<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>The Japan Times &#187; Eric Johnston</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/int-eric_johnston/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp</link>
	<description>News on Japan, Business News, Opinion, Sports, Entertainment and More</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Thu, 03 Oct 2013 03:55:20 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en-US</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
	
		<item>
		<title>Nippon Ishin&#8217;s future seen riding on Sakai mayor race</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/27/national/nippon-ishins-future-seen-riding-on-sakai-mayor-race/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=nippon-ishins-future-seen-riding-on-sakai-mayor-race</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/27/national/nippon-ishins-future-seen-riding-on-sakai-mayor-race/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Sep 2013 14:36:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[elections]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nippon Ishin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Osaka]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sakai]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toru Hashimoto]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=460913</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sunday&#8217;s mayoral contest in Sakai, one of Japan&#8217;s most independent-minded cities, is expected to decide not only the fate of a plan to merge Osaka prefectural cities into a single administrative entity, but also the fate of national-level efforts to create a new opposition party. But most of all, the race between Mayor Osami Takeyama, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/27/national/nippon-ishins-future-seen-riding-on-sakai-mayor-race/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>TPP, Hague treaty, Senkakus to top agenda for Kennedy</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/24/national/tpp-hague-treaty-senkakus-to-top-agenda-for-kennedy/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=tpp-hague-treaty-senkakus-to-top-agenda-for-kennedy</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/24/national/tpp-hague-treaty-senkakus-to-top-agenda-for-kennedy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Sep 2013 13:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Caroline Kennedy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[U.S. ambassador to Japan]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=459457</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[At her Senate hearing last week, Caroline Kennedy, tipped to be the next U.S. ambassador to Japan, faced numerous questions about the Trans-Pacific Partnership pact, tensions over the Senkaku Islands, and what she would do about nearly 400 cases of American children allegedly abducted to Japan. Bilateral trade issues, including tariffs on automobiles and soda [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/24/national/tpp-hague-treaty-senkakus-to-top-agenda-for-kennedy/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Idling of Oi No. 4 unit to again halt all atomic power</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/14/national/idling-of-oi-no-4-unit-to-again-halt-all-atomic-power/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=idling-of-oi-no-4-unit-to-again-halt-all-atomic-power</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/14/national/idling-of-oi-no-4-unit-to-again-halt-all-atomic-power/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 14 Sep 2013 10:54:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fukui Prefecture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kepco]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[No.4]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NRA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Oi]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=455083</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With Sunday's shutdown of Kansai Electric Power Co.'s Oi No. 4 reactor for regular safety inspections, Japan will be without nuclear power for the first time since July 2012.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/14/national/idling-of-oi-no-4-unit-to-again-halt-all-atomic-power/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>If U.S. comes calling, will Abe back Syria strike?</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/12/national/if-u-s-comes-calling-will-abe-back-syria-strike/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=if-u-s-comes-calling-will-abe-back-syria-strike</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/12/national/if-u-s-comes-calling-will-abe-back-syria-strike/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 12 Sep 2013 12:20:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston  and Mizuho Aoki</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[attack]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Syria]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[U.S.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=454469</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With a comprehensive attempt under way to find a diplomatic solution in Syria, punitive U.S. military strikes planned for its alleged use of chemical weapons last month have been postponed after appearing imminent just a few days ago. But if Washington decides to ignore the war-weary American public and an extremely skeptical Congress to go [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/12/national/if-u-s-comes-calling-will-abe-back-syria-strike/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Kansai not overly enthusiastic about Tokyo landing Olympics</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/11/national/kansai-not-overly-enthusiastic-about-tokyo-landing-olympics/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=kansai-not-overly-enthusiastic-about-tokyo-landing-olympics</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/11/national/kansai-not-overly-enthusiastic-about-tokyo-landing-olympics/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 Sep 2013 14:28:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[2020 Olympics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Osaka]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toru Hashimoto]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=453828</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As Tokyo continues to celebrate landing the 2020 Summer Olympics, some in Osaka are making noises about a future bid from the Kansai region.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/11/national/kansai-not-overly-enthusiastic-about-tokyo-landing-olympics/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>City in California readies another resolution against Hashimoto</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/09/national/city-of-glendale-readies-another-resolution-against-hashimoto/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=city-of-glendale-readies-another-resolution-against-hashimoto</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/09/national/city-of-glendale-readies-another-resolution-against-hashimoto/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Sep 2013 14:05:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[comfort women]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Milpitas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[San Francisco]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toru Hashimoto]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=453072</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Another California city is preparing a resolution to condemn Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto for his comments in