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July 17, 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
Sep 11, 2009
Political battlefront shifts to Diet posts, floor space
As the country has been ruled by the same political party almost uninterruptedly for over half a century, some of the most unexpected problems are surfacing now that another force has seized power.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 9, 2009
LDP picks stand-in for Diet vote
Liberal Democratic Party members decided Tuesday they will vote for former farm minister Masatoshi Wakabayashi in the Sept. 16 Diet session to choose the next prime minister.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 8, 2009
Ailing New Komeito taps policy chief as new boss
New Komeito, still reeling from its losses in the Aug. 30 election, including the failure of its president and secretary general to win re-election, named policy chief Natsuo Yamaguchi as its new leader Monday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 4, 2009
New Komeito head to bow out
Four days after a devastating defeat in the Lower House general election, New Komeito leader Akihiro Ota announced Thursday he is stepping down to take responsibility for his party's poor showing.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 3, 2009
Rifts surface as DPJ seeks to woo allies
Fresh from Sunday's landslide Lower House election win, the Democratic Party of Japan officially kicked off talks Wednesday with its two small allies to form a coalition government, but the day's talks pointed to a rough road ahead.
JAPAN
Sep 1, 2009
Ota not ready to throw in towel yet
New Komeito leader Akihiro Ota and Secretary General Kazuo Kitagawa, two surprise losers in the Lower House election, refused to say Monday whether they will step down over the party's devastating 10-seat loss.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 31, 2009
Aso decides to step down
The air was somber Sunday evening at the Liberal Democratic Party's headquarters in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, as party executives faced the media as the rival Democratic Party of Japan scored a historic victory.
JAPAN / ELECTION 2009
Aug 22, 2009
LDP kept voters at bay while watching popularity ebb
Just four years ago the ruling Liberal Democratic Party was flying high with strong public support under then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
JAPAN
Aug 19, 2009
Focus for many is on how big DPJ win might be
Most observers are betting the Democratic Party of Japan will win the Aug. 30 Lower House election, with their focus now on just how big the DPJ's victory will be.
Japan Times
JAPAN / PARTY POWERS
Aug 19, 2009
Down in polls, Aso says only LDP can provide security
The Liberal Democratic Party is the only political party that has the ability to protect the Japanese people, claimed Prime Minister Taro Aso, who is campaigning furiously ahead of the Aug. 30 election.
JAPAN
Aug 18, 2009
Parties split on foreigner suffrage
Prime Minister Taro Aso and Democratic Party of Japan President Yukio Hatoyama displayed clear differences Monday in their parties' positions on whether to allow foreigners with permanent residency to vote in local races.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 16, 2009
Aso expresses war remorse; 'never again'
Commemorating the 64th anniversary of the end of World War II, Prime Minister Taro Aso expressed deep remorse over the pain Japan inflicted on its neighbors and vowed never to engage in war again.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 15, 2009
Higashikokubaru rues ultimatum
Miyazaki Gov. Hideo Higashikokubaru said Friday he regretted the political turmoil that resulted from his wavering over whether to accept the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's offer to put his name on its ticket for the Aug. 30 Lower House election.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 14, 2009
DPJ flattering to deceive: Hosoda
The policy platform unveiled by the Democratic Party of Japan is full of pledges simply to woo voters ahead of the Aug. 30 Lower House election, Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Hiroyuki Hosoda lamented Thursday.
JAPAN
Aug 13, 2009
Ruling bloc unveils joint platform for election
The Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling bloc unveiled its joint campaign platform Wednesday for the Aug. 30 Lower House election, vowing to regain public trust in politics by strengthening regulations on political funds.
JAPAN
Aug 13, 2009
Hatoyama, Aso trade barbs in first showdown since call for election
Prime Minister Taro Aso and Democratic Party of Japan President Yukio Hatoyama held their first one-on-one battle Wednesday since the Lower House was dissolved last month, and the two attempted to attack each other over which party was suitable to lead.
JAPAN
Aug 12, 2009
Hiranuma planning new party
Former Liberal Democratic Party heavyweight Takeo Hiranuma said Tuesday he and 16 fellow independent candidates hope to form a new political party after the Lower House election.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ELECTION 2009
Aug 6, 2009
DPJ poll win would set up battle with bloated bureaucracy
First in a series
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Aug 4, 2009
Strict rules in play to keep campaigning above board
Since Prime Minister Taro Aso dissolved the Lower House last month and announced Aug. 18 would be the official start of campaigning for the Aug. 30 general election, hundreds of undeclared candidates have been making the rounds to attract voters.
JAPAN
Aug 1, 2009
Aso unveils LDP policy platform
Prime Minister Taro Aso revealed the campaign platform for his ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Friday, pledging to bring about 2 percent economic growth in the second half of 2010 and boost Japan's per capita income to among the highest in the world within 10 years.
South Korea couple beat same-sex barriers to parenthood
South Korean lesbian couple Kim Kyu-jin (left) and her wife, Kim Sae-yeon, pose with a "pregnant woman" badge during an interview in Seoul last month.
Japan unveils new overtourism countermeasures
The majority of tourists in Japan tend to stay in Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto, resulting in overcrowding in popular tourist spots and a strain on transportation systems.
Opportunities await the bold in the Year of the Wood Dragon
2024 marks the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac, with the year predicted to be a good time for fresh starts.
Japan pharma startup developing world-first drug to grow new teeth
A new tooth is seen in a ferret's mouth after it was administered a drug to stimulate the growth of tooth buds.
Don’t worry about global population collapse
Most projections show the world will hit peak humanity in the 21st century as people choose to have smaller families and women gain power over their own reproduction.
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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