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November 22, 2024
 

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Alex K.T. Martin

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Alex K.T. Martin
Alex K.T. Martin is a Tokyo-based journalist and senior writer at The Japan Times, primarily focusing on feature stories. Previously he was a Tokyo correspondent for The Wall Street Journal.
JAPAN
Mar 16, 2010
Half-year on, Hatoyama struggling
It's been six months since Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and his Cabinet strutted the red-carpet for an inaugural photo session, staging a perfect Hollywood ending to a summer blockbuster election that knocked the Liberal Democratic Party out of almost 50 years of unbroken rule.
JAPAN
Mar 16, 2010
Hatoyama's brother quits 'ousted' LDP
Former internal affairs minister Kunio Hatoyama, whose older brother, Yukio, is the prime minister, served notice Monday that he was exiting the Liberal Democratic Party, saying he was ready to form a new force.
JAPAN
Mar 4, 2010
Ishiba laments LDP's divisions
The Liberal Democratic Party should focus on creating clear policies and restructuring and end its internal bickering, LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Shigeru Ishiba said Wednesday.
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Mar 3, 2010
Decks cleared, DPJ focuses on poll
With Tuesday's Lower House passage of the fiscal 2010 budget securing the way for its enactment by the end of March, the ruling Democratic Party of Japan will now focus on passing as many key policies as it can to bring visible results to voters before the summer Upper House election.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Mar 2, 2010
All movies subject to rating, even cuts
Moviegoers in Japan may have noticed that either during the opening or ending credits of a feature film, a mark appears on the screen bearing two kanji enclosed in a circle.
JAPAN
Feb 18, 2010
Hatoyama spars with opposition
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, during his first one-on-one debate against opposition party leaders, was forced Wednesday to fend off criticism over the money scandals dogging his administration.
JAPAN
Feb 11, 2010
LDP struggling in vain to rebuild
Taking the podium last month at the Liberal Democratic Party's first convention since its fall from power at the hands of voters last summer, Katsuya Nomura, former manager of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles baseball team, had a few words of advice for the LDP.
JAPAN
Feb 9, 2010
Hatoyama says Ozawa can stay
Democratic Party of Japan kingpin Ichiro Ozawa on Monday was given the go sign to remain as the party's secretary general by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama despite mounting public calls that he step down over his fund management body's involvement in a shady Tokyo land purchase.
JAPAN
Feb 2, 2010
Opposition rides Ozawa, Hatoyama over scandals
The opposition camp took the podium Monday to grill Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama over the money scandals involving him and Democratic Party of Japan kingpin Ichiro Ozawa.
JAPAN
Feb 2, 2010
Ozawa undergoes second round of questioning
Democratic Party of Japan kingpin Ichiro Ozawa said Monday he has undergone a second round of questioning by prosecutors over accounting irregularities involving his fund management body.
BUSINESS
Jan 29, 2010
Diet passes stimulus worth ¥7.2 trillion
A ¥7.2 trillion supplementary budget aimed at avoiding a double-dip recession cleared the Diet on Thursday, giving Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama some relief in the face of a series of money scandals and a declining approval rate.
JAPAN
Jan 26, 2010
Ozawa again denies direct role in fund scandal, vows to stay on
Repeating his previous claim, Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa on Monday denied receiving any illicit corporate donations and vowed to continue working as the DPJ's No. 2.
JAPAN
Jan 25, 2010
LDP tries to build steam before poll
The opposition-leading Liberal Democratic Party held its annual convention Sunday, promising party reform and victory in the July Upper House election while assailing the ruling Democratic Party of Japan over recent money scandals dogging Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa....
JAPAN
Jan 23, 2010
'Crossing' bares North defector fate
Every year, poverty-stricken North Koreans risk their lives crossing the border into China to escape the repression and starvation plaguing their hermit homeland.
JAPAN
Jan 21, 2010
Hatoyama assailed in Diet
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama was put on the defensive Wednesday over recent remarks appearing to encourage Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa to fight prosecutors over allegations of his involvement in a money scandal.
JAPAN
Jan 19, 2010
Ozawa scandal dogs start of Diet session
The 150-day regular Diet session convened Monday with the money scandals embroiling Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa and Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama expected to snarl efforts by the ruling bloc to pass budget and other bills.
JAPAN
Jan 16, 2010
Funds scandals risk DPJ Diet plans
The Democratic Party of Japan-led government kicks off its first ordinary Diet session Monday focusing primarily on fighting the recession, but Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama will also be forced to deal with DPJ money scandals.
JAPAN
Jan 7, 2010
Ozawa girds for major Diet reform
Is Ichiro Ozawa hungry for dictatorial power, or is he a political hero seeking to strengthen the Diet by cutting the bureaucracy down to size?
JAPAN / LOOMING CHALLENGES
Jan 6, 2010
Japan urged to exploit its tech, pop culture
Last of five parts
JAPAN
Dec 5, 2009
Coalition freezes Japan Post share sale
The first extraordinary Diet session held under the Cabinet of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama adjourned Friday after the ruling bloc used its majority to ram through the Upper House a law to freeze the state's planned sale of shares in Japan Post Holdings Co. and its banking and insurance units.
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Ishiba aggravates his own political failures with diplomatic faux pas
Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba is greeted at the APEC summit in Lima by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. The Japanese leader was criticized for remaining seated while meeting several world leaders at the event.
Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?
By Kathryn Wortley

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