May that Japan’s use of sexual slavery during the war was a necessity. Milpitas, a city of about 66,000 in Silicon Valley, is about 70 km south of San Francisco, which passed a similar resolution against Hashimoto in [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/09/national/city-of-glendale-readies-another-resolution-against-hashimoto/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Sakai election, confused colleagues cloud Hashimoto&#8217;s integration plan</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/03/national/sakai-election-confused-colleagues-cloud-hashimotos-integration-plan/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=sakai-election-confused-colleagues-cloud-hashimotos-integration-plan</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/03/national/sakai-election-confused-colleagues-cloud-hashimotos-integration-plan/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Sep 2013 14:40:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Nippon Ishin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Osaka]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toru Hashimoto]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=449654</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Osaka Mayor and Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) co-leader Toru Hashimoto&#8217;s most fundamental political goal, the integration of Osaka Prefecture and the city of Osaka, appears ever more in doubt as his opponents join forces in a key local election and his own party ranks express skepticism and confusion over what a merger [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/03/national/sakai-election-confused-colleagues-cloud-hashimotos-integration-plan/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Japan under increasing pressure to accept outside nuclear help</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/30/national/japan-under-increasing-pressure-to-accept-outside-nuclear-help/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=japan-under-increasing-pressure-to-accept-outside-nuclear-help</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/30/national/japan-under-increasing-pressure-to-accept-outside-nuclear-help/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 30 Aug 2013 14:15:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[contamination]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fukushima No. 1]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[radioactive water]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tepco]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=435843</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, just back from a trip to the Middle East and Africa, where he pitched Japanese nuclear technology, faces mounting international criticism that his administration is not taking the Fukushima crisis seriously. ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/30/national/japan-under-increasing-pressure-to-accept-outside-nuclear-help/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Fukushima spill snags reactor restart quest</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/29/national/fukushima-spill-snags-reactor-restart-quest/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=fukushima-spill-snags-reactor-restart-quest</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/29/national/fukushima-spill-snags-reactor-restart-quest/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Aug 2013 10:36:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[fukushima]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NRA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nuclear plants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[restarts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tepco]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[water leaks]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=435395</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Fukushima No. 1 power plant's continued pollution of the Pacific is fueling growing domestic and international concern about radiation hazards, clouding plans by utilities and the government to quickly restart a dozen reactors.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/29/national/fukushima-spill-snags-reactor-restart-quest/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Gaffe-shy Hashimoto keeps media at bay</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/28/national/gaffe-shy-hashimoto-keeps-media-at-bay/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=gaffe-shy-hashimoto-keeps-media-at-bay</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/28/national/gaffe-shy-hashimoto-keeps-media-at-bay/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Aug 2013 12:15:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[fundraising]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nippon Ishin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toru Hashimoto]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=434995</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With a critical local election looming, Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) co-leader and Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto declares that a fundraising event and strategy session Friday will be closed to the media.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/28/national/gaffe-shy-hashimoto-keeps-media-at-bay/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Critics split on Kennedy&#8217;s new role as U.S. envoy</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/23/national/critics-split-on-kennedys-new-role-as-u-s-envoy/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=critics-split-on-kennedys-new-role-as-u-s-envoy</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/23/national/critics-split-on-kennedys-new-role-as-u-s-envoy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 23 Aug 2013 10:53:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Caroline Kennedy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[U.S. Japan]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=433281</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ Caroline Kennedy's appointment as the first female U.S. ambassador to Japan divides American experts on the bilateral security relationship.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/23/national/critics-split-on-kennedys-new-role-as-u-s-envoy/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Volunteers work to clean up, reforest Kyoto&#8217;s &#8216;Poet&#8217;s Mount&#8217;</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/22/national/volunteers-work-to-clean-up-reforest-kyotos-poets-mount/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=volunteers-work-to-clean-up-reforest-kyotos-poets-mount</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/22/national/volunteers-work-to-clean-up-reforest-kyotos-poets-mount/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 Aug 2013 13:27:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[cleanup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dumping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[garbage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kyoto]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mount Ogura]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=432886</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sitting on the northern side of the Hozu River gorge, on the western side of Kyoto, Mount Ogura has long been associated with the literary world, and is known as the &#8220;Poet&#8217;s Mount.