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	<title>The Japan Times &#187; Politics</title>
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	<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp</link>
	<description>News on Japan, Business News, Opinion, Sports, Entertainment and More</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Wed, 02 Oct 2013 20:00:30 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en-US</language>
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		<item>
		<title>Support rate for Abe Cabinet rises to 63.3%: Kyodo poll</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/02/national/support-rate-for-abe-cabinet-rises-to-63-3-kyodo-poll/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=support-rate-for-abe-cabinet-rises-to-63-3-kyodo-poll</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/02/national/support-rate-for-abe-cabinet-rises-to-63-3-kyodo-poll/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 Oct 2013 14:25:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Abenomics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[approval rating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[consumption tax]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shinzo Abe]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=462864</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The approval rating for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe&#8217;s Cabinet stands at 63.3 percent, up from 61.8 percent last month, a Kyodo News survey showed Wednesday, despite the government&#8217;s recent decision to raise the politically sensitive sales tax. In the latest survey, 53.3 percent of respondents said they support the increase in the country&#8217;s sales tax [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/02/national/support-rate-for-abe-cabinet-rises-to-63-3-kyodo-poll/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Koizumi takes up post for Tohoku reconstruction</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/02/national/koizumi-takes-up-post-for-tohoku-reconstruction/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=koizumi-takes-up-post-for-tohoku-reconstruction</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/02/national/koizumi-takes-up-post-for-tohoku-reconstruction/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 Oct 2013 13:34:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ayako Mie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[reconstruction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shinjiro Koizumi]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=462804</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Shinjiro Koizumi&#8217;s appointment Monday as parliamentary secretary in charge of Tohoku&#8217;s recovery has generated much attention amid mounting criticism of the government for failing to speed up reconstruction efforts or end the radioactive water spill into the sea at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant. The 32-year-old son of popular former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/02/national/koizumi-takes-up-post-for-tohoku-reconstruction/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Noda slams &#8216;Abenomics&#8217; as pork</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/02/national/noda-slams-abenomics-as-pork/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=noda-slams-abenomics-as-pork</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/02/national/noda-slams-abenomics-as-pork/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 Oct 2013 13:34:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[DPJ]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[economic stimulus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yoshihiko Noda]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=462798</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Tuesday criticized current leader Shinzo Abe&#8217;s latest economic stimulus program as &#8220;pork.&#8221; &#8220;I cannot help feeling that it is pork-barrel spending,&#8221; Noda, a supreme adviser of the Democratic Party of Japan, said in a speech in Washington, referring to Abe&#8217;s roughly &#165;5 trillion stimulus package designed to mitigate the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/02/national/noda-slams-abenomics-as-pork/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Ex-PM Koizumi raps government push for nuclear power as &#8216;irresponsible&#8217;</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/02/national/ex-pm-koizumi-raps-government-push-for-nuclear-power-as-irresponsible/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=ex-pm-koizumi-raps-government-push-for-nuclear-power-as-irresponsible</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/02/national/ex-pm-koizumi-raps-government-push-for-nuclear-power-as-irresponsible/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 Oct 2013 12:59:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Junichiro Koizumi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nuclear]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=462553</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi criticized the government&#8217;s push to restart nuclear power generation and urged it to reconsider. &#8220;It is irresponsible to pursue nuclear power when there is no permanent disposal site for radioactive waste,&#8221; Koizumi said at a lecture in Nagoya. The government under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has retracted its predecessor&#8217;s goal [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/02/national/ex-pm-koizumi-raps-government-push-for-nuclear-power-as-irresponsible/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>April to see sales tax hike, Abe confirms</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/01/national/april-to-see-sales-tax-hike-abe-confirms/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=april-to-see-sales-tax-hike-abe-confirms</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/01/national/april-to-see-sales-tax-hike-abe-confirms/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 01 Oct 2013 13:57:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Reiji Yoshida  and Ayako Mie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[sales tax]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shinzo Abe]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=462243</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Prime Minister Shinzo Abe goes ahead with raising the consumption tax while also offering a &#165;5 trillion stimulus package to offset the negative impact on consumer spending.