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May 04, 2024
 

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Ko Hirano
For Ko Hirano's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 17, 2017
Aso and Pence seek common ground on trade while jointly condemning Pyongyang
The leaders remained at odds over U.S. calls to start bilateral free trade talks but made progress on automobile and farm trade.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 14, 2017
G20 finance chiefs, upbeat on world economy, affirm coordination over risks
Finance chiefs from the Group of 20 major economies agree to step up coordination in coping with risk factors to the world economy amid signs that 2017 will be the best year for global growth in a decade.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 13, 2017
G-7 vows to apply 'maximum economic pressure' on North Korea over missile threat
Group of Seven finance chiefs on Thursday pledged to apply "maximum economic pressure" on North Korea over the "grave" threat posed by its missile and nuclear weapons development, a senior Japanese official said.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Aug 7, 2017
Southeast Asian nations seek stronger regional role for Japan amid vacuum posed by Trump
With President Donald Trump pulling the United States out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal and abandoning predecessor Barack Obama's policy of a strategic rebalance, or "pivot," to Asia, Southeast Asian scholars have urged Japan to play a greater role in regional security.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 8, 2017
South Korea, Japan unlikely to let 'comfort women' row undermine security ties
South Korea and Japan are expected to take a two-track approach to diplomacy to prevent the “comfort women” dispute from weakening their stance against North Korea.
BUSINESS / FOCUS
May 29, 2017
Japan needs 'bargaining leverage' as U.S. likely to push for bilateral trade deal
Given U.S. President Donald Trump's calls for breaking down trade barriers and expanding American exports as part of "fair" international commerce, his administration appears likely to push Japan to further open its agriculture and automobile markets.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 14, 2017
Actions of 'TPP 11' likely to influence Japan-U.S. trade talks
With U.S. President Donald Trump tapping into populist anger at globalization and withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, Japan has been exploring ways to move the pact forward with the 10 remaining members.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Apr 25, 2017
Trump's view on Japan eases back to conventional policy in his first 100 days
U.S. President Donald Trump directed some harsh rhetoric toward Japan on the campaign trail, but as the 100th day of his presidency on Saturday approaches, he apparently has settled for a mainstream approach to Washington's relationship with its key ally in Asia.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Apr 10, 2017
Japan tests reaction to obtaining strike capability against North Korea threat
Amid heightened tensions over North Korea, the Liberal Democratic Party has stepped up calls to boost Japan's missile defense in what some experts see as a move to gauge reaction from the public and regional powers, including the United States, about the potential adoption of strike capability.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 31, 2017
U.S. expert advises caution in Japan-South Korea 'comfort women' dispute
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Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 9, 2017
Trump's stance on Japan-U.S. alliance viewed as key to Asia stability
With Donald Trump set to take office Jan. 20, Japan and other Asian countries are closely watching his stance on the region's alliances, looking for reassurance on U.S. security commitments.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 28, 2016
Chinese scholar urges Abe to follow Pearl Harbor with Nanjing visit
Now that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has visited Pearl Harbor with U.S. President Barack Obama in a show of reconciliation between the two World War II foes, a U.S.-based Chinese scholar has suggested that Abe take a step further to achieve rapprochement with China over wartime history.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 10, 2016
Japan's leadership vital for success of TPP
Scholars are urging the Abe administration to take the lead in renegotiations so as to keep the TPP deal's spirit alive if the U.S. should pull out.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 20, 2016
Russia-friendly Trump likely to give Abe leeway on Putin negotiations
U.S. approval is vital if Tokyo intends to bargain with sanctions-hit Moscow, and Donald Trump will be more likely to oblige than Barack Obama.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 4, 2016
Next U.S.-North Korea talks could see abduction issue vanish: expert
The possibility of the next U.S. administration resuming talks with North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs might reduce its incentives for reopening negotiations with Japan on the abduction issue, a U.S.-based Japanese expert on North Korean politics says.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 19, 2016
Ex-Reagan aide says Abe has yet to eclipse Nakasone in terms of strategic vision
In the wake of the Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito ruling bloc victory in the Upper House election in July, Shinzo Abe appears set to eclipse Yasuhiro Nakasone this year as the fourth-longest-serving prime minister in postwar Japan.
WORLD / Politics
Jul 29, 2016
Security experts say Asian allies of U.S. prefer Clinton over Trump
Now that Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton have won their respective party's nomination for November's presidential election, security experts are assessing which of them would be a better choice for Japan and other U.S. allies in the Asia-Pacific region.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 12, 2016
Experts see Shinzo Abe's victory as good news for U.S. ahead of November election
The victory Sunday by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling coalition will reinforce the Japan-U.S. alliance and contribute to stability in the Asia-Pacific region, especially as Americans are focused on domestic issues in the run-up to November's presidential election, according to U.S. experts on Japanese affairs.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 8, 2016
Japanese language studies taking root in Vietnam elementary schools
When Pham Quang Hung started studying Japanese at Foreign Trade University in Hanoi in 1994, he never imagined that Vietnamese children would one day be able to learn the language in elementary school.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Feb 8, 2016
Abe to use North Korea rocket launch to promote constitutional change
North Korea's launch Sunday of what it says was a satellite may increase public support for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's more robust security policy and promote public debate about his calls for amending the Constitution, according to some experts.
Biden calls ally Japan ‘xenophobic’ along with rivals China and Russia
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks in Syracuse, New York, on April 25.
Yen swings stir talk that Japan is in the FX market once again
An electronic screen in Tokyo displays the yen exchange rate against the U.S. dollar and the graph showing its recent swings, on Thursday.
Harajuku strives to reclaim its former glory — and surpass it
Laforet Harajuku, which celebrated its 45th anniversary last year, has been a witness to the district's evolution over the years.
Weak yen fattens tourist wallets in Japan
People visit the Ameya Yokocho market in Tokyo's Ueno district during the Golden Week holiday on Tuesday.
Japan's May 1 intervention may have cost ¥3.66 trillion, BOJ data suggests
An electronic screen displays a graph showing Japanese yen exchange rates surging against the dollar amid signs of intervention by authorities, in Tokyo on Thursday.
Kishida sets sights on energy and climate in South America trip
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will use a policy speech in Sao Paulo to set out his vision for ties between Japan and South America, almost 10 years after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe advocated for stronger ties between the two in the same city.
Yellow sand allergy: A health issue made worse by climate change
A screenshot of the Meteorological Agency's satellite image of clouds and yellow sand (in pink) on Sunday.
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.

Podcast

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.
[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Longform

Rows of irises resemble a rice field at the Peter Walker-designed Toyota Municipal Museum of Art.
The 'outsiders' creating some of Japan's greenest spaces
By Stephen Mansfield

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