&#8221; Heian Period (794-1185) courtier poets sang of its natural beauty and, most famously, Fujiwara Teika (1162-1241) compiled &#8220;Ogura Hyakunin Isshu&#8221; (&#8220;100 Poems [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/22/national/volunteers-work-to-clean-up-reforest-kyotos-poets-mount/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Defense firms pushing to boost role</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/12/reference/defense-firms-pushing-to-boost-role/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=defense-firms-pushing-to-boost-role</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/12/reference/defense-firms-pushing-to-boost-role/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Aug 2013 13:01:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[defense industry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kawasaki Heavy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mitsubishi Heavy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[U.S.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=429494</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With pressure mounting from U.S. defense officials and the powerful Keidanren business group on the government to relax arms export restrictions, the military-industrial lobbies in Washington and Tokyo hope the future bilateral security relationship will incorporate their interests more robustly. At the same time, Japan is looking to expand its defense relationships with European countries, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/12/reference/defense-firms-pushing-to-boost-role/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Hashimoto advocate Sakaiya to advise Abe</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/12/national/hashimoto-advocate-sakaiya-to-advise-abe/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=hashimoto-advocate-sakaiya-to-advise-abe</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/12/national/hashimoto-advocate-sakaiya-to-advise-abe/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Aug 2013 12:59:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Cabinet advisor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LDP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nippon Ishin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shinzo Abe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Taichi Sakaiya]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toru Hashimoto]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=429474</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Taichi Sakaiya, 78, the man credited with persuading Osaka Mayor and Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) co-leader Toru Hashimoto to trade the world of television punditry for the world of politics, has been appointed as an adviser to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe&#8217;s administration. The appointment of Sakaiya, a key backer of several now-ailing [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/12/national/hashimoto-advocate-sakaiya-to-advise-abe/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Nuke opponents feud over bombs vs. power</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/06/national/nuke-opponents-feud-over-bombs-vs-power-2/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=nuke-opponents-feud-over-bombs-vs-power-2</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/06/national/nuke-opponents-feud-over-bombs-vs-power-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Aug 2013 13:41:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[A-bomb]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gensuikin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gensuikyo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hiroshima]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=425161</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Every August, thousands of visitors from Japan and around the world gather in Hiroshima and Nagasaki to commemorate the dropping of the atomic bombs. In addition to the solemn ceremonies that draw survivors and VIPs, there are numerous side events dedicated to seeking the elimination of nuclear weapons. But while most everyone in Hiroshima and [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/06/national/nuke-opponents-feud-over-bombs-vs-power-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>U.S. worried election-emboldened, nationalist Abe may roil Asia waters</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/23/national/u-s-worried-election-emboldened-nationalist-abe-may-roil-asia-waters/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=u-s-worried-election-emboldened-nationalist-abe-may-roil-asia-waters</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/23/national/u-s-worried-election-emboldened-nationalist-abe-may-roil-asia-waters/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Jul 2013 14:50:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[China]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[senkakus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[territorial disputes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[U.S. reactions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Upper House election]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=417371</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sunday&#8217;s overwhelming victory by the Liberal Democratic Party has created a dilemma for the United States, which wants closer economic and military ties with Tokyo even as it fears that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Cabinet now have free reign to pursue a hard-line diplomatic stance that will damage U.S. interests in East Asia. [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/23/national/u-s-worried-election-emboldened-nationalist-abe-may-roil-asia-waters/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Farmers stealing TPP spotlight from other key issues</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/22/business/farmers-stealing-tpp-spotlight-from-other-key-issues/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=farmers-stealing-tpp-spotlight-from-other-key-issues</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/22/business/farmers-stealing-tpp-spotlight-from-other-key-issues/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jul 2013 14:23:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[TPP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=415743</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[While a great deal of political and media attention is focusing on what the Trans-Pacific Partnership might mean for Japan&#8217;s agricultural sector, less is being devoted to how it could impact investor-state disputes and copyright laws, two controversial areas that present a growing challenge to forging the trade accord. The United States and some other [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/22/business/farmers-stealing-tpp-spotlight-from-other-key-issues/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Defiant Nippon Ishin pauses on resignations</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/22/national/defiant-nippon-ishin-pauses-on-resignations/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=defiant-nippon-ishin-pauses-on-resignations</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/22/national/defiant-nippon-ishin-pauses-on-resignations/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jul 2013 14:17:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[election 2013]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nippon Ishin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toru Hashimoto]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=415841</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[After an election that saw only eight of its 44 candidates win seats in Sunday&#8217;s Upper House election, Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) leaders were stressing the need for a unified opposition against the Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling