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July 16, 2024
 

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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
Aug 12, 2011
DPJ shifts focus to Kan successor
...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 10, 2011
Noda delays announcement of bid to replace Kan amid market turmoil
With financial markets in a state of tumult, Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda decided Tuesday to postpone the anticipated announcement of his candidacy to succeed Prime Minister Naoto Kan as president of the Democratic Party of Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 6, 2011
Ozawa ex-aide tapes inquisitor, talks up don
On May 17 last year, lawmaker Tomohiro Ishikawa, arrested for allegedly falsifying a political funds report but free on bail, walked into the Tokyo District Public Prosecutor's Office with a mission — to record his pending interrogation.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 5, 2011
Nuclear policy trio face ax
Industry minister Banri Kaieda announced Thursday he is firing three senior nuclear officials over the mishandling of the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 4, 2011
Lawmaker defends attempt to observe disputed Takeshima isles
Three Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers who were denied entry by South Korea when they tried to visit an island near disputed territory in the Sea of Japan remain undeterred, although their actions ratcheted up diplomatic tension with Seoul.
JAPAN
Aug 2, 2011
Iwate beef cattle shipments banned
The government issued a shipment ban Monday on all beef cattle from Iwate Prefecture after detecting radioactive cesium exceeding the state limit from a number of cows.
JAPAN
Jul 30, 2011
Energy policy revised to cut nuclear role
The government officially shifted its energy policy away from nuclear power Friday with the release of an interim report vowing to pare reliance on atomic energy.
JAPAN
Jul 30, 2011
DPJ keeps Tohoku revival plan vague
The Democratic Party of Japan-led government bowed to strong opposition within its ranks Friday and endorsed a watered-down version of its basic reconstruction policy for the Tohoku region that ultimately failed to specify the size and duration of a tax hike to fund the work.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 29, 2011
Miyagi beef cattle shipments barred
The government ordered a complete ban Thursday on all shipments of beef cattle from Miyagi Prefecture after detecting radioactive cesium above the government limit in some local cattle.
JAPAN
Jul 28, 2011
Rumors grow over talks with N. Korea
Speculation is rising that Japan and North Korea will soon resume normalization talks after Hiroshi Nakai, former state minister in charge of the abduction issue, and a key North Korean official met secretly last week in Changchun, China.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 27, 2011
Kan wants elections for both chambers in '13
Elections for both chambers of the Diet should be held together in 2013, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Tuesday, denying he intends to dissolve the Lower House and call a snap election anytime soon.
JAPAN
Jul 26, 2011
World Cup-winning women's soccer team may get top honor
The government is considering giving the People's Honor Award to the national women's soccer team, which won the Women's World Cup last week, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said Monday.
JAPAN
Jul 21, 2011
No protest over U.S. subcritical nuke tests
Japan will not file a complaint against the U.S. government for conducting two subcritical nuclear experiments, last Dec. 1 and Feb. 2, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tetsuro Fukuyama said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jul 20, 2011
Fukushima cattle under shipment ban
The government banned beef cattle shipments from Fukushima Prefecture on Tuesday, more than a week after meat from the prefecture showed high levels of radioactive cesium, including some already sold and consumed.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 20, 2011
Kan meets soccer champs, perks up
It looks like the victory of the "Nadeshiko" Japan women's national soccer team not only gave hope to a nation still recovering from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami but also energized unpopular Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who vowed Tuesday to persevere.
JAPAN
Jul 12, 2011
'Stress tests' to be done in two stages
The government announced a new safety assessment plan for nuclear power plants Monday, making it precondition that reactors undergoing check-ups to pass the first stage of the so-called stress test before restarting them.
JAPAN
Jul 9, 2011
Kan under fire from his own team
Prime Minister Naoto Kan apologized to his Cabinet on Friday morning over the confusion he caused by his sudden order that "stress tests" be conducted on all nuclear power plants in Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 8, 2011
Kyushu Electric TV stunt slammed
Kyushu Electric Power Co. drew fierce criticism Thursday for ordering employees of its group firms to send comments to a local television program supporting the restart of the utility's two nuclear reactors at the Genkai power plant in Saga Prefecture.
JAPAN
Jul 8, 2011
Genkai mayor withdraws OK for two reactors' restart
Genkai Mayor Hideo Kishimoto on Thursday officially retracted his controversial decision to approve the rebooting of two reactors at the Genkai nuclear plant and slammed the central government for ordering "stress tests" out of the blue following weeks of assurances about reactor safety.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 7, 2011
Job 1 for Hirano is rebuilding public trust
Tatsuo Hirano, who Tuesday replaced Ryu Matsumoto as reconstruction minister, has a full plate and his first task will be to re-establish trust with survivors of the March 11 catastrophe in the Tohoku region that his predecessor damaged with insulting remarks just one week into the job.
Who needs AI when you have Hatsune Miku?
Over the first six months of 2024, a handful of songs using Vocaloid singer Hatsune Miku’s voice have enjoyed widespread attention, underlining a global interest in the character and the technology she represents.
Bloodied Trump survives assassination attempt at political rally
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is surrounded and evacuated by Secret Service agents at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Trump was rushed off stage at the rally after shots rang out.
Shooter came within inches of killing Trump, but left few clues as to why
An aerial view shows the stage where Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump had been standing during an assassination attempt the day before, and the roof of a nearby building where a gunman was shot dead by law enforcement, in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Sunday.
Yen’s woes seem too big for even a BOJ hike this month to solve
The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo
How to beat Japan’s summer heat in ways better for the planet
Tenugui towels hang up to dry at a dyeing company in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on May 8. The durable and versatile tenugui, which many people have in their homes, can be used in many ways to cool one’s body.
The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'
Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.
How to beat Japan’s summer heat in ways better for the planet
Tenugui towels hang up to dry at a dyeing company in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on May 8. The durable and versatile tenugui, which many people have in their homes, can be used in many ways to cool one’s body.
After Trump shooting, U.S. presidential race might take a violent turn
United States Secret Service Counter Snipers stand guard on a rooftop during a campaign rally for U.S. President Donald Trump in Avoca, Pennsylvania, in 2020.
No AC this summer? No problem (for me).
Think air conditioning is a requirement for a Tokyo summer? Think again.
She’s paying ¥1 million to help behind the scenes at the Paris Olympics
Mai Tarumi, who previously volunteered at the postponed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, has a travel budget of ¥1 million for her trip to volunteer at the Paris Games.

Podcast

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

Longform

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

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