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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
Feb 8, 2018
Amid Olympic detente, Pence talks tough
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence talks up the Japan-U.S. alliance and Washington's resolve to dismantle North Korea's arsenal, during a visit to Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 7, 2018
Abe and Pence say no divide on North Korea during Tokyo meeting, warn against Pyongyang’s ‘smile diplomacy’
Amid signs of a gradual thaw in inter-Korean relations, Prime Minister Abe and visiting U.S. Vice President Pence reaffirm the policy of maintaining “maximum pressure” on North Korea.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 5, 2018
Abe explains uncompromising stance on inserting 'explicit SDF mention' in Article 9
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is reluctant to compromise on the substance of constitutional amendments, emphasizing his commitment to the ambitious goal of altering the war-renouncing Article 9.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Jan 31, 2018
'Country of cowards': Comedy duo's political satire stands out in gun-shy Japan
In what was perhaps a make-or-break moment for their careers, comedy duo Woman Rush Hour did something on prime-time television in December that most of their fellow comedians try their best to eschew: They talked about politics.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 24, 2018
Abe confirms plan to attend Winter Olympics despite tension with South Korea over 'comfort women' pact
The announcement puts an end to speculation he may forgo the trip to protest Seoul's recent move to revisit the 2015 deal on the comfort women issue.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 22, 2018
Abe pledges more robust defense strategy for Japan in annual policy speech to lawmakers
Abe talked tough on defense while easing off from his usual praise for South Korea following the recent flap over the 2015 “comfort women” agreement.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 21, 2018
Constitutional revision, casinos and labor reform top Japan's agenda as Diet prepares to open
After months of turmoil over a snap election, opposition realignment and stalled legislative progress, this year's regular Diet session was scheduled to kick off Monday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 18, 2018
Prime Minister Abe and Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull meet in Tokyo and agree to boost defense ties
The leaders agreed to bolster cooperation to ensure a “free, open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region” built on a “rule-based order,” effectively endorsing Japan's strategy to keep China in check.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 15, 2018
Japanese opposition parties DP and Kibo no To agree to join forces
Opposition parties Kibo no To and the Democratic Party strike a deal to team up against the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan in the Diet.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 12, 2018
Abe rejects Seoul's new call for apology on 'comfort women' issue
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says Seoul's apparent demands for a fresh apology are “completely unacceptable” in light of the 2015 agreement Japan and South Korea signed.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 10, 2018
Junichiro Koizumi-led group pitches bill calling for 'immediate halt' to Japan's reliance on nuclear power
A group advised by former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Wednesday unveiled details about a bill calling for an "immediate halt" to Japan's reliance on nuclear power to prevent a recurrence of the 2011 Fukushima disaster. The group is seeking to submit the bill to an upcoming Diet session in cooperation...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 9, 2018
South Korea will not seek renegotiation of 'comfort women' deal with Japan
At the same time, Seoul indirectly urged Japan to extend a fresh “voluntary, heart-felt apology” for the victims.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 5, 2018
Pair become first board game players to receive Japan's People's Honor Award
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday officially decided to bestow the prestigious People's Honor Award on professional shogi and go champions, making the pair the first board game players to bag the award.
Japan Times
JAPAN / FINDING COMMON GROUND
Jan 3, 2018
Filipinos and Nepalese face challenges in Japan even as their communities grow
While Japan tends to be uneasy about immigration, it is simultaneously host to many non-Japanese people working hard to make lives for themselves, including sizable communities from the Philippines and Nepal.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 1, 2018
2018 seen as make-or-break year for Abe's constitutional revision quest
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe faces what is perhaps the biggest dilemma of his political career: whether to call the nation's first-ever referendum on revising the postwar Constitution.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 26, 2017
Abe, energized five years after comeback, poised for historic third term as Japan's leader
Tuesday marked the fifth anniversary of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's return to power, making him one of the nation's longest-serving leaders.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 19, 2017
Shinzo Abe calls for Japan's 'rebirth' in 2020 along with constitutional revision
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday reiterated calls for rebooting long-stalled parliamentary debate on the revision of Japan's post-war Constitution, saying he wants to see a "significant rebirth" of the nation in 2020.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 17, 2017
Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon praises Abe's nationalist agenda
Visiting ex-White House chief strategist Steve Bannon lauds Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for trying to infuse Japan with nationalism but blasts the “running dogs” in mainstream media.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 15, 2017
Tokyo freezes assets of 19 more North Korean institutions
Tokyo imposes fresh sanctions on Pyongyang by freezing the assets of 19 North Korean institutions.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 14, 2017
High earners, smokers and tourists to see higher levies under planned fiscal 2018 tax reforms
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito coalition's fiscal 2018 tax reform plan features increased taxes for high-income earners and smokers, as well as a controversial departure tax targeting tourists leaving Japan.

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