coalition. With talk of either Nippon Ishin founder and co-leader Toru Hashimoto or co-leader [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/22/national/defiant-nippon-ishin-pauses-on-resignations/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Hashimoto in limbo after trouncing</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/22/national/hashimoto-in-limbo-after-trouncing/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=hashimoto-in-limbo-after-trouncing</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/22/national/hashimoto-in-limbo-after-trouncing/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 21 Jul 2013 15:49:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Nippon Ishin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toru Hashimoto]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Upper House election]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=413486</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The future of Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) co-leader Toru Hashimoto remained unclear Sunday evening following the party&#8217;s poor performance in the Upper House election. &#8220;This isn&#8217;t a victory. It&#8217;s not something to be proud of,&#8221; Hashimoto, also the mayor of Osaka, said during a news conference Sunday evening. Just four of the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/22/national/hashimoto-in-limbo-after-trouncing/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Ishin&#8217;s woes go beyond Hashimoto&#8217;s gaffes</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/19/national/ishins-woes-go-beyond-hashimotos-gaffes/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=ishins-woes-go-beyond-hashimotos-gaffes</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/19/national/ishins-woes-go-beyond-hashimotos-gaffes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 19 Jul 2013 14:40:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Nippon Ishin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Upper House election]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=412846</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[While Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) battles for seats in Sunday&#8217;s Upper House election, it has given up on two key local races where the expected winners oppose its fundamental goals, further eroding support in its Kansai base. The Hyogo gubernatorial race pits Toshizo Ido, 68, the current governor and longtime Nippon Ishin [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/19/national/ishins-woes-go-beyond-hashimotos-gaffes/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Feelings about Japan depend on who&#8217;s polled, and where</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/12/national/feelings-about-japan-depend-on-whos-polled-and-where/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=feelings-about-japan-depend-on-whos-polled-and-where</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/12/national/feelings-about-japan-depend-on-whos-polled-and-where/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jul 2013 11:31:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[China]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[South Korea]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[survey]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=409501</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Public sentiment about the economy and the direction Japan is taking has improved somewhat since last year, according to a study by the Washington-based Pew Research Center. But the way Asia looks at Japan and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is mixed, with highly unfavorable ratings in South Korea and China but Southeast Asia moderately favorable. [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/12/national/feelings-about-japan-depend-on-whos-polled-and-where/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Politicians silent on curbing hate speech</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/10/national/politicians-silent-on-curbing-hate-speech/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=politicians-silent-on-curbing-hate-speech</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/10/national/politicians-silent-on-curbing-hate-speech/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jul 2013 14:20:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[hate speech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Koreans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[right-wingers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shinzo Abe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[xenophibia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Zaitokukai]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=408433</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Calls in the Diet for legislation to curb hate speech targeting foreign residents of Japan are being made even as the issue barely registers on the campaign trail for the July 21 Upper House poll.  ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/10/national/politicians-silent-on-curbing-hate-speech/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>12</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Pro-nuke LDP&#8217;s candidate quiet on Ehime reactor restart bid</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/10/national/pro-nuke-ldps-candidate-quiet-on-ehime-reactor-restart-bid/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=pro-nuke-ldps-candidate-quiet-on-ehime-reactor-restart-bid</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/10/national/pro-nuke-ldps-candidate-quiet-on-ehime-reactor-restart-bid/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jul 2013 12:55:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Game of Numbers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ikata nuclear power plant]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shikoku Electric]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Upper House election]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=408524</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On the far western edge of Shikoku, Ehime&#8217;s Sada Misaki Peninsula juts out into the Seto Inland Sea. It&#8217;s a long sliver of land home to several species of hawk and several varieties of the prefecture&#8217;s famous &#8220;mikan&#8221; oranges. It&#8217;s also home to the Ikata nuclear plant, whose reactor 3 might be the first to [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/10/national/pro-nuke-ldps-candidate-quiet-on-ehime-reactor-restart-bid/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Hashimoto: from third force to political farce?