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 Tomohiro Osaki

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Tomohiro Osaki
Tomohiro Osaki is a staff writer in the Domestic News Division. A graduate of Sophia University in Tokyo, he likes to explore under-reported realities of Japanese youth, with a tendency toward the taboo.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 26, 2017
Abe warms to bilateral trade deal with U.S. but vows to still protect farmers
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday gave the clearest indication yet that Tokyo may accept Washington's departure from the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 26, 2017
Abe's kanji gaffe makes Twitter's trend tally
Reading kanji characters can be treacherous, and it seems even Prime Minister Shinzo Abe isn't immune to the pitfalls.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 23, 2017
Abe faces opposition questions on U.S. alliance, conspiracy bill
Abe expresses eagerness to arrange a summit talk with Trump “as soon as possible,” vowing to further strengthen ties.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 19, 2017
Abe to pursue contentious law against criminal conspiracies from outset of Diet session
As this year's ordinary Diet session kicks off Friday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is set to make waves yet again. His newest goal is to make conspiracies to commit crimes a punishable offense.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 16, 2017
Caroline Kennedy calls ambassador role in Japan her 'greatest privilege' in farewell message
U.S. Ambassador Caroline Kennedy calls her three years in Japan “the greatest privilege of my life” and says in a farewell video message that she hopes to come back for a visit.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 10, 2017
Group drawing on long-term foreign residents to help newcomers navigate life in Japan
Foreign residents in Japan may be at a disadvantage in some ways, but they are by no means powerless nor on their own, says Tokyo-based nonprofit organization Asian People's Friendship Society (APFS).
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Jan 3, 2017
Experts warn Japan's language schools are becoming a front for importing cheap labor
A 29-year-old Nepalese student in Tokyo has found herself stuck in limbo with her dreams derailed, and the state of Japan's language schools is to blame.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 1, 2017
Abe has no reason to rock the boat by calling early-2017 snap election
After weeks of speculation that 2017 may start with a snap election in late January, the prime minister said on NHK that it will not happen.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Dec 19, 2016
New law to fight bias against 'burakumin' seen falling short
Overshadowed by the 11th-hour furor over casino legalization and other legislation forced through the Diet by the ruling bloc last week was the enactment of a lesser-known law that has significant implications for Japan's minority burakumin.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 15, 2016
Diet enacts contentious casino legislation
The Diet enacted a law to legalize casinos Thursday morning amid ongoing public concerns over a raft of potential social ills, including surges in gambling addiction and organized crime.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 13, 2016
Ruling bloc rams casino bill through committee
The ruling bloc rams a divisive casino legalization bill through an Upper House committee, opening the door to its likely passage on Wednesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Dec 13, 2016
Japan's bosozoku bikers: a vanishing rebel breed
Shotaro Nagasawa knows about living on the edge.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 8, 2016
Tax reform proposal targets spousal income credit, irregular beer tax structure
Abe's government is expected to rubber-stamp the proposal and submit amendments to the ordinary Diet session slated for January.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 7, 2016
Abe defends policies as Renho launches scathing attack
The prime minister defends the controversial casino legalization bill as vital to increasing jobs and boosting the tourism industry.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 6, 2016
Casino bill clears Lower House amid LDP discord, opposition protest
The Lower House on Tuesday passed a controversial bill that would legalize modern casinos for the first time in Japan, despite mounting criticism within the ruling and opposition blocs over the Diet's slapdash handling of the legislation.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 2, 2016
Lower House panel clears casino bill; opposition walks out in protest
The Lower House committee debating the casino legalization bill votes to send it to the Upper House as opposition lawmakers storm out in protest.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Nov 29, 2016
Abe's war against agriculture juggernaut found wanting in watered-down plan
Abe on Tuesday approved the new plan to shake up Zen-Noh, a juggernaut that boasts u00a56 trillion in annual operating revenues.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 24, 2016
Abe's 'made-in-Japan' gift for Trump produced by China-owned firm
The gold-colored golf driver was manufactured by Tokyo-based Honma Golf Co., which went bankrupt in 2005 is now owned by a Chinese company.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 22, 2016
Trump to dump TPP on first day in office
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump says he will withdraw his country from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact on the day he takes office, dealing another blow to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 21, 2016
Powerful Japanese lawmaker urges re-evaluation of U.S. relationship with Trump taking office
Japan must undertake a major review of the way its decades-long alliance with the United States works and adopt a more proactive approach toward its top ally after Donald Trump takes office in January, a veteran Diet member says.

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Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?