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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
Jun 29, 2013
Opposition slams ruling bloc on jobs deregulation
Major party leaders held their first online debate Friday ahead of the July 21 Upper House election, with opposition chiefs voicing concern that ruling bloc-proposed employment deregulation may further worsen the working conditions of younger generations.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 28, 2013
Nippon Ishin pledges to 'clarify historical facts'
Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) unveils policy pledges for the Upper House election next month, including a promise to push for decentralization of government power and revise the postwar Constitution.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 27, 2013
Abe hopeful ruling bloc juggernaut cleans up in Upper House poll in July
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed Wednesday to ensure the Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling bloc recaptures control of the Upper House in the July election, bringing an end to the divided Diet.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jun 27, 2013
Abe closes out uneventful legislative session unscathed
This year's 150-day Diet session closed Wednesday in turmoil as opposition parties started blocking deliberation procedures and submitted a censure motion against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in an apparent effort to show off their presence ahead of the Upper House election next month.
JAPAN
Jun 25, 2013
Tritium samples in sea near No. 1 jump
The density of radioactive tritium in samples of seawater from near the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant doubled over 10 days to hit a record 1,100 becquerels per liter, possibly indicating contaminated groundwater is seeping into the Pacific Ocean.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 22, 2013
Brazil's Rousseff cancels Japan visit
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff will postpone her planned visit to Japan due to the mass protests breaking out in dozens of cities around her nation, officials in Tokyo said Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 21, 2013
Abe confidante secretly visited China to reboot ties
A special adviser to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe secretly visited Beijing earlier this week in an apparent effort to improve strained relations with China, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga admitted Thursday at a news conference.
JAPAN
Jun 20, 2013
Strontium in groundwater at No. 1 soars
Groundwater contaminated with highly radioactive substances is detected from a monitoring well just 27 meters from the seashore within the compound of the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 20, 2013
LDP policy chief retracts Fukushima comments
Facing flak from both the opposition — and her own party — Sanae Takaichi, policy chief for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, retracted earlier remarks that no one was killed in the 2011 Fukushima meltdowns and that the government should restart reactors nationwide.
JAPAN
Jun 19, 2013
Meltdowns haven't killed anyone: LDP bigwig
Liberal Democratic Party policy chief Sanae Takaichi has created a stir by saying the 2011 Fukushima meltdowns didn't kill anyone and arguing the government should restart reactors nationwide given Japan's scarce energy resources.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 16, 2013
Potter Kakiemon Sakaida dies at 78
Eminent potter Kakiemon Sakaida, who maintained the tradition of Kakiemon-style porcelain, dies of cancer at a hospital in Saga at age 78.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 15, 2013
Snowden Web manga profile still online
Edward Snowden has become the world's hot-button item since divulging that the U.S. National Security Agency has engaged in a massive spying effort targeting Americans and individuals overseas, touching off one of the country's most explosive intelligence scandals of recent years.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 14, 2013
Abe growth wish list gets Cabinet's nod
The Cabinet adopts two sets of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic and fiscal policy papers, filled with dozens of bold economic goals and no specifics on how to achieve them.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 13, 2013
Kishida, Onodera set to attend Okinawa memorial service
The foreign and defense ministers will attend the annual June 23 memorial day service in Okinawa for the first time since it began in 1952, government officials said Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 13, 2013
Suga denies Xi called Senkakus 'core interest'
Tokyo denied Wednesday that Chinese President Xi Jinping termed the Senkaku islets "a core interest" of China in his informal summit with U.S. President Barack Obama last week in California, as Japanese media reported.
JAPAN
Jun 11, 2013
Japan may announce humanitarian aid for Syrian rebels at G-8 summit
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe could announce Tokyo's intention to provide humanitarian assistance to Syrian rebels at next week's Group of Eight summit in Britain, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Tuesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 9, 2013
Hollande calls on Japan to recover self-confidence of old
Japan and France should regain confidence in their capacities and assets in spite of mounting competition from emerging economies and recent economic crises, French President Francois Hollande said Saturday in a speech in Tokyo.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 8, 2013
Hollande gives reconciliation lesson
French President Francois Hollande said Friday in a speech to the Diet that he is concerned by the rising diplomatic tension in Asia and urged Japan to reconcile history issues with neighboring countries just as France and Germany did after World War II.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 6, 2013
Abe's growth strategy hit for lack of details
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reveals his set of structural reforms to boost the economy, ranging from creating special economic zones to easing rules to set up international schools, but fails to impress market players.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 6, 2013
Antonio Inoki eyes Diet return on Nippon Ishin ticket
Antonio Inoki, a former professional wrestling star and lawmaker, said Wednesday he will run for an Upper House seat as a candidate of Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) in a bid to stage a Diet comeback.

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