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May 03, 2024
 

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James Pomfret
For James Pomfret's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Aug 26, 2021
Hong Kong's former chief judge says upholding rule of law is not political
The city's judges symbolize a core condition of its return to Chinese rule: the right to a fair trial and equality under the law, administered by an independent judiciary.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jul 25, 2021
Free speech or secession? 'Liberate Hong Kong' at heart of landmark case
Activists say a ruling to outlaw the slogan will tighten limits on free speech.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jun 18, 2021
Inside Hong Kong's Apple Daily, China's besieged liberal media icon
Thursday's early-morning raid by 500 police officers was a shock, not only to Apple Daily staffers but to journalists throughout China's freest city.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jun 11, 2021
China's attacks on 'foreign forces' threaten Hong Kong's global standing, top U.S. envoy says
The comments come as other envoys, business people and activists have spoken about the chilling effect on their relationships and connections across China's most international city.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 27, 2021
Hong Kong security chief threatens Jimmy Lai's bankers with jail if they deal in his accounts
Observers said the action extended the tightening national security apparatus into elite tiers of the banking system for the first time.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Mar 2, 2021
China's electoral reform 'earthquake' set to upend Hong Kong politics
The proposed reform will put further pressure on pro-democracy activists, who are already the subject of a crackdown, and has ruffled the feathers of some Beijing loyalists.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / FOCUS
Dec 1, 2020
Democracy darkens: Hong Kong activists reel from Chinese moves
A year after young activists, veteran democrats and others formed the boldest revolt against Beijing in decades, Hong Kong is rapidly being 'mainlandized,' democracy advocates say.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Nov 26, 2019
China sets up Hong Kong crisis center in mainland and considers replacing chief liaison
Tightening its control over efforts to manage the upheaval in Hong Kong, the Chinese leadership has set up a crisis command center on the mainland side of the border and is considering replacing its official liaison to the restive semi-autonomous city, people familiar with the matter have said.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Nov 25, 2019
Fresh headache for China after Hong Kong pro-democracy residents rout pro-Beijing candidates
After months of sometimes violent unrest in Hong Kong, an election with record turnout handed a big victory to pro-democracy local district council candidates, posing a new conundrum for Beijing and adding pressure on the city's leader.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Sep 4, 2019
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam announces withdrawal of controversial extradition bill
The city's leader Carrie Lam on Wednesday announced the withdrawal of an extradition bill that triggered months of unrest and threw the Chinