites U.S., U.K. support for 'comfort women' deal
The view of a United Nations committee criticizing the recent "comfort women" agreement between Seoul and Tokyo is "extremely regrettable and unacceptable," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Tuesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 4, 2016
Tokyo settles lawsuits, halts landfill at Henoko
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday agreed to an out-of-court settlement for three lawsuits filed over the relocation of a U.S. military base.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 4, 2016
DPJ, Ishin no To invite entries for new party name
The Democratic Party of Japan and Ishin no To (Japan Innovation Party) took to the Internet on Friday seeking an answer to a first key issue facing them ahead of their merger: a new name.
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 26, 2016
Census confirms population shrinkage, vote-value disparities
The 2015 census is the first to confirm Japan is shrinking, but it also shows why the value of people's votes is being warped nationwide.
BUSINESS / Economy
Feb 26, 2016
Japan's government talks of postponing 2017 tax hike
The government is ready to postpone a scheduled hike in the consumption tax if the move looks like it would weaken the economy and reduce total tax revenues, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a regular news conference Friday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 24, 2016
Tepco admits it should have declared meltdowns at Fukushima plant much earlier
Nearly five years on, Tokyo Electric Power Co. admits its staff failed to follow damage assessment guidelines in failing to report the meltdowns almost immediately.
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 24, 2016
DPJ endorses merger with Ishin no To; new party to form next month
The Democratic Party of Japan on Wednesday formally endorsed a plan to merge with the smaller Ishin no To (Japan Innovation Party), in an organizational realignment that it hopes will arm it for battle with the ruling coalition in this summer's election.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 23, 2016
DPJ, Ishin no To to merge ahead of Upper House election
The Democratic Party of Japan will merge with Ishin no To (Japan Innovation Party) in a bold move aimed at preparing for the key Upper House election in summer.

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