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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
May 10, 2017
Invasive mini-deer breeding rapidly, destroying crops, as Chiba tries to keep up
At first glance, it's hard to believe a small, cute deer-like animal can do any harm.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 8, 2017
Japan's defense-only posture to 'basically' remain unchanged under proposed constitutional change, Suga says
Japan's security policies, including its defensive posture, would 'basically remain the same' if the Constitution is revised as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe proposed last week, claims Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 26, 2017
Reconstruction chief Imamura resigns over latest Tohoku gaffe
The minister for disaster reconstruction, Masahiro Imamura, stepped down Wednesday over a gaffe where he said it was better the 2011 quake and tsunami hit the Tohoku region and not near Tokyo.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 25, 2017
Gaffe-prone minister Imamura bows out over Tohoku remark
Masahiro Imamura, minister in charge of reconstruction of the disaster-hit Tohoku region, resigned Wednesday in the wake of controversial comments about the disaster.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 25, 2017
Tokyo evasive on report of secret deal with NSA over mass surveillance program
The government's top spokesman on Tuesday declined to comment on — but did not deny — a report alleging that Tokyo has secretly and closely cooperated with the U.S. National Security Agency in intelligence-gathering, having been provided with an extremely powerful mass-surveillance tool that...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 24, 2017
Abe, Trump reconfirm commitment on North Korea
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump hold a 30-minute teleconference to discuss the North Korean situation.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 23, 2017
MSDF destroyers kick off drills with USS Carl Vinson strike group in Western Pacific
Two Maritime Self-Defense Force ships begin joint drills with the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and its escort vessels in the Western Pacific as the strike group nears the Sea of Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 21, 2017
Abdication panel hands in final report, confirming proposal for one-off law to let Emperor step down
The government abdication panel's final report recommends that Emperor Akihito be allowed to retire through a special temporary law, backing the Diet's consensus opinion.
JAPAN
Apr 19, 2017
Asahi and government at odds over removed link to report on 1923 massacre of Koreans in Japan
The Asahi Shimbun and the Cabinet Office tell a different story about the removal of a link from a government website to a report detailing the massacre.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 19, 2017
'The sword stands ready': On aircraft carrier deck, Pence reiterates U.S. pledge to defend Japan
Visiting U.S. Vice President Mike Pence warned Pyongyang on Wednesday not to test the resolve and military capability of the United States.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 18, 2017
Visiting Pence calls U.S.-Japan alliance a 'cornerstone' for peace in region amid North Korea threat
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence declared his country's “unwavering commitment” to Japan as it looks to confront the “ominous threat” posed by North Korea.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 17, 2017
Abe urges diplomatic tack on North Korea, but rules out 'dialogue for dialogue's sake'
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe emphasizes that diplomatic efforts to defuse rising tensions over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs are necessary.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 15, 2017
U.S.-Korean war hype rings hollow as verbal jousting continues
Despite the aggressive saber-ratting between Washington and Pyongyang, Japanese officials aren't betting on the U.S. attacking North Korea anytime soon.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 13, 2017
North Korea may have sarin-tipped missiles, Abe says
Pyongyang may have missiles armed with chemical weapons like VX and sarin at its disposal, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe tells the Diet.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 11, 2017
Abe Cabinet weathers school scandal as Democratic Party's chronic weaknesses provide little alternative
The high-profile scandal involving nationalist Osaka-based school operator Moritomo Gakuen has once again brought to the fore the ability of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is linked to the affair, to maintain high public approval ratings.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 7, 2017
Abe backs U.S. missile strike on Syria but might draw backlash from Putin
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe praises the U.S. missile strike on Syria, but some say that could harm his chances of settling Japan's island dispute with Russia.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 6, 2017
Abe, Trump huddle over North Korea missile threat, want Beijing to pressure Pyongyang further
President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe show solidarity against provocative North Korea and agree Beijing must do more to defuse the threat it poses to security.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 4, 2017
Fukushima disaster reconstruction minister apologizes over outburst at journalist
Masahiro Imamura, minister in charge of reconstructing the disaster-hit Tohoku region, apologized Tuesday for raising his voice to a freelance journalist at a news conference over demanding questions on the government's support for Fukushima evacuees.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 4, 2017
Full clips of Akie Abe's Moritomo speeches posted to Akieleaks website
Full-length video clips from what appear to be speeches given by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's wife at a scandal-tainted kindergarten in Osaka have been anonymously posted online.
JAPAN
Mar 29, 2017
LDP panel urges government to let Japan strike North Korean missile bases in event of attack
A ruling Liberal Democratic Party security policy panel urged the government Wednesday to let Japan directly strike North Korean missile bases in the event Pyongyang stages a ballistic missile attack.

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