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/01/national/april-to-see-sales-tax-hike-abe-confirms/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Abe appoints more women, brother to senior government posts</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/30/national/abe-appoints-more-women-brother-to-senior-government-posts/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=abe-appoints-more-women-brother-to-senior-government-posts</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/30/national/abe-appoints-more-women-brother-to-senior-government-posts/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Sep 2013 14:52:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Nobuo Kishi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[parliamentary secretaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[senior vice ministers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shinjiro Koizumi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shinzo Abe]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=461958</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday reshuffled his senior vice ministers and parliamentary secretaries by appointing more women, his brother and the son of his flamboyant predecessor to senior government posts. His Cabinet, however, was not affected by the reshuffle. The move follows Abe&#8217;s speech to the U.N. General Assembly last week in which he [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/30/national/abe-appoints-more-women-brother-to-senior-government-posts/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Japan, U.K. security wonks talk business</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/30/national/japan-u-k-security-wonks-talk-business/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=japan-u-k-security-wonks-talk-business</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/30/national/japan-u-k-security-wonks-talk-business/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Sep 2013 14:14:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mizuho Aoki</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[maritime security]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[U.K.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=461923</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Nearly 18 months after Japan and Britain struck a deal to jointly develop weapons and defense equipment, security experts from both nations gathered in Tokyo Monday to discuss ways to expand that to maritime security, cybersecurity and military equipment. The two-day conference on Japan-U.K. future security cooperation kicked off with Prince Andrew&#8217;s and Prime Minister [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/30/national/japan-u-k-security-wonks-talk-business/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Ruling bloc to put off reconstruction surcharge decision</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/30/national/ruling-bloc-to-put-off-reconstruction-surcharge-decision/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=ruling-bloc-to-put-off-reconstruction-surcharge-decision</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/30/national/ruling-bloc-to-put-off-reconstruction-surcharge-decision/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Sep 2013 14:12:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ayako Mie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[LDP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new komeito]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reconstruction surcharge]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=461905</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The ruling coalition was expected Monday evening to delay until the end of December the decision on whether to end the Tohoku reconstruction surcharge for companies a year earlier than planned, amid mounting criticism that it would not lead to wage hikes &#8212; one of the arguments in favor of the move. The ruling bloc [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/30/national/ruling-bloc-to-put-off-reconstruction-surcharge-decision/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Hashimoto&#8217;s Osaka merger dream in jeopardy</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/30/national/hashimotos-osaka-merger-dream-in-jeopardy/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=hashimotos-osaka-merger-dream-in-jeopardy</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/30/national/hashimotos-osaka-merger-dream-in-jeopardy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Sep 2013 13:07:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Reiji Yoshida</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[mayoral election]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nippon Ishin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sakai]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toru Hashimoto]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=461738</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) co-leader and Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto was facing a critical battle. And he lost. On Sunday, a candidate fielded by Nippon Ishin lost a local government election for the first time in Osaka Prefecture, the power base for both Hashimoto and his party. The result could mean the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/30/national/hashimotos-osaka-merger-dream-in-jeopardy/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Mayor of Sakai returned in fresh blow to Hashimoto</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/29/national/mayor-of-sakai-returned-in-fresh-blow-to-hashimoto/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=mayor-of-sakai-returned-in-fresh-blow-to-hashimoto</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/29/national/mayor-of-sakai-returned-in-fresh-blow-to-hashimoto/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 29 Sep 2013 14:57:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Nippon Ishin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sakai]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toru Hashimoto]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=461524</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Mayor Osami Takeyama&#8217;s victory Sunday in the Sakai mayoral election in Osaka Prefecture has cast a shadow over the political future of brash Nippon Ishin co-leader Toru Hashimoto, the mayor of Osaka. Takeyama, a 63-year-old independent, defeated former Sakai Assemblyman Katsutoshi Nishibayashi, his sole challenger, with the backing of the Democratic Party of Japan and [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/29/national/mayor-of-sakai-returned-in-fresh-blow-to-hashimoto/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>&#8216;Convincing&#8217; search needed: Ishiba</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/29/national/convincing-search-needed-ishiba/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=convincing-search-needed-ishiba</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/29/national/convincing-search-needed-ishiba/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 29 Sep 2013 14:48:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[disasters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LDP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[March 11]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shigeru Ishiba]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tohoku]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=461525</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba said Sunday that a &#8220;convincing&#8221; effort must be made to find funds for disaster-hit Tohoku if it agrees to end the special corporate tax for reconstruction a year early. &#8220;The LDP is worried about whether it will be possible to secure financial resources for reconstruction,&#8221; Ishiba said on a [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/29/national/convincing-search-needed-ishiba/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Komeito fires warning shot at Abe</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/29/national/komeito-fires-warning-shot-at-abe/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=komeito-fires-warning-shot-at-abe</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/29/national/komeito-fires-warning-shot-at-abe/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 