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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 / Society
May 9, 2016
Anti-poverty advocates launch petition for state-backed scholarship program
Anti-poverty advocates kick off a petition drive to lobby the government to establish a scholarship program for financially challenged students who want a university education.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 9, 2016
Constitutional scholar Kobayashi announces plan for anti-Abe party, Upper House bid
A constitutional scholar inspired by U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders jumps into the Upper House race to stop the 'uncontrollable' government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
May 9, 2016
JCP uniting with other parties, tries to lose chains of Soviet-era stigma
The Japanese Communist Party is riding high.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
May 6, 2016
Bullying of LGBT students at 'epidemic' levels in Japan: Human Rights Watch
The bullying of sexual minorities is reaching “epidemic” levels in Japan because of a lack of effective policies and training, Human Rights Watch says in a report.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 3, 2016
Abe's revisionist agenda subject of opposing rallies on Constitution Day
Marking the 69th anniversary of the postwar pacifist Constitution, supporters and opponents of constitutional revision held rallies in Tokyo on Tuesday to speak out on their respective causes.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 2, 2016
Systemic avoidance of political issues by schools keeps youth vote in the dark
Although 2.4 million teens will have a chance to vote in one of Japan's most pivotal elections ever, most are indifferent because politics is widely ignored in class.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 27, 2016
NHK chairman's order to follow government line on Kyushu nuclear reactors sparks outcry
Outspoken NHK Chairman Katsuto Momii has found himself once again mired in controversy after news leaked he gave instructions that the public broadcaster should stick to the official government line when reporting on the nuclear reactor situation in quake-hit Kyushu.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Apr 26, 2016
Hidden poverty growing under Abe, particularly among young and single mothers
As the government tells it, Japanese have it pretty good.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Apr 25, 2016
Lackluster Hokkaido win puts Abe on the defensive but DP-JCP tie-up shortcomings remain
A close victory by an LDP-backed candidate leaves Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the defensive while also showing the need for opposition parties to coordinate better ahead of this summer's Upper House election.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 19, 2016
Diet debates hate-speech bill that activists call narrow and toothless
An Upper House Diet committee on Tuesday began deliberating a bill that seeks to eliminate hate speech, labeling it as "unforgivable."
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 19, 2016
Abe insider wages one-man campaign to challenge foreign media over reporting 'mistakes'
An Internet strategy adviser to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is keeping his eyes peeled for what he calls "mistakes" by foreign media, because he thinks nobody in the government or the ruling Liberal Democratic Party has ever paid proper attention.
Japan Times
JAPAN / NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Apr 17, 2016
Day care crisis stuck in vicious cycle
The employee was in the throes of desperation as her maternity leave drew to a close in mid-March.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Apr 14, 2016
Japan ranked 34th out of 41 developed nations in UNICEF child poverty index
Japan has some of the worst wealth inequality and highest rates of child poverty among the world's developed nations, according to a UNICEF report.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 13, 2016
Abe ready to set aside TPP ratification for now to preserve standing in polls
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe instructs the ruling coalition not to “forcibly” proceed with TPP deliberations for fear of a voter backlash.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 12, 2016
Hokkaido and Kyoto by-election campaigns, measure of Abe's strength, get underway
By-election campaigns kick off in Hokkaido and Kyoto in what are expected to be a litmus test for how Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party will fare in the crucial Upper House election this summer.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 8, 2016
Ruling coalition submits bill to curb hate speech
The Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito ruling coalition on Friday submitted a potentially game-changing bill to the Upper House aimed at eliminating hate speech.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 7, 2016
Yamao apologizes over ¥4.29 million fuel claim in 2012
The new Democratic Party's inaugural policy chief has been forced to apologize after it emerged that her office had claimed up to ¥4.29 million in fuel expenses in a single year.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 4, 2016
American School in Japan launches scholarship to 'promote healing' in wake of sex-abuse scandal
The American School in Japan on Monday presented a student with a scholarship created as part of the Tokyo school's efforts to honor survivors of former teacher Jack Moyer's sex abuse and "promote healing and reconciliation" in its community.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 30, 2016
Japan's first-ever hate speech probe finds rallies are fewer but still a problem
The Justice Ministry finds a “significant” number of xenophobic rallies held by nationalist groups still occur regularly.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Mar 30, 2016
Landmark new laws put suicide prevention front and center
In what was hailed as a landmark development, the Diet passed an amendment last week to the suicide prevention law for the first time since its enactment 10 years ago — this time requiring local-level authorities to take preventive action.

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