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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 / Politics
Jan 13, 2016
Abe eyes using boosted tax revenue to cover food exemption shortfall
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe indicated Wednesday that the higher tax revenues — which he attributed to Abenomics — may be used to cover a shortfall when food is exempted from the coming tax hike.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 12, 2016
MSDF ready to 'police' incursions near Senkaku Islands, Suga says
The Abe administration is ready to mobilize the Maritime Self-Defense Force for "a maritime policing operation" if a foreign warship enters Japanese territorial waters and its navigation does not constitute "innocent passage" under international law, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Tuesday....
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 12, 2016
Abe says controversial part-timer remark was misinterpreted
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe tries to downplay a remark last week that critics claim shows he is out of touch.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jan 11, 2016
Abe's constitutional revision hopes ride on July election, right-leaning opposition cooperation
Japan's postwar pacifism will face a critical challenge this year that could drastically change the course of this country forever: the July Upper House election.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 9, 2016
Critics assail Abe after middle-class income gaffe highlights wealthy upbringing
The prime minister draws public criticism over comments Friday that some claimed as evidence he lacks real knowledge about the plight of the middle class.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 8, 2016
U.K., Japan condemn fourth North Korean nuke test, urge stronger military cooperation
The Japanese and British foreign and defense ministers on Friday issued a joint condemnation of North Korea's nuclear test and pledged to strengthen military cooperation between Japan and the United Kingdom.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 8, 2016
Tokyo joins Washington in doubting Pyongyang H-bomb claim
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe questions Pyongyang's claim that it tested a hydrogen bomb, saying the blast appeared to be too small.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 7, 2016
Abe, Park leverage newly improved bilateral ties to condemn North Korea
Demonstrating the recent improvement in their bilateral relationship, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Park Geun-hye have agreed to jointly condemn North Korea’s latest nuclear test.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 6, 2016
Japan slams North Korean 'H-bomb' test
The government slammed North Korea on Wednesday after it apparently conducted another nuclear test, its fourth, which involved what Pyongyang described as a powerful hydrogen bomb.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 2, 2016
'15 saw Abe keep nationalism in check, reset Seoul, Beijing ties
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's diplomatic gains last year may give him momentum for the crucial Upper House election and his life-long ambition of revising the Constitution.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society / DEMOGRAPHIC CHALLENGES
Dec 31, 2015
Japan's population dilemma, in a single-occupancy nutshell
It's not your typical futuristic city. But if you want to see what Tokyo and the rest of Japan will soon look like, the Takashimadaira housing complex in northern Tokyo's Itabashi Ward may be the place to visit.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Dec 25, 2015
South Korea 'comfort women' dispute edges closer to settlement as Kishida agrees to talks with Seoul
Tokyo's estrangement from Seoul seems closer to resolution as Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida announces upcoming talks.
Japan Times
JAPAN / NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Dec 20, 2015
Nuclear power plants feared vulnerable to terrorist groups
Security at France's 58 nuclear power plants was purportedly raised to its highest level last month as a result of the terrorist attacks in Paris, stoking concern over the safety of Japan's nuclear facilities.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 18, 2015
Turnbull, Abe tout 'special strategic partnership' following talks in Tokyo
The leaders issued a joint statement touting their “special strategic partnership” and opposing any “coercive actions” that would change the “status quo” in the East or South China Sea.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 17, 2015
Japan, Indonesia hold first two-plus-two talks, agree to work toward transfer of defense weapons
Japan and Indonesia held their first "two-plus-two" meetings of foreign and defense ministers in Tokyo on Thursday, agreeing to work on a pact that could allow to Japan to export some defense weapons and technologies to Indonesia.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 12, 2015
Ruling coalition clinches deal on food tax rate
The Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito finalized plans to apply a lower sales tax rate to food purchases, a measure that will cost u00a51 trillion in revenue.
JAPAN
Dec 10, 2015
Anonymous hacker takes credit for shutting down prime minister’s website
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's official website may have come under cyberattack by the group Anonymous, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.
BUSINESS
Dec 9, 2015
Low tax on food will hurt the poor, say economists
Political negotiations between the nation's ruling coalition are approaching a showdown over the unpopular consumption tax, which is set to rise to 10 percent from 8 percent in April 2017. A sweetener being considered has drawn scathing criticism from many economists.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 8, 2015
Split Ishin parties end long-running internal feud, agree to divvy up subsidies
Finally ending a long-running and ugly battle over political funds, Osaka-based members of Ishin no To (Japan Innovation Party) and those outside of the prefecture signed a statement of reconciliation Tuesday, agreeing to split the party's ¥1.5 billion in government subsidies and return money left unused...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 6, 2015
Ishin no To re-elects Matsuno as head, sets stage for DPJ tie-up talks
Japan's third-largest opposition party re-elects its leader as momentum grows for a tie-up with the Democratic Party of Japan.

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