29 Sep 2013 14:47:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[collective self-defense]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[constitution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Natsuo Yamaguchi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new komeito]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=461513</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[New Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi said Sunday the debate over lifting the ban on collective self-defense may affect his party&#8217;s coalition with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who heads the conservative LDP, is intending to lift the ban by changing the government&#8217;s interpretation of the war-renouncing Constitution. But Yamaguchi said on [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/29/national/komeito-fires-warning-shot-at-abe/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>U.N. agency hails Abe&#8217;s speech on aiding women</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/29/national/u-n-agency-hails-abes-speech-on-aiding-women/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=u-n-agency-hails-abes-speech-on-aiding-women</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/29/national/u-n-agency-hails-abes-speech-on-aiding-women/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 29 Sep 2013 13:51:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Shinzo Abe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[U.N.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[women's rights]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=461345</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is praised by the head of the U.N. agency promoting women's rights for his speech last week but faces criticism from Time magazine.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/29/national/u-n-agency-hails-abes-speech-on-aiding-women/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Myanmar refugees arrive via U.N. resettlement plan</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/28/national/myanmar-refugees-arrive-via-u-n-resettlement-plan/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=myanmar-refugees-arrive-via-u-n-resettlement-plan</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/28/national/myanmar-refugees-arrive-via-u-n-resettlement-plan/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 Sep 2013 13:11:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Justice Ministry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Karen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Myanmar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Refugees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[resettlement]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=461156</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Four families from Myanmar arrived Friday night in Tokyo on a pilot U.N. refugee resettlement program introduced in fiscal 2010. The families are from ethnic minorities in Myanmar and had been living in a refugee camp in Thailand, across the border. After a 180-day vocational and Japanese-language training program in Tokyo, the 18 family members [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/28/national/myanmar-refugees-arrive-via-u-n-resettlement-plan/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<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>Abe: No time frame on collective defense goal</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/25/national/abe-no-time-frame-on-collective-defense-goal/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=abe-no-time-frame-on-collective-defense-goal</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/25/national/abe-no-time-frame-on-collective-defense-goal/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Sep 2013 11:55:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[collective self-defense]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[constitution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shinzo Abe]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=459784</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he doesn't have a specific time frame for changing the ban on collective self-defense as he prepares to address the U.N. General Assembly.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/25/national/abe-no-time-frame-on-collective-defense-goal/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Abe, Harper to delve into free trade, energy, defense</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/24/national/abe-harper-to-delve-into-free-trade-energy-defense/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=abe-harper-to-delve-into-free-trade-energy-defense</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/24/national/abe-harper-to-delve-into-free-trade-energy-defense/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Sep 2013 12:57:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[free trade]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shinzo Abe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stephen Harper]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=459471</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper were expected to confirm cooperation in free trade, defense and energy during talks to be held later Tuesday in Ottawa. Abe and Harper were to focus on trade liberalization within bilateral and multilateral frameworks, as both countries have joined the negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/24/national/abe-harper-to-delve-into-free-trade-energy-defense/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Japan joins pact to provide women with equal economic, political futures</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/24/national/japan-joins-pact-to-provide-women-with-equal-economic-political-futures/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=japan-joins-pact-to-provide-women-with-equal-economic-political-futures</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/24/national/japan-joins-pact-to-provide-women-with-equal-economic-political-futures/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Sep 2013 12:55:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[diplomacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fumio Kishida]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social advancements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[U.N. General Assembly]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[women's status]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=459459</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Japan has joined the Equal Futures Partnership, a multilateral initiative aimed at increasing the political and economic presence of women. &#8220;I would like to affirm our resolve to work with you all to expand participation in economic and political spheres by women both in Japan and around the world,&#8221; Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told representatives [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/24/national/japan-joins-pact-to-provide-women-with-equal-economic-political-futures/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Sengoku reveals politics of China skipper&#8217;s