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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 / Politics
Mar 29, 2013
Abe reportedly won't visit controversial shrine for spring ceremony
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is not likely to visit Yasukuni Shrine during an important Shinto ceremony this spring but instead will dedicate a ritual implement to the controversial Tokyo shrine, which honors the nation's war dead, including Class-A war criminals, government sources indicated Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 29, 2013
Abe pushes 'openness' by inviting kids to tour his office, residence
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to demonstrate the "openness" of his government and to this end has invited schoolchildren on a guided tour of his office and official residence Saturday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 28, 2013
Fallen tycoon Horie freed from jail
Takafumi Horie, former president of the Internet firm Livedoor Co. and an entrepreneurial hero for young generations, is paroled after spending 21 months behind bars.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 27, 2013
LDP undaunted by vote-value rulings
Despite a spate of high court rulings that last year's general election was unconstitutional and even invalid due to large vote disparities, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party doesn't think it is necessary to hold another Lower House campaign as long as it works on election reform, Secretary General...
JAPAN
Mar 26, 2013
Japan, EU agree to open FTA talks in April
Prime Minister Abe and two European Union leaders agree in a teleconference to start official negotiations on a free-trade pact in April.
JAPAN
Mar 20, 2013
No. 1 fuel pool power to be restored: Tepco
Critical cooling systems for four pools containing thousands of nuclear fuel assemblies at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant shut down due to a loss of power overnight Monday, highlighting the vulnerability of the ad hoc equipment set up after the meltdowns two years ago.
JAPAN
Mar 19, 2013
French firm hit for aiding Chinese ship choppers' ability
Tokyo voices concern to Paris after a French defense contractor sells a copter-stabilization system to China that could help it badger Japan near the Senkaku Islands.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 17, 2013
Keep eye on July poll, Abe tells LDP faithful
The LDP kicks off its annual convention with a reminder from President Abe to stay vigilant ahead of the Upper House election and a vow to protect farmers during the TPP talks.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 16, 2013
Abe declares Japan will join TPP free-trade process
After taking time to lay the groundwork amid intense opposition, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe formally announces that Japan will enter the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade initiative.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 14, 2013
Vote-value disparity issue puts cloud over Abe's ambitions
With Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Cabinet enjoying astronomically high approval ratings compared with recent leaders, the prospects of his Liberal Democratic Party winning a critical Upper House election this summer look bright.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Mar 13, 2013
In Abe's future, a nationalist rewrite of the past?
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has kept a diplomatically low profile, particularly over historical issues, focusing instead on economic and other domestic matters ahead of the July Upper House election.
JAPAN
Mar 12, 2013
China skips 3/11 rites over invite to Taiwan
China's absence at the national ceremony commemorating the second anniversary of the 3/11 disasters was unfortunate, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga says, with the snub apparently in response to Taiwan's invitation.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 12, 2013
Survivors recall two years of struggle
The Emperor, Empress and millions across the country observe a moment of silence at 2:46 p.m. — the exact time when calamity struck Japan on March 11, 2011.
JAPAN
Mar 9, 2013
Abe plan for sovereignty day fete irks Okinawans
The prime minister's declaration of a ceremony to commemorate the 1952 end of the Allied Occupation and restoration of Japan's sovereignty strikes a sore nerve in Okinawa.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 8, 2013
Ceremony to mark '52 return to sovereignty
An official ceremony commemorating the 61st anniversary of the date the San Francisco Peace Treaty, officially ending World War II, came into force will be held on April 28, government officials said Thursday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Mar 5, 2013
Kuroda assures Diet of inflation goal
Haruhiko Kuroda blames the Bank of Japan for failing to pursue an effective course of quantitative easing and vows, if he becomes BOJ chief, to do 'everything possible' to end deflation.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 2, 2013
Japan to join F-35 parts output, export strategy
Japan plans to join the global parts-sharing system for F-35 stealth jet production, in an exception to its long-held principle of not exporting weapons or their components.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 1, 2013
Government finds plenty to criticize in Algerian crisis response
Reviewing its response to the Algerian hostage crisis last month, the government admitted Thursday it doesn't have enough Arabic-speaking diplomats or military attaches in Africa, making it nearly impossible to gather sufficient intelligence.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 28, 2013
Abe plays it safe in Diet speech
Delivering a key policy speech to the Diet, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says no country should resort to force to 'change the status quo' regarding territorial disputes, in an apparent warning to China.
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 28, 2013
Diet asked to OK Kuroda as next BOJ chief; opposition seen falling into line
Haruhiko Kuroda, a strong advocate of aggressive monetary easing, is officially nominated as the next Bank of Japan governor.

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