</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/08/national/hashimoto-from-third-force-to-political-farce/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=hashimoto-from-third-force-to-political-farce</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/08/national/hashimoto-from-third-force-to-political-farce/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jul 2013 14:50:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[election2013]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nippon Ishin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toru Hashimoto]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=407713</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Third in a series One year ago, Toru Hashimoto was the toast of the nation&#8217;s media, with many predicting the outspoken Osaka mayor, who was then laying plans for a new national party, would become prime minister after the next Lower House election. Politicians ranging from Shinzo Abe and Ichiro Ozawa to Shintaro Ishihara were [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/08/national/hashimoto-from-third-force-to-political-farce/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Hashimoto pushes Yao Osprey plan</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/08/national/hashimoto-pushes-yao-osprey-plan/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=hashimoto-pushes-yao-osprey-plan</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/08/national/hashimoto-pushes-yao-osprey-plan/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jul 2013 14:00:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Nippon Ishin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ospreys]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toru Hashimoto]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yao]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=407727</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, co-leader of Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party), hopes to push forward his contentious plan to bring U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft, currently deployed to the Futenma base in Okinawa, to Yao airport in Osaka Prefecture. At a Sunday night rally in Yao &#8212; Nippon Ishin&#8217;s strongest support base [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/07/08/national/hashimoto-pushes-yao-osprey-plan/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>First MOX shipment since 3/11 arrives in Fukui</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/06/28/national/first-mox-shipment-since-fukushima-disaster-arrives-in-fukui/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=first-mox-shipment-since-fukushima-disaster-arrives-in-fukui</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/06/28/national/first-mox-shipment-since-fukushima-disaster-arrives-in-fukui/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Jun 2013 15:19:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Kepco]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MOX fuel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Takahama plant]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=392867</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Japan's first shipment of mixed uranium-plutonium oxide (MOX) fuel since the Fukushima nuclear crisis broke out on March, 11, 2011, arrives at Takahama, Fukui Prefecture.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/06/28/national/first-mox-shipment-since-fukushima-disaster-arrives-in-fukui/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Hashimoto stays at helm despite fiasco, calls to exit</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/06/25/national/hashimoto-stays-at-helm-despite-fiasco-calls-to-exit/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=hashimoto-stays-at-helm-despite-fiasco-calls-to-exit</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/06/25/national/hashimoto-stays-at-helm-despite-fiasco-calls-to-exit/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 24 Jun 2013 15:14:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Nippon Ishin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tokyo assembly election]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toru Hashimoto]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=390296</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Calls for Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) co-leader Toru Hashimoto to resign mounted Monday morning, after the party&#8217;s candidates were soundly beaten in Sunday&#8217;s Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election. But with the Upper House election less than a month away, party leaders said Hashimoto will stay at his post, with many of Nippon Ishin&#8217;s [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/06/25/national/hashimoto-stays-at-helm-despite-fiasco-calls-to-exit/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Hashimoto threat to quit helm roils party</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/06/20/national/hashimoto-threat-to-quit-helm-roils-party/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=hashimoto-threat-to-quit-helm-roils-party</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/06/20/national/hashimoto-threat-to-quit-helm-roils-party/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 20 Jun 2013 14:58:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[elections]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nippon Ishin no Kai]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shintaro Ishihara]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toru Hashimoto]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=388347</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Chaos continues to reign in Nippon Ishin no Kai and senior party members move into damage control mode following co-leader Toru Hashimoto's threat to resign.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/06/20/national/hashimoto-threat-to-quit-helm-roils-party/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>San Francisco hits sex-slave remarks; Hashimoto defiant</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/06/20/national/san-francisco-hits-sex-slave-remarks-hashimoto-defiant/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=san-francisco-hits-sex-slave-remarks-hashimoto-defiant</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/06/20/national/san-francisco-hits-sex-slave-remarks-hashimoto-defiant/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:06:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[comfort women]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[San Francisco]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sex slaves]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toru Hashimoto]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=387953</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Osaka Mayor and Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) co-leader Toru Hashimoto remained defiant Wednesday in the face of a fresh round of domestic and international criticism over his comments that Japan&#8217;s wartime &#8220;comfort women&#8221; system of sex slavery was necessary at the time. On Tuesday, the 11-member San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/06/20/national/san-francisco-hits-sex-slave-remarks-hashimoto-defiant/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Kepco&#8217;s MOX load to arrive June 27</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/06/18/national/kepcos-mox-load-to-arrive-june-27/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=kepcos-mox-load-to-arrive-june-27</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/06/18/national/kepcos-mox-load-to-arrive-june-27/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:18:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eric Johnston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[France]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kepco]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MOX fuel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Takahama nuclear power plant]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=385798</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ The first batch of controversial MOX fuel to be sent to Japan since the Fukushima disaster is set to arrive in Fukui Prefecture on June 27.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/06/18/national/kepcos-mox-load-to-arrive-june-27/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>

<!-- Performance optimized by W3 Total Cache. Learn more: http://www.w3-edge.com/wordpress-plugins/

Page Caching using memcached
Database Caching 31/113 queries in 3.129 seconds using memcached
Object Caching 2434/2755 objects using memcached
Application Monitoring using New Relic

 Served from: www.japantimes.co.jp @ 2013-10-03 13:11:28 by W3 Total Cache --