release</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/23/national/sengoku-reveals-politics-of-china-skippers-release/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=sengoku-reveals-politics-of-china-skippers-release</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/23/national/sengoku-reveals-politics-of-china-skippers-release/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Sep 2013 12:49:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[China]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[senkakus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yoshito Sengoku]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=458978</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Chinese captain arrested after his fishing boat collided with Japanese patrol ships in 2010 was freed by government intervention, former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku disclosed in a recent interview. Sengoku is the first member of then-Prime Minister Naoto Kan&#8217;s Cabinet to admit the government engaged in behind-the-scenes talks with judicial authorities to gain [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/23/national/sengoku-reveals-politics-of-china-skippers-release/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Abe heads to Canada, U.S. for PR offensive</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/23/national/abe-heads-to-canada-u-s-for-pr-offensive/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=abe-heads-to-canada-u-s-for-pr-offensive</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/23/national/abe-heads-to-canada-u-s-for-pr-offensive/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Sep 2013 11:22:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Canada]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shinzo Abe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Syria]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[U.N. General Assembly]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[U.S.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=458855</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Prime Minister Shinzo Abe heads to Canada and the United States for political talks and to attend a U.N. meeting to pledge support for Syrian civilians.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/23/national/abe-heads-to-canada-u-s-for-pr-offensive/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Abe to play up policies for advancing women at U.N. meeting</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/22/national/abe-to-play-up-policies-for-advancing-women-at-u-n-meeting/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=abe-to-play-up-policies-for-advancing-women-at-u-n-meeting</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/22/national/abe-to-play-up-policies-for-advancing-women-at-u-n-meeting/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 22 Sep 2013 14:06:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Shinzo Abe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[U.N.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[women's rights]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=458697</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will leave Japan on Monday to attend a U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York where he is expected to vow to support the social advancement of women and protect their rights, government sources said Sunday. Abe is then expected to take the opportunity Thursday to demonstrate the government&#8217;s policy of [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/22/national/abe-to-play-up-policies-for-advancing-women-at-u-n-meeting/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>&#8216;Humbled&#8217; by pick as U.S. envoy to Japan, Kennedy seeks deeper bilateral ties</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/20/national/humbled-by-pick-as-u-s-envoy-to-japan-kennedy-seeks-deeper-bilateral-ties/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=humbled-by-pick-as-u-s-envoy-to-japan-kennedy-seeks-deeper-bilateral-ties</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/20/national/humbled-by-pick-as-u-s-envoy-to-japan-kennedy-seeks-deeper-bilateral-ties/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Sep 2013 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[ambassador]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Caroline Kennedy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=457688</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ Caroline Kennedy tells the Senate confirmation panel she hopes to carry on the legacy of her slain father, John F. Kennedy, as U.S. ambassador to Japan.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/20/national/humbled-by-pick-as-u-s-envoy-to-japan-kennedy-seeks-deeper-bilateral-ties/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>LDP member&#8217;s home, office searched</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/20/national/ldp-members-home-office-searched/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=ldp-members-home-office-searched</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/20/national/ldp-members-home-office-searched/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Sep 2013 14:00:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[house raid]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[illegal electioneering]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kagoshima]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LDP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Takeshi Tokuda]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tokushukai]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=457866</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ Prosecutors search the Kagoshima home and office of Lower House Rep. Takeshi Tokuda on suspicion of illegal campaigning in December's general election.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/20/national/ldp-members-home-office-searched/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>U.N. food aid official pleads for more Syrian aid to ward off catastrophe</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/20/national/u-n-food-aid-official-pleads-for-more-syrian-aid-to-ward-off-catastrophe/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=u-n-food-aid-official-pleads-for-more-syrian-aid-to-ward-off-catastrophe</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/20/national/u-n-food-aid-official-pleads-for-more-syrian-aid-to-ward-off-catastrophe/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Sep 2013 13:45:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mizuho Aoki</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[FAO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[food aid]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Syria]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=457974</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A U.N. World Food Program emergency coordinator for Syria urged Japan and the rest of the international community Friday to come up with more funding to supply food aid to Syrians both inside and outside the country. Speaking at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, Muhannad Hadi said the WFP needs &#36;500 million to [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/20/national/u-n-food-aid-official-pleads-for-more-syrian-aid-to-ward-off-catastrophe/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Abe mum on plan for contaminated water crisis</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/19/national/abe-mum-on-plan-for-water-crisis/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=abe-mum-on-plan-for-water-crisis</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/19/national/abe-mum-on-plan-for-water-crisis/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Sep 2013 14:31:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Reiji Yoshida</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[contaminated water]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fukushima]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fukushima No. 1]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reactors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shinzo Abe]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=457306</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On his second tour of Fukushima No. 1, Prime Minister Abe recycles his "under control" claims from Buenos Aires, requests a deadline for filtering the radioactive water and urges the decommissioning of units 5 and 6.