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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
Mar 27, 2016
Democratic Party launches with vow to halt ruling coalition
At its inauguration ceremony, Japan's newest and largest opposition party vows to dethrone Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 24, 2016
Author and disabilities champion Hirotada Ototake admits to adulterous affairs
In a blow that could further humiliate the scandal-tainted ruling party, disabled celebrity author and educator Hirotada Ototake, rumored to be tapped for an election run with the Liberal Democratic Party, apologized Thursday for committing adultery following a report by a tabloid magazine.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 23, 2016
Abe Cabinet says JCP promoting 'violent revolution,' subject to anti-subversive law
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government says the Japanese Communist Party remains a “violent revolutionary” group.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 18, 2016
Japan gets its own Democratic Party
The new opposition party formed to take on the conservative ruling coalition announces that its official English name will be the Democratic Party.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 13, 2016
LDP voices policies in lead-up to pivotal Upper House election
Delegates at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's annual convention adopt important policy measures such as revising the Constitution and breathing new life into the moribund economic recovery.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 11, 2016
DPJ, Ishin no To narrow names of new opposition party down to two
After weeks of intense debate, the Democratic Party of Japan and Ishin no To (Japan Innovation Party) are finally on the verge of sorting out the first daunting challenge of their scheduled merger later this month: what to name their new party?
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 9, 2016
LDP ponders bid by inspirational sports writer in Upper House election
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party is considering fielding famed sport journalist and educator Hirotada Ototake, who was born without limbs due to a congenital disorder, as a candidate for an Upper House election this summer, reports said Wednesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 7, 2016
Angry blog post sparks movement for improved day care
What started out as a mother's online rant about Japan's notorious day care center shortage has evolved into a national movement, galvanizing angry mothers into staging a demonstration and online campaign blasting the government.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Mar 7, 2016
Overworked teachers call for change as extracurricular supervision takes toll
As this year's elementary school graduates enter junior high school in April, one of their biggest concerns will be which extracurricular club to join.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 2, 2016
Academics, TV journalists slam minister's threat against 'biased' programming, fear media self-censorship
Journalists and academics join forces to openly criticize recent remarks by communications minister Sanae Takaichi.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 1, 2016
Lower House approves record ¥96.7 trillion budget
The Lower House passes a record budget, marking a turning point in Diet deliberations in which the ruling and opposition camps will switch attention to the Upper House election.
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 29, 2016
Lower House ready to pass record ¥96.7 trillion draft budget
The Lower House is set to pass the government's fiscal 2016 budget proposals Tuesday, making enactment of the record draft totaling ¥96.7 trillion all but certain.
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 26, 2016
DPJ, Ishin seal merger, will create new opposition party in March
The Democratic Party of Japan and Ishin no To formally agree to form a new opposition party to take on the conservative Liberal Democratic Party this summer.
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 24, 2016
DPJ endorses merger with Ishin no To; new party to form next month
The Democratic Party of Japan on Wednesday formally endorsed a plan to merge with the smaller Ishin no To (Japan Innovation Party), in an organizational realignment that it hopes will arm it for battle with the ruling coalition in this summer's election.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 23, 2016
DPJ, Ishin no To to merge ahead of Upper House election
The Democratic Party of Japan will merge with Ishin no To (Japan Innovation Party) in a bold move aimed at preparing for the key Upper House election in summer.
JAPAN / Society
Feb 19, 2016
Japan's Justice Ministry proposes scrapping six-month ban on women remarrying following divorce
In a landmark policy shift, the ministry says it will seek the abolishment of a six-month ban on women remarrying after divorce.
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 18, 2016
Lawmaker draws rebuke, silence after describing Obama as 'slave descendant'
A day after calling U.S. President Barack Obama a 'descendant of black slaves,' Diet member Kazuya Maruyama is accused by the black community, if not his party, of flirting with racism.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 17, 2016
Japanese city seeks to cover up adult magazines in convenience stores
In a possible first for Japan, the city of Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, will urge convenience stores to cover up adult magazines to keep them out of sight of children, a municipal official said Wednesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Feb 17, 2016
Viral anonymous blogger rails against Abe failure to alleviate chronic day care shortage
An anonymous blog post penned by an irate mother complaining that she has to quit her job after her child was denied admission to a day care center has gone viral on the Internet, shedding light on what she called the hypocrisy of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's drive to promote the "dynamic engagement"...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 12, 2016
Paternity leave trailblazer Miyazaki quits over affair
LDP lawmaker and paternity leave pioneer Kensuke Miyazaki quits his seat after admitting to an extramarital affair.

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