Masami Ito - The Japan Times

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Masami Ito

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Masami Ito

Masami is a staff writer for the Life and Culture Division at The Japan Times. She is in charge of the weekly Sunday Timeout, covering various issues related to Japan, from alcohol/drug addiction and juvenile crime to female sushi chefs and kendama. Over her 15-year career, she has written extensively on Japanese politics, foreign policy and social issues.

Japan Times

JAPAN

May 13, 2009

Saturday poll set to choose new DPJ boss

A day after embattled Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa abruptly announced he plans to resign, the top opposition party scrambled to set the stage for electing its next leader.

JAPAN / EXPLAINER

May 12, 2009

Between a rock and a hard place

The islands of Okinawa offer subtropical resorts, original delicacies and a distinct culture.

Japan Times

JAPAN

May 12, 2009

Ozawa declares resignation

Bowing to pressure from within the Democratic Party of Japan, Ichiro Ozawa surprised the political world Monday by announcing his resignation as DPJ president to take responsibility for the political fundraising scandal involving his chief aide.

JAPAN / ANALYSIS

May 12, 2009

A boost for DPJ, at LDP's expense

With Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa intending to resign over a political fundraising scandal, the party may regain some momentum for the upcoming general election, analysts say.

Japan Times

JAPAN

May 6, 2009

NPO marks 30 years of refugee aid

In May 2005, Jane Best, president of Refugees International Japan, visited a refugee camp in Tanzania and met people who had fled conflicts in neighboring countries such as Rwanda, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

JAPAN

Apr 25, 2009

Lower House panel takes up contentious immigration bill

JAPAN

Apr 24, 2009

Lower House passes bill widening MSDF antipiracy role

The Lower House passed an antipiracy bill Thursday to create a permanent law enabling the Maritime Self-Defense Force to protect ships of any nationality against pirates, amid strong protests from opposition parties.

Japan Times

JAPAN

Apr 24, 2009

Machimura bides his time

Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura revealed that he has ambitions to someday lead the nation, but said that as chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's largest faction, his present role is to give full support to Prime Minister Taro Aso.

JAPAN

Apr 15, 2009

Debate starts on bill to free up MSDF

The Lower House began deliberating on an antipiracy bill Tuesday to create a permanent law that would let the Maritime Self-Defense Force protect ships of any nationality against pirates and remove certain limits on the MSDF's use of force.

JAPAN

Apr 11, 2009

Nakasone predicts formation of LDP-DPJ grand coalition

Former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone said Friday there is a big chance a grand coalition will form between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the Democratic Party of Japan after the next general election to stabilize the government and weather the recession.

JAPAN

Apr 11, 2009

Steps against Pyongyang widened

With the U.N. Security Council stuck in debate about how to respond to North Korea's rocket launch, Japan increased and extended its own sanctions Friday to condemn the hermit state, which sent the Taepodong-2 over its territory.

JAPAN

Apr 10, 2009

Aso reveals new plan to create 2 million jobs

Prime Minister Taro Aso pledged Thursday that the government will try to create 1.4 million to 2 million new jobs in the next three years by spurring ¥40 trillion to ¥60 trillion in new demand.

Japan Times

JAPAN

Apr 6, 2009

North Korea fires rocket over Tohoku

North Korea fired a long-range rocket over the Tohoku region Sunday, but Japan did not try to shoot it down because its debris posed no threat to Japanese territory.

JAPAN

Apr 5, 2009

No need to keep vigil of sky for falling objects: Kawamura

Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura assured the public Saturday that there was little chance that part of the rocket North Korean plans to send over the country will actually fall on Japanese soil.

BUSINESS

Apr 1, 2009

Aso orders new stimulus, extra budget

Prime Minister Taro Aso ordered the government Tuesday to come up with a new set of economic measures, including the drafting of an extra budget, aimed at digging the economy out of recession.

JAPAN

Apr 1, 2009

Diet passes resolution demanding N. Korea halt launch

With time running out till the launch of what North Korea claims is a satellite, the Diet unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday urging the reclusive state to abandon the plan.

JAPAN

Mar 28, 2009

Aside from U.N., Japan has few options against launch

Second of two parts

JAPAN

Mar 28, 2009

With one budget OK'd and Aso planning another, when can poll be held?

With the fiscal 2009 budget and related bills safely passed, all eyes in Nagata-cho are trained on Prime Minister Taro Aso to see when he will dissolve the Lower House and call an election. But he is already pursuing an extra budget.

JAPAN

Mar 26, 2009

Aso urged to call election after budget

Prime Minister Taro Aso should call a snap election in May after an extra budget for fiscal 2009 is passed to break the current political stalemate caused by a divided Diet, former Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa advised Wednesday.

JAPAN

Mar 24, 2009

Mind your words, Kawamura tells Aso, Obama

No national leader, it seems, can avoid putting his foot in his mouth from time to time.

You can often see generations of families enjoying performances together at Fuji Rock Festival.

Japan’s summer music festivals are feeling the heat in more ways than one

Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.

The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'

By Tomoko Otake

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Exploring Japanese culturevia Tohoku’s festivals

Exploring Japanese culturevia Tohoku’s festivals

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