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/19/national/abe-mum-on-plan-for-water-crisis/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Cash handouts of &#165;10,000 eyed for poor after tax hike</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/19/national/cash-handouts-of-10000-eyed-for-poor-after-tax-hike/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=cash-handouts-of-10000-eyed-for-poor-after-tax-hike</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/19/national/cash-handouts-of-10000-eyed-for-poor-after-tax-hike/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Sep 2013 17:00:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[cash allowance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[consumption tax]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Komeito]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LDP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[low income earners]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=457019</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[To cushion the impact of the first stage of the consumption tax hike, the government plans to distribute cash payments of &#165;10,000 to &#165;15,000 to people with low incomes, sources said Wednesday. Households exempt from the local inhabitant tax will receive &#165;10,000 per person, with the cost adding up to &#165;240 billion for around 24 [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/19/national/cash-handouts-of-10000-eyed-for-poor-after-tax-hike/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Okinawa Ospreys can be sent to islets claimed by China: U.S. general</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/17/national/okinawa-ospreys-can-be-sent-to-islets-claimed-by-china-u-s-general/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=okinawa-ospreys-can-be-sent-to-islets-claimed-by-china-u-s-general</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/17/national/okinawa-ospreys-can-be-sent-to-islets-claimed-by-china-u-s-general/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Sep 2013 14:54:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Okinawa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ospreys]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[senkakus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[U.S. Marines]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=456527</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The commanding general of the U.S. Marines in Okinawa tells Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima that MV-22 Osprey aircraft stationed at the Futenma air station could be dispatched to the disputed Senkaku Islands if needed.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/17/national/okinawa-ospreys-can-be-sent-to-islets-claimed-by-china-u-s-general/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Abe keeps LDP leadership lineup; minor Cabinet change seen</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/17/national/abe-keeps-ldp-leadership-lineup-minor-cabinet-change-seen/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=abe-keeps-ldp-leadership-lineup-minor-cabinet-change-seen</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/17/national/abe-keeps-ldp-leadership-lineup-minor-cabinet-change-seen/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Sep 2013 13:43:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Cabinet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LDP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shinzo Abe]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=456443</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Prime Minister Shinzo Abe maintained the lineup of his Liberal Democratic Party executives Tuesday, though he is expected to reshuffle lower-ranking members of the Cabinet later this month, party lawmakers said. The party&#8217;s general council backed Abe&#8217;s decision to keep Shigeru Ishiba as secretary-general and Masahiko Komura as vice president among other key lawmakers. Their [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/17/national/abe-keeps-ldp-leadership-lineup-minor-cabinet-change-seen/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>50% against hiking sales tax in April: poll</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/15/national/50-against-hiking-sales-tax-in-april-poll/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=50-against-hiking-sales-tax-in-april-poll</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/15/national/50-against-hiking-sales-tax-in-april-poll/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 15 Sep 2013 14:44:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[consumption tax]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[public opinion poll]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shinzo Abe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[support rate]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=455682</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The public is nearly evenly divided over whether the sales tax should rise next April, but not over Prime Minister Abe's remarks about the Fukushima water crisis. ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/15/national/50-against-hiking-sales-tax-in-april-poll/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Confirmation hearing for Kennedy opens next week</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/12/national/confirmation-hearing-for-kennedy-opens-next-week/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=confirmation-hearing-for-kennedy-opens-next-week</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/12/national/confirmation-hearing-for-kennedy-opens-next-week/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:49:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[ambassador]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Caroline Kennedy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&#038;p=454534</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Caroline Kennedy, nominated by U.S. President Barack Obama to be America&#8217;s next ambassador to Japan, will take questions next week during a confirmation hearing on her appointment, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said Wednesday. The hearing Thursday will be Kennedy&#8217;s first chance since her nomination to comprehensively express her views on U.S.-Japanese relations. Afterward, a [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/12/national/confirmation-hearing-for-kennedy-opens-next-week/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
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