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April 30, 2024
 

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Maiko Takahashi
For Maiko Takahashi's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Nov 28, 2016
Half a million societal drop-outs drag on Abe's economic dreams
Nagisa Hirai was an active child who loved playing soccer with the boys. But that early happiness dissipated on her first day at elementary school when she became frightened after being unable to find her classroom.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 17, 2016
Analysts point to Japan's untapped potential to boost the economy
Japan's population is declining, deflation has returned, and the nation's economy is still stuck in cycle of weak, stop-start growth. And yet, there are a number of hidden and underutilized resources that Japan could tap to try to escape this economic malaise.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 19, 2016
Japan confident of China, South Korea summit despite tensions
Japan remains eager to host Chinese Premier Li Keqiang before the year is out, even as territorial tensions flare in the East China Sea with a pick up in military ships and planes traversing the area.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 18, 2016
Government has no plans to issue deficit bonds to fund planned stimulus package: Suga
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga rules out the issuance of deficit bonds to fund an economic stimulus package planned for the autumn, but hints at the use of construction bonds.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 31, 2016
Kishida's stock rises as future leader after Obama's Hiroshima visit
When U.S. President Barack Obama laid a wreath at the Hiroshima peace memorial on Friday to honor the 140,000 victims of the world's first atomic bomb attack, one of the city's best-known native sons was standing nearby — and in a position to take credit for arranging the historic event.
BUSINESS / Economy
May 16, 2016
Abe lurches to economic left to broaden appeal before crucial summer election
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is shifting his economic policies to the left in a bid to broaden his appeal ahead of a key election this summer.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 1, 2016
Ministry of Finance the loser in battle for dominance under Abe
The ministry awakens to a new reality after three years of government under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 9, 2016
Face of government in Fukushima aftermath blasts Abe push for nuclear power
In his trademark blue jumpsuit, the bleary-eyed Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano became the government's face of the Fukushima nuclear crisis as he faced the press every few hours. Five years later, he has stern words for Japan's atomic watchdog, the plant's operator and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's nuclear restart policy.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 19, 2016
Fastest-growing Airbnb market at risk as lodging-scarce Japan cracks down
Aileen Jeffery arrived in Tokyo two years ago and spotted what she thought was the best opportunity of her career: Hotel rooms in the capital were scarce and a boom in tourism was exacerbating the shortage.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Feb 9, 2016
Japanese lawmaker's paternity leave clashes with men-stay-at-work mindset
Kensuke Miyazaki planned to take a few weeks off work after his wife gave birth to their first child. Some of his colleagues and superiors are unhappy.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Dec 29, 2015
'Comfort women' deal likely to fuel Tokyo-Seoul military cooperation, aid Obama pivot
Japan and South Korea's landmark accord to end the divisive "comfort women" dispute will lead to increased economic and military cooperation between the U.S. allies, complementing the Obama administration's efforts to counter China's rise and North Korea's nuclear saber-rattling.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 25, 2015
Bank of Japan has room to maintain easing, Suga says
The Bank of Japan still has policy options to continue its unprecedented monetary easing, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said in an interview days after the central bank announced it would not expand its main stimulus target.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 26, 2015
Potential future Japan leader Koizumi Jr. needs to sell TPP to fuming farmers
Diet member Shinjiro Koizumi faced a dilemma when a group of farmers angry over the government's trade policy and aware of his dislike of tomatoes handed him a bag of them to try.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / ANALYSIS
Sep 24, 2015
Abe will need all his Zen calm to press on with Abenomics
After his first stint as prime minister ended in frustration and ill health in 2007, Shinzo Abe headed to a Buddhist temple and took up Zen meditation.
BUSINESS / Economy / ANALYSIS
Aug 17, 2015
Abe to revert to economy after war statement, defense fight
After delivering a much-anticipated statement on Japan's war legacy and engaging in a bruising legislative fight over defense laws, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe got a reminder on why he needs to return his focus to the economy.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 30, 2015
Potential Abe successor speaks out against security bills
A possible rival for the leadership of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling party is speaking out against his plans to expand the role of the Self-Defense Forces.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 15, 2015
Is hospitality sapping productivity in Japan?
Customers are gods, as a saying goes in Japan, where staffers press buttons for shoppers in department store elevators and hotel porters line up to bow to guests.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 3, 2015
Japan still set for 2017 tax hike despite struggling economy
The central government still plans to raise the national sales tax again in 21 months, even as the economy struggles to gain momentum following the recession caused by a hike in the levy last year.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 11, 2015
Abe war anniversary statement will improve China ties, LDP official says
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's planned statement on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II is expected to improve relations with China, according to a ruling party official known for his efforts to revive Asian ties.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 10, 2015
Chided by Abe, Japan Inc. starts boosting investment at home
Pressured by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to share some of their record profits, and by increasingly obsolescent equipment, Japan's companies are starting to boost their investment spending.
When will Japan intervene to support the yen?
Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki has reiterated the government's readiness to take an appropriate action as the yen continues to slide against the U.S. dollar.
'So hot you can't breathe': Extreme heat hits the Philippines
A pedestrian cools himself with a folding hand fan as he waits for a ride along a road in Manila on Wednesday, as extreme heat hit the Philippines.
Raising kids in Japan as a single parent? It takes a village.
Making things work as a foreign, single mother in Japan isn't easy, but these tips and tricks can help you through the hardest parts.
Yen rebounds strongly after first slide past ¥160 since 1990
The yen dropped to ¥160.245 per dollar on Monday before heading into the other direction to ¥155.01 amid speculation of an intervention by Japanese currency authorities.
JAL cancels international flight after captain gets drunk at Dallas hotel
A Japan Airlines' flight from Dallas to Tokyo was canceled last week after its captain got drunk at a local hotel.
Climate change, chalky grains and the risks for Japan’s rice farmers
A farmer plants seedlings in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima Prefecture. Japan’s self sufficiency rate for rice is nearly 100%, compared with 38% for food overall, on a calorie basis.
Japan wants you to spend more with ‘luxury tourism’
Performers play a traditional drum unique to Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, in the prefectural capital of Kanazawa on March 16 to mark the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line to Tsuruga Station in Fukui Prefecture.
Theaster Gates’ ambitious ‘Afro-Mingei’ brings Black Chicago to Tokyo
Theaster Gates' “A Heavenly Chord” lines up church pews before seven speakers and a Hammond B3 organ, a type of electric organ prevalent in Black American churches.
Casa del Cibo: A thriving jewel born from Tohoku’s harsh past
When chef Ryohei Ikemi moved to Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, and opened Casa del Cibo in 2011, it was the first proper Italian restaurant in the city.
Town to block view of Mount Fuji in response to overtourism
The town government of Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, decided to set up a 2.5-meter-high screen to prevent tourists from taking pictures of Mount Fuji looming behind a convenience store.

Podcast

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[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

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Climbing the branches of a Japanese family tree
By Alex K.T. Martin

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