Sakura Murakami - The Japan Times

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Sakura Murakami

Reuters

JAPAN / Politics

Apr 1, 2019

Reiwa: Japan reveals name of new era ahead of Emperor's abdication

In a much-awaited moment that heralded the approach of a new chapter in Japan's history, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga announced Monday that the new Imperial era will be named Reiwa, in one of the final steps toward initiating the nation's first Imperial succession in three decades.

JAPAN / Help Wanted?

Mar 31, 2019

Bumpy ride feared in Japan as new visa types issued to ease labor crunch

Japan will open its doors wider to workers from abroad when the revised Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act takes effect. However, with it comes a host of other issues.

Japan Times

JAPAN

Mar 24, 2019

WAW/W20 talks close with a call for men to be more involved in women's issues

Key to empowering women is changing people's mindsets and involving men in dealing more with women's issues, participants at the joint World Assembly for Women and Women 20 summit hear.

Japan Times

JAPAN

Mar 23, 2019

At Tokyo summit, Malala Yousafzai urges world leaders to expand educational opportunities for women

At a Tokyo summit, 2014 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai urges world leaders to further promote the empowerment of women through education and financial support.

JAPAN

Mar 22, 2019

Malala urges Abe to take up education for young women at G20 summit this summer

Malala Yousafzai, an advocate for women's education and the youngest person to become a Nobel Laureate, urged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday to take the initiative in expanding educational opportunities for female youth at the Group of 20 summit this summer.

Japan Times

JAPAN / Politics

Mar 13, 2019

Journalists get tour of Japan's Izumo amid debate over equipping ship with aircraft carrier capabilities

Journalists on Wednesday were given a guided tour of the Izumo — Japan's largest flat-topped helicopter carrier — for the first time since the Defense Ministry revealed a controversial plan late last year to convert it so that it could handle fixed-wing aircraft — which critics and some opposition...

JAPAN / EXPLAINER

Feb 25, 2019

Japan's Ainu recognition bill: What does it mean for Hokkaido's indigenous people?

In a first for Japan, a bill to legally recognize the Ainu as the indigenous people of Japan is about to be submitted to the Diet.

JAPAN / History / FOCUS

Feb 22, 2019

Crown Princess Masako: A symbol of Japanese women's struggles in a male-dominated society

When Rika Kayama attended a violin concert at a Tokyo music hall in February last year, she was stunned to find a certain famous face in the crowd.

JAPAN

Feb 8, 2019

Japan's opposition parties lay into ministry officials for extensive role in wage scandal probe

Lawmakers question the neutrality of the government's special “independent” probe into the wage data scandal after learning that bureaucrats, not outside experts, interviewed 25 of the 37 officials involved.

Japan Times

JAPAN / Politics

Jan 27, 2019

Cabinet to keep Diet bills to a minimum with apparent eye on July Upper House election

Facing a critical Upper House election this summer, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appears to be laying the groundwork for a controversy-free five-month Diet session, which starts Monday.

JAPAN

Jan 22, 2019

Kei Komuro's family financial trouble resolved? Depends who you ask

Princess Mako's suitor — whose prospective engagement to her is currently up in the air over family financial trouble — claims the issue is resolved.

JAPAN

Jan 15, 2019

Observation deck for Tokyo's renowned tuna auctions opens to public at new Toyosu market site

Visitors formed long lines before daybreak on Tuesday to catch a glimpse of Tokyo's renowned tuna auctions — now at the Toyosu wholesale fish market — as an observation deck opened to the public for the first time since the relocation from Tsukiji in October.

Japan Times

PODCAST / deep dive

Jan 9, 2019

Episode 4: Japan's changing demographics

As Japan becomes a more ethnically diverse and multicultural country, aging communities are grappling with the complexities of how to live with new, young tenants from different cultures.

JAPAN / Politics

Jan 4, 2019

Name of Japan's next Imperial era to be announced April 1, Abe confirms

Speaking at the Grand Shrines of Ise, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says the tradition of revealing the name after the era starts will be skipped to minimize the public impact.

Japan Times

JAPAN / Help Wanted?

Dec 31, 2018

As Japan prepares for more foreign workers, Hamamatsu serves as precedent of interculturalism

Step into the municipal office of this city and you'll find pamphlets in multiple languages lining the walls, as people waiting in lines converse quietly in Portuguese.

Japan Times

JAPAN / Society / GENERATIONAL CHANGE

Dec 10, 2018

Yuzuriha support center in Tokyo helps abuse victims get back on track

Open the door to a small studio tucked away on a street near Kokubunji Station in western Tokyo on a Friday evening, and you'll find a group of young adults making jam or Japanese ponzu citrus-based sauce as they chat quietly amongst themselves.

JAPAN / Politics

Nov 20, 2018

Japan's ruling bloc votes down motion to remove head of judiciary committee amid clash over immigration bill

In the latest political clash over a controversial immigration bill, the ruling parties on Tuesday voted down a motion calling for the dismissal of the head of the Lower House's judiciary committee.

JAPAN / FOCUS

Nov 19, 2018

Wrangling over planned shake-up of Japan's immigration control law intensifies after government admits to data errors

A ruckus in the Diet over erroneous statistics leaves the government's Dec. 10 deadline for passage of new legislation in doubt.

Japan Times

JAPAN / Politics

Nov 14, 2018

More than 345,000 foreign workers predicted to come to Japan under new visas: government

Some 345,000 blue-collar foreign workers may join the workforce through the first five years of a new working visa system set to be introduced in April — if it wins Diet approval.

Japan Times

PODCAST / deep dive

Nov 14, 2018

Episode 1: Dual nationality in Japan

Japan's Nationality Act forces young adults with multiple citizenships to choose their nationality by their 22nd birthday. The choice is so tough that many flout the law and instead choose to live in a legal gray zone. Oscar Boyd is joined by Japan Times staff writers Sakura Murakami and Cory Baird to...

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

The sun shines from behind a waving Philippine flag at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.

Eighty years after the Battle of Manila, old foes forge new ties

By Anton L. Delgado

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