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Natsuko Fukue

JAPAN

Dec 10, 2011

Ichikawa, Yamaoka censured in Diet

The Upper House passed nonbinding censure motions Friday against Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa and consumers affairs minister Kenji Yamaoka, dealing a blow to Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's administration on the last day of the extraordinary Diet session.

JAPAN

Nov 30, 2011

High cesium level found in Date rice

The government on Tuesday ordered a ban on the shipment of rice harvested in two more districts in Fukushima Prefecture after tests detected dangerously high levels of radioactive cesium.

JAPAN

Nov 25, 2011

Noda seeks to appease party foes to TPP talks

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda held a meeting Thursday with lawmakers from his Democratic Party of Japan in an effort to ease their opposition to Japan taking part in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations.

Japan Times

JAPAN

Nov 18, 2011

Fukushima to ban rice grown in Onami

The government on Thursday banned shipments of rice harvested in the Onami district in the city of Fukushima after one farm's product registered levels of radioactive cesium above the provisional limit.

JAPAN

Nov 17, 2011

No need for U.S. to correct TPP comments, Noda says

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said Wednesday he will not ask Washington again to revise a statement that he claimed misquoted his comments about Japan's stance on free-trade talks.

Japan Times

JAPAN

Nov 12, 2011

Japan will join TPP dialogue, Noda decides

Japan will join the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda officially announced Friday night, a day after he delayed making an declaration on the country's stance on the free-trade initiative.

JAPAN / ANALYSIS

Nov 12, 2011

Dissent within DPJ ranks looks set to fester

Delaying the decision to take part in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations by a day may have bought a little time, but experts said Friday there is no going back for Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda now that he has announced Japan will participate in the free-trade talks.

JAPAN

Nov 11, 2011

DPJ shelves tobacco tax hike to appease opposition

The ruling Democratic Party of Japan on Thursday postponed its plan to raise the tobacco tax, a compromise intended to win the opposition camp's support over the passage of budget-related bills.

Japan Times

JAPAN

Nov 10, 2011

Tohoku teens share views of survival

Asaka Yanada, a 15-year-old high school student from Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, ran as fast as she could toward a hill for 2 km, shepherding elementary school students, when the giant tsunami engulfed her hometown on March 11.

JAPAN

Nov 9, 2011

Tohoku recovery bond redemption put at 25 years

The Democratic Party of Japan yielded to the opposition camp Tuesday and agreed to redeem the bonds for financing the reconstruction of the Tohoku region in 25 years.

Japan Times

JAPAN

Nov 1, 2011

Noda takes flak in Diet over extra budget, free trade

Opposition lawmakers lashed out at Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Monday over what they said is the administration's unclear stance on whether to join free-trade talks, criticized components of the third extra budget for the Tohoku region reconstruction and called on him to dissolve the Lower House...

Japan Times

JAPAN / EXPLAINER

Oct 18, 2011

Bureaucrat housing perks draw fire

JAPAN

Sep 30, 2011

Eight prefectures eyed for radioactive dumps

The Environment Ministry has revealed a controversial plan to build temporary storage facilities for soil contaminated with radiation from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant in eight prefectures in the Tohoku and Kanto regions.

JAPAN

Sep 29, 2011

Noda eyes reduced media contact

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda hinted Wednesday that he may hold regular news conferences instead of standup interviews with the press, apparently reflecting caution in dealing with the media.

Japan Times

JAPAN / ANALYSIS

Sep 28, 2011

Aides' convictions bode ill for Ozawa

Japan Times

JAPAN

Sep 27, 2011

Opposition slams Noda for dodging discussion of reconstruction budget

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda came under fire from opposition lawmakers at the Lower House Budget Committee meeting Monday for failing to keep the Diet in session long enough to discuss the budget for the reconstruction of the disaster-hit Tohoku region.

Japan Times

JAPAN

Sep 23, 2011

Maehara speaks out for continued export of nuclear reactors

Drawing on its technology and experience, Japan should continue to export nuclear reactors despite the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant, ruling party policy chief Seiji Maehara said Wednesday.

Japan Times

JAPAN

Sep 17, 2011

Koshiishi still siding with Ozawa

Azuma Koshiishi, the new secretary general of the Democratic Party of Japan, said he still believes Ichiro Ozawa's suspension should be lifted.

Japan Times

JAPAN / CABINET INTERVIEW

Sep 16, 2011

Despite pyramid sales donations, new consumer chief vows to run tight ship

Newly appointed consumer affairs chief Kenji Yamaoka says he will keep an eye on shady businesses that target consumers, while claiming that donations he received from businesses and a group involved in a pyramid scheme were legal.

JAPAN / ANALYSIS

Sep 3, 2011

Lineup competent but lacking buzz

The new ministers hand-picked Friday by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda lack the star power or celebrity status needed to reverse the Democratic Party of Japan's dwindling popularity.

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Japan’s summer music festivals are feeling the heat in more ways than one

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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