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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
May 20, 2014
Government silent on report Fukushima No. 1 workers fled during crisis
The government is refusing to comment on a media report that Masao Yoshida, the now-deceased chief of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant at the time of the meltdowns, was quoted as saying most of the plant's workers evacuated the site despite of his order to remain.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
May 19, 2014
Getting to the heart of Abe's vision for Japan's military
The hottest buzzwords in politics these days are "the right of collective self-defense," now that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's advisory panel on security has released its much-awaited recommendations for reinterpreting the Constitution.
Japan Times
JAPAN / NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
May 18, 2014
Success of 'Abenomics' hinges on immigration policy
Foreign investment funds generally shun countries with shrinking populations, and this means “Abenomics” can't succeed unless Japan opens its door to more foreigners, an immigration expert warns.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 16, 2014
Abe's man in Cabinet law office steps down
Prime Minister Abe suffers a potential setback as Ichiro Komatsu, the first unilaterally appointed chief of the Cabinet Legislation Bureau, which interprets the Constitution, resigns.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 15, 2014
Panel lists steps for bypassing Article 9
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's security panel proposes revising Japan's interpretation of the Constitution to circumvent Article 9 and risk war in the name of collective self-defense.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
May 15, 2014
Pacifism at a crossroads following panel's verdict
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe takes a major stride toward his goal of ending Japan's pacifist stance and orders the ruling parties to open talks on legalizing collective self-defense.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 13, 2014
Population panel draws line in sand
To prevent a crisis, Japan should try to keep its population at 100 million for the next 50 years by devoting more resources to child-rearing, a panel says.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 12, 2014
'Gourmet' comic stokes Fukushima ire
The popular manga series "Oishinbo" came under fire again Monday after a character based on a real-life former mayor refers to Fukushima Prefecture in its latest issue as unlivable because of the radiation leaking from the ruined power plant there.
JAPAN / Politics
May 9, 2014
Wiser Abe Cabinet logs record 500 days in office
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet on Friday marked the 500th day since its inception in December 2012, extending its record as the longest-serving lineup in the postwar era.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Apr 25, 2014
Abe sought to boast better U.S. ties
For Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Thursday's summit with U.S. President Barack Obama should have been a big moment to trumpet the strength of the Japan-U.S. alliance, which he claimed has greatly improved after relations soured under the Democratic Party of Japan-led administration that preceded his.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Apr 24, 2014
Abe secured only half of key goals at meeting
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe finally gets a U.S. president to state for the first time that the bilateral security treaty applies to the Senkaku Islands.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 24, 2014
Did Barack, Shinzo get down to sushi or business?
U.S. President Barack Obama had his first session with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday in Tokyo, treated at what is often touted as the best-ever sushi bar in Japan: Sukiyabashi Jiro in Tokyo's Ginza district.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 23, 2014
Obama arrives for summit, to assure security ties are solid
U.S. President Barack Obama arrived Wednesday evening at Haneda airport at the start of a seven-day Asia tour in which he is expected to reaffirm America's commitment to maintaining regional security.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 22, 2014
149 lawmakers visit Yasukuni
A total of 147 lawmakers, as well as two Cabinet ministers, visited the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine on Tuesday morning, in a move that could be perceived as provocative by China, South Korea — and even the United States.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 21, 2014
Obama's state visit comes at crucial time
With defense and trade issues still to be resolved, Thursday's U.S.-Japan summit is a high-stakes game for both sides.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Apr 20, 2014
Sex slave issue still barrier to South Korea ties
Tokyo and Seoul are finally talking again, but any failure to resolve the resurgent compensation issues involving former “comfort women” may doom their progress.
JAPAN
Apr 18, 2014
MSDF armada masses; first order is curry contest
One key mission of a group of 15 Maritime Self-Defense Force warships, including four of the nation's six state-of-the-art Aegis destroyers, is generating a nationwide buzz on the Internet.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 17, 2014
Cabinet gets Diet OK to use cellphones during crises
Cabinet members may now use cellphones, smartphones and tablet computers to receive emergency notifications from their secretaries during Diet sessions, the Lower House decided Thursday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 14, 2014
112,000 chickens culled at Kumamoto Farms in bid to curb bird flu outbreak
Racing to contain an avian flu outbreak, about 400 workers culled 112,000 birds at two Kumamoto chicken farms from Sunday night through Monday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Apr 13, 2014
Suspected outbreak of H5-type bird flu discovered at two Kumamoto farms
A suspected bird flu outbreak kills at least 1,100 chickens at a Kumamoto farm, prompting the local government to order the massive culling there and at a nearby farm.

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