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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 Times
JAPAN / PARTY POWERS
Jul 29, 2009
New Komeito chief slams DPJ policies, rules out alliance
Citing the Democratic Party of Japan's "unreliable" policies, New Komeito chief Akihiro Ota says joining hands with the DPJ is unlikely even if the largest opposition force wins the Aug. 30 election.
Japan Times
JAPAN / PARTY POWERS
Jul 25, 2009
Ruling bloc lowers sights for poll, sets goal as 241-seat threshold
The Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling bloc's goal in the Aug. 30 Lower House election is simply to keep its majority and grip on power, a far cry from its landslide win in the September 2005 poll, LDP Secretary General Hiroyuki Hosoda said.
Japan Times
JAPAN / PARTY POWERS
Jul 24, 2009
Do or die at poll for Kokumin
The upcoming Lower House election is the last chance for Kokumin Shinto (People's New Party) to stop postal privatization — and failure would leave the party's survival in doubt, leader Tamisuke Watanuki said.
JAPAN
Jul 22, 2009
Aso pulls plug on Lower House
Prime Minister Taro Aso played his ultimate trump card Tuesday and dissolved the Lower House, turning a deaf ear to vociferous opponents of the move from within his own party.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 22, 2009
Aso forced to act by mutinous ranks in LDP
Prime Minister Taro Aso had no choice but to dissolve the Lower House to contain anti-Aso members of his own party, even though public support for him and the Liberal Democratic Party are at a critically low level, experts said.
JAPAN
Jul 18, 2009
Aso ducks ouster bid: dissolution Tuesday
After days of chaos within the Liberal Democratic Party, the movement to oust Prime Minister Taro Aso as party president effectively failed Friday, setting the stage for a Lower House dissolution Tuesday and a general election Aug. 30.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 17, 2009
Aso foes unlikely to block dissolution
Moves by lawmakers in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to remove Prime Minister Taro Aso as LDP president looked doomed Thursday because it appeared they will be unable to prevent him from dissolving the Lower House early next week.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 15, 2009
Aso attacked on all fronts
The Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling bloc easily shot down a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Taro Aso on Tuesday, but the LDP slipped further into chaos as members pressed for their unpopular leader to exit.
JAPAN
Jul 14, 2009
Aso to call Lower House election Aug. 30
Just one day after a crushing defeat in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly race, Prime Minister Taro Aso played his ultimate trump card Monday and announced the Lower House election will be held Aug. 30 under his leadership.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 13, 2009
DPJ scores big win in Tokyo assembly
The Democratic Party of Japan was cruising Sunday night to a clear victory in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election, taking over as the No. 1 force from the Liberal Democratic Party.
JAPAN
Jul 4, 2009
Aso fate rides on Tokyo showdown
The election campaign for the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly that kicked off Friday is the preliminary battle for the looming Lower House election and could determine the fate of Prime Minister Taro Aso and his Cabinet, analysts said.
JAPAN
Jul 3, 2009
LDP slams Hatoyama on funds scandal
The ruling bloc lambasted Democratic Party of Japan President Yukio Hatoyama over the political funds scandal he's embroiled in, but the opposition chief held his ground Thursday and said he had fulfilled his duty to explain the details.
JAPAN
Jul 2, 2009
Aso adds to Cabinet but LDP execs stay
Prime Minister Taro Aso gave up an apparent plan to rejigger the Liberal Democratic Party's top posts Wednesday as strong opposition from LDP heavyweights only left him leeway to fill two Cabinet posts concurrently held by other ministers.
JAPAN
Jul 1, 2009
LDP leaders scramble to end disarray
The Liberal Democratic Party fell into further disarray Tuesday, with party executives scrambling to stop the movement to oust Prime Minister Taro Aso from spreading as some LDP lawmakers grew louder in their calls to replace the unpopular party chief ahead of the Lower House election.
JAPAN
Jun 27, 2009
Kawamura retracts skin color gaffe
Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura was quick to retract what could be considered a racist remark Friday over the color of late pop star Michael Jackson's skin.
JAPAN
Jun 27, 2009
Bill drafted for JCG, MSDF to inspect North vessels
A project team of the Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling bloc endorsed the outline of a special bill to enable both the Japan Coast Guard and the Maritime Self-Defense Force to inspect vessels sailing to or from North Korea suspected of being involved in arms shipments.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 26, 2009
Aso hints at calling snap election
Despite his dwindling opinion poll numbers, Prime Minister Taro Aso said Thursday that he will dissolve the Lower House before too long, brushing off growing calls within his own Liberal Democratic Party to find a new leader.
JAPAN
Jun 23, 2009
Caterer used fake ID to get into prime minister's office
One would assume the prime minister's office's state-of-the-art security system prevents unregistered individuals from entering the premises.
JAPAN
Jun 20, 2009
Antipiracy, gift tax bills enacted
The ruling bloc rammed three key bills through the Lower House Friday, including a permanent antipiracy law that lets the Maritime Self-Defense Force protect ships of any nationality and have greater latitude in the use of force, and a relaxed gift tax so parents can give their offspring funds to buy...
JAPAN
Jun 19, 2009
Antipiracy bill set to be enacted
The Diet is set to enact an antipiracy bill Friday to establish a permanent law that will enable the Maritime Self-Defense Force to protect vessels of any nationality off Somalia, by use of force if necessary.
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.
Yen’s woes seem too big for even a BOJ hike this month to solve
The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo
China’s economic growth comes in worse than expected
Pedestrians in the Wangfujing shopping area in Beijing on July 11, 2024. China's economic growth in the second quarter was lower than forecast, adding pressure on Chinese leaders to lift confidence at the Chinese Communist Party's third plenum this week.
Kansai airports to increase takeoff and landing slots ahead of Osaka Expo
Kansai International Airport in Izumisano, Osaka Prefecture. The upper limit on the number of takeoff and landing slots at the airport as well as Kobe Airport in Hyogo Prefecture will be raised in spring next year ahead of the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka.
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.
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.

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