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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
Sep 30, 2015
Overseas online purchases to be taxed in bid to protect domestic industries
Consumers in Japan will pay sales tax on overseas online purchases from Thursday in a policy change to eliminate the price advantage of foreign firms over domestic rivals.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Sep 30, 2015
Landmark ruling in favor of victimized porn actress paves way for others to quit, lawyers say
A recent landmark court ruling in favor of a porn actress desperate to quit the industry paves the way for others to cut ties with the world of commercial sex without fear of penalties, lawyers said Tuesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 28, 2015
Several groups urge Abe to pledge to accept Syrian refugees
Private organizations supporting refugees on Monday urged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to express during his upcoming speech at the annual U.N. General Assembly session Japan's pledge to accept Syrian asylum seekers.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Sep 25, 2015
Court ruling sparks online outcry after teen idol told to pay damages for dating
A recent Tokyo court ruling ordering a teen idol to pay damages for violating a "no dating" clause in her contract has spurred an online outcry, reigniting debate over an industry many say is rife with male-chauvinist views.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Sep 25, 2015
Supporters demand security bill protesters be released following 'unjust arrests'
Supporters of protesters who were arrested for obstruction of justice during a rally against the government's security legislation demanded Friday that they be released immediately and decried their "unjust arrest."
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 23, 2015
Chilean woman lives her dream, works in Akihabara maid cafe for a day
"Okaerinasaimase goshujin-sama!" ("Welcome home, my lords!")
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 21, 2015
Tokyo at high risk of devastating floods, experts say
It's just a matter of time before Tokyo is struck by the same magnitude of flooding that devastated parts of the northern Kanto region this month.
Japan Times
JAPAN / NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Sep 20, 2015
Ready or not, government will soon have your My Number
The government claims My Number will make your life easier, but its egalitarian goals will likely eliminate your privacy and invite more abuse of authority by the police, experts say.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Sep 17, 2015
Foreign Joso flood victims hit out at city's monolingual response
One week after an unprecedented flood overwhelmed the city of Joso in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japanese-Brazilian resident David Kiyoshi Shibata believes it's a miracle he's still alive.
JAPAN / Society
Sep 15, 2015
Justice Ministry unveils eased refugee-recognition criteria but critics quick to cry foul
A wide-ranging review will cover everything from accepting more highly skilled non-Japanese workers and revising the foreign trainee program to cracking down harder on visa overstayers.
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 9, 2015
Plan to use My Number for tax rebates is flawed, some experts say
The system is set to streamline tax collection and social welfare benefits, but critics warn of privacy issues by using it to also provide sales tax rebates.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Sep 8, 2015
Supreme Court rules hibakusha overseas are entitled to full medical expenses
A landmark decision means thousands of atomic bomb survivors living outside of Japan will get full health coverage.
JAPAN
Sep 3, 2015
Ministry proposes overhaul of immigration, asylum policies
The nation will try to lure additional highly skilled foreign professionals and exchange students as part of a drive to stimulate the stagnant economy, according to the latest draft of an immigration policy review compiled by the Justice Ministry.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 30, 2015
Thousands protest Abe, security bills at Diet rally
In one of the strongest signs of public frustration over controversial security bills likely to be passed by lawmakers next month, thousands of people surrounded the Diet building Sunday afternoon to protest their enactment and call for the resignation of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 27, 2015
Students launch hunger strike to protest security bills
Sitting upright across from the Diet building, the protesters say they know their fight against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government is going to take a heavy toll on them. But they say they have to do it nonetheless.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 21, 2015
Low-cost retailer Shimamura pulls pendant bearing Nazi symbol
Low-cost apparel retailer Shimamura Co., has removed necklaces that resemble a swastika, which was the notorious symbol of the Nazi Party, amid a growing online backlash over the design.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Aug 19, 2015
Immigration crackdown seen as paving the way for state to expel valid visa-holders
After successfully expelling visa overstayers over the past decade, Japan is now shifting its immigration control focus to a new target: people in the country on bogus visas.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 15, 2015
Ministers visit divisive war shrine on 70th anniversary of war end
In a move likely to draw fresh criticism from China and South Korea, three members of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet visited the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine Saturday, the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 15, 2015
Emperor voices 'deep remorse' over war at 70th anniversary of surrender; ministers visit Yasukuni
In comments in Tokyo to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, Emperor Akihito refers to his u2018deep remorse' over wartime events.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 11, 2015
'Ama' divers denounce 'obscene' city mascot, demand its withdrawal
More than 100 ama divers are demanding that the coastal city of Shima, Mie Prefecture, scrap a newly adopted mascot on the grounds that it is obscene.

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