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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
Apr 19, 2008
North to soon be off U.S. blacklist: China envoy
The United States will probably soon remove North Korea from its list of states sponsoring terrorism, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Friday.
JAPAN
Apr 18, 2008
Japan and China put on best faces for Hu's visit
Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura agreed Thursday in Tokyo to do their utmost to make Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit a success as they officially announced his May 6-10 trip.
JAPAN
Apr 17, 2008
Divided Diet forecloses on Fukuda's May Europe trip
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has canceled planned visits to France, Germany and France in early May due to the expected continuation of the political standoff in the divided Diet, government officials said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Apr 15, 2008
U.S. forces commander vows tighter discipline
The commander of the U.S. forces in Japan vowed Monday the military will ensure that servicemen and women exhibit "unwavering professionalism" and "the highest-standards of behavior."
JAPAN
Apr 12, 2008
Cabinet extends North sanctions
The Cabinet said Friday that the economic sanctions against North Korea will be extended another six months despite recent progress in U.S.-North Korea talks over Pyongyang's denuclearization.
JAPAN
Apr 12, 2008
Fukuda, Fillon to push emissions talks at U.N.
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon and Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda agreed Friday to further promote bilateral cooperation on a varied economic agenda, in particular their push to combat global warming, the main topic of the Group of Eight summit in July in Hokkaido.
JAPAN
Apr 12, 2008
U.S. to notify Japan about any deserters
The United States will immediately notify Japan if a service member in the country deserts or otherwise goes absent without leave and will authorize police to take that person into custody if found, Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said Friday.
JAPAN
Apr 11, 2008
Dalai Lama reiterates support for games, urges nonviolence
NARITA, Chiba Pref. — The Dalai Lama on Thursday again voiced support for China's hosting of the Olympic Games and called on protesters to stick to nonviolent activities during the chaotic round-the-world torch relay.
JAPAN
Apr 9, 2008
No justification for marring Olympic torch run: Komura
The torch relay for the Beijing Olympics should not be blocked by protesters, Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said Tuesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 5, 2008
Rising prices fail to derail free 'udon' campaign
Bucking the drastic rise in the price of flour plaguing "udon" noodle shops across the country, one restaurant chain will go ahead with its annual sales campaign offering ¥500 tickets good for a free bowl of noodles every day for a month.
JAPAN
Mar 29, 2008
Storm over gasoline tax worries farmers
Saddled with an annual fuel bill of about ¥3.1 million, potato farmer Katsuhiro Yamamoto, like many others who work the soil for a living, is keeping a nervous watch on lawmakers in Tokyo as they battle over the extension of higher gas tax rates.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 26, 2008
New soy protein may give dieters a chance
Why do millions of people repeatedly fail to stick to their diets despite longing for slim, good-looking bodies?
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Mar 25, 2008
Basics of the U.S. military presence
The issue of U.S. military forces in Japan has come to the fore again following the alleged rape of a 14-year-old Okinawan girl by a U.S. Marine. Although the girl has withdrawn the accusation, locals and politicians have seized on the incident — a reminder of the 1995 gang rape of a 12-year-old...
BUSINESS
Mar 25, 2008
Ishihara brainchild Shinginko said doomed from the get-go
When Rikkyo University professor Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi first heard about Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara's plan to set up a new bank in 2003, one thought immediately leaped to mind: This is doomed to fail.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 19, 2008
Disney thanks Chiba University with $1 million gift
As thanks for preserving hundreds of rare images used in early Disney films, Walt Disney Co. of the United States has donated $1 million to Chiba University, the school said in a statement Tuesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 15, 2008
Pinpointing 'sakura' arrival serious business, fine science
When spring comes, millions of Japanese happily turn their thoughts to one thing: When will the cherry blossoms start blooming?
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 12, 2008
Ministry preaches food self-sufficiency
The recent scare over pesticide-tainted "gyoza" dumplings made in China and the rapid price surges of flour and other food products across the world have aroused serious anxiety among millions of Japanese consumers over imported everyday foods.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 11, 2008
Media now gun-shy in Miura reportage
Ryo Sakamoto, a former editor of the major tabloid newspaper Tokyo-Sports, remembers the media frenzy in the 1980s over the case of Kazuyoshi Miura.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ALSO OUT THERE
Mar 8, 2008
Will 'good guy-bad guy' faceoff revive sumo?
The sacred sport of sumo boasts a history of 1,300 years, but recent scandals and undignified exploits of some of its champions are threatening to reduce its status to heresy.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 4, 2008
Central Asia yellow sand fogs Japan
Carried by the winds for thousands of kilometers from the deserts of Central Asia and western China, yellow sand was observed in various parts of Japan late Sunday and Monday morning for the first time this year, the Meteorological Agency said.

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