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July 04, 2025
 

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Sakura Murakami
Reuters
PODCAST / deep dive
Oct 9, 2019
Episode 25: The start of an extraordinary Diet
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe set the tone for this year's extraordinary Diet session with a pledge to overhaul the nation's social welfare system to create one beneficial for all generations.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 8, 2019
Anti-NHK party leader plans to step down from Upper House to run in Saitama by-election
Political rebel and leader of the controversial NHK Kara Kokumin o Mamoru To (Party to Protect the People from NHK) Takashi Tachibana announced Tuesday that he plans to step down as an Upper House lawmaker — for now.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 4, 2019
Abe opens Diet session with call for social welfare reform for all generations
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe kicks off the extraordinary Diet session by tweaking his social welfare vows to appeal more to seniors and people with disabilities as he targets Article 9.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Oct 3, 2019
The quiet push to fix fractured Japan-South Korea relations
Almost a year has passed since the South Korean Supreme Court handed down a ruling ordering Japanese firms to pay damages to wartime forced laborers.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 18, 2019
Defense Minister Taro Kono says Japan not yet ready to point fingers over Saudi attack
New Defense Minister Taro Kono held back on Wednesday from saying that Iran was involved in last week's attack on Saudi Arabia's Aramco oil plants, highlighting how Japan's position on rising tensions in the Middle East differs from that of the United States.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Sep 13, 2019
New Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi vows Japan will take lead role on plastic waste
Koizumi said he wants to make Japan a leader in environmental issues and speak with Fukushima's fishermen about what to do with Tepco's radiation-tainted water.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 11, 2019
With Cabinet reshuffle, Abe confirms intent to seek change to Constitution
With two years left to cement his legacy, Prime Minister Abe carries out a major Cabinet reshuffle that reaffirms his desire to pursue outstanding issues such as constitutional revision.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 6, 2019
Renovated Okura Tokyo unveiled to the press ahead of public opening
Renowned for melding East and West, old and new with its architecture and design, The Okura Tokyo opened its doors to the press for the first time Friday after three years of renovations, ahead of its public opening on Sept. 12.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 23, 2019
Abe tied as longest-serving postwar Japanese leader with great-uncle Sato at 2,798 days
Saturday will be Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's 2,799th day in office.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 22, 2019
South Korea decides to exit intelligence-sharing pact with Japan
South Korea's decision is “extremely regrettable,” a Japanese government source was quoted as saying.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 20, 2019
CDP and DPP to 'join hands' in Japan's Diet in bid to thwart Abe's plans
In a move to counter the ruling bloc, Yukio Edano and Yuichiro Tamaki agreed Tuesday to merge their kaiha parliamentary groups in both houses of the Diet.
JAPAN
Aug 15, 2019
Emperor Naruhito follows father's lead in expressing 'deep remorse' over WWII at memorial service
In 2015, then-Emperor Akihito sent shock waves across the nation by expressing remorse over Japan's involvement in the war.
JAPAN
Aug 7, 2019
Rising Japan political star Shinjiro Koizumi and Christel 'omotenashi' Takigawa to marry, with baby on way
Wedding preparations are underway for Lower House member Shinjiro Koizumi, 38, a prominent politician who is widely seen as a potential future prime minister, and TV personality Christel Takigawa, 41.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Aug 6, 2019
With pro-constitutional revision forces just shy of the necessary seats, the DPP may be the party to tip the scales
A tug-of-war between the pro- and anti-revision forces has been playing out within the DPP, with leader Yuichiro Tamaki wavering between the two sides.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 6, 2019
CDP leader Yukio Edano tries to bury the hatchet with fellow opposition parties to counter ruling bloc
In a break from the usual rhetoric, Yukio Edano, leader of the largest opposition party in the Diet, is calling on smaller parties to join forces and form a larger joint parliamentary group within the Lower House to counter the overwhelming majority of the ruling bloc.
JAPAN
Aug 2, 2019
Hangings carried out for two Japanese death row inmates convicted of multiple rape-murders
The hangings of rapists and murderers Koichi Shoji and Yasunori Suzuki were Japan's first executions of 2019.
PODCAST / deep dive
Jul 10, 2019
Episode 19: Why is Japan whaling again?
Whalers are delighted by the policy shift, but many around the world have been left outraged and confused as to why Japan is so keen to continue its hunts. Staff writer Sakura Murakami joins Oscar Boyd to discuss.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 8, 2019
Haruno Yoshida, leading businesswoman and adviser to Keidanren, dies at 55
She was a longtime proponent of improving workplace diversity and was featured regularly in international forums as a role model for working women.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 3, 2019
Abe squares off with opposition leaders ahead of Upper House election
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said during a debate with opposition leaders on Wednesday that he will go ahead with the planned sales tax hike in October but vehemently denied there will be further increases while he remains in power.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jun 30, 2019
Japan's return to commercial whaling brings criticism from conservationists and praise from industry players
Following its withdrawal from the International Whaling Commission, Japan will resume commercial whaling within the country's exclusive economic zone.
Magnitude 5.5 earthquake jars Tokara Islands amid flurry of seismic activity
A strong quake struck off the Tokara Islands on Thursday afternoon, with the island chain having recorded around 1,000 earthquakes since a burst of seismic activity first began on June 21.
Onosato's yokozuna promotion causes rare quirk in new sumo rankings
Newly promoted yokozuna Onosato holds a copy of the latest banzuke ranking in Anjo, Aichi Prefecture, on Monday.
A prophesied disaster (likely) won’t strike Japan this weekend
A viral manga prediction of a July 5 disaster has gripped Japan with anxiety and triggered an economic impact, but experts warn that while such dates are unreliable, the threat of a massive earthquake remains real. 
Over 900 earthquakes strike Tokara islands in space of two weeks
A screenshot shows many quakes occurring in the Tokara islands over the past 30 days, in this image taken from the U.S. Geological Survey website.
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Flag football facing challenges and opportunities ahead
Japan’s women’s flag football team at the 2025 International Bowl in Los Angeles in June. The sport is enjoying continued growth in the country.
From Hokusai’s Great Wave, shinkansen to One Piece: a cultural treasure box for Lego Japan
Michael Ebbesen, general manager of Lego Japan, says Lego bricks based on Japanese culture have a rich global appeal and are sellable around the world.
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
Chef Hideaki Matsuo (middle) and the staff of Oseto Suisan Fisheries prepare to check on their sustainably farmed fish.
As Southeast Asia heats up, a Japanese cooling giant sees a major opportunity
An employee of Daikin Cambodia explains the use of different tools during an air conditioner installation training session in Phnom Penh. Daikin is one of Japan’s oldest air conditioning companies, but as Japan’s population falls, the firm is keying in on overseas growth.

Podcast

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

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji
By Alex K.T. Martin

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