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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 / FOCUS
Oct 21, 2022
'Robbing women': Japan's sperm donation law spurs controversy
A draft of the new law shows that it would only authorize the process for legally married couples, mostly those affected by male infertility.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Sep 25, 2022
Floyd Mayweather knocks out Mikuru Asakura in exhibition fight
The former world champion floored his Japanese opponent at the end of the second round to cap off the latest of his lucrative post-retirement exhibitions.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 30, 2022
We're hiring: Babies wanted for Japan nursing home
New recruits at the facility must be under four years old, and their guardians have to sign a contract stipulating that the babies and can show up for work 'whenever they feel like it.'
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Aug 3, 2022
Lawyers decry ban on 'menacing' eyewear at Japan prison
The glasses risked 'intimidating and inviting derision from' other prisoners, the jail in Hokkaido has been quoted as saying.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Jul 28, 2022
'A new chapter of my life began': A child of Japan's 'baby hatch' speaks out
Koichi Miyatsu was only a toddler when he was placed in the hatch at a hospital in Kumamoto, where children can be left anonymously by desperate family members.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Jul 28, 2022
Japan's 'baby hatch' hospital offers mothers a 'last resort'
In all, 161 babies and toddlers have been left at the facility — with some coming from the Tokyo region, some 1,000 kilometers away, and beyond.
Japan Times
LIFE
Jun 23, 2022
Yours sincerely: singles charmed by Japanese letter-writing campaign
Singles in Miyazaki are being encouraged to put pen to paper in a low-tech search for their soulmate, part of municipal efforts to boost the low birth rate.
JAPAN / Explainer
Jan 4, 2022
What's next for English-language education in Japan?
English has been at the heart of discussions over nationwide university entrance exams amid growing frustrations that few Japanese students learn to speak the language fluently.
BUSINESS / Tech / Longform
Dec 20, 2021
How Twitter moderates content in Japan
Japan's top social media platform is drawing increased scrutiny about its operations, particularly in the wake of several high-profile cyberharassment incidents.
JAPAN
Dec 9, 2021
Japanese scientists warn vaccines may be less effective against the omicron variant
The findings came after a fourth omicron case was found Wednesday in a man in his 50s who arrived in Japan from Nigeria.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 26, 2021
Black Friday sales make inroads in Japan, but not all retailers are buying in
Public recognition of the retail bonanza has soared in recent years, with major franchises rolling out discount campaigns.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 21, 2021
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike returns to duty after speculation of ill health and resignation
Koike, 69, visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building to attend an online meeting of the National Governors' Association on Sunday, marking a full resumption of her duties.
JAPAN / OBITUARY
Nov 14, 2021
Jakucho Setouchi: A freewheeling nun who bucked conventional norms for women
Prior to beginning her religious journey in 1973, Jakucho Setouchi established herself first and foremost as a writer — and a controversial one at that.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 1, 2021
Suspect in Tokyo Halloween attack deliberately targeted a crowded train
Sunday's incident has restarted a debate about what train operators can reasonably do to stop attacks by armed individuals.
JAPAN
Oct 31, 2021
Japanese citizens living overseas face high hurdles to vote
Sunday's general election underscored anew the plight of overseas voters, whose abilities to vote were compromised like never before by the pandemic and Kishida's election strategy.
JAPAN
Oct 26, 2021
Princess Mako weds after drawn-out engagement drama
In tying the knot with her college sweetheart, the princess relinquished her royal status and brought closure to a four-year engagement saga marred by scandal and public backlash.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Oct 24, 2021
Is Taro Kono politically dead?
Effectively demoted after his unsuccessful LDP leadership bid, the former vaccine czar needs to maintain his public popularity while hoping the party's views move closer to his own.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Oct 8, 2021
Why is the Nobel Prize so elusive for Haruki Murakami?
Over the years, critics have cited a number of possible reasons, with the most prominent being the lack of political statements in his work.
JAPAN / Media
Sep 30, 2021
Kei Komuro’s ponytail caused a media frenzy in Japan — leaving some to ask why
To some extent, the ratings-driven coverage speaks to the Japanese public's disapproval of Princess Mako's boyfriend.
JAPAN
Sep 26, 2021
As Japan's fifth COVID-19 wave wanes, officials warn against complacency
A delta-driven surge in COVID-19 cases is coming to a faster-than-expected end, but experts believe another wave of infections may be around the corner.

Longform

Professional cleaner Hirofumi Sakurai takes a moment to appreciate some photographs in a Gotanda apartment whose occupant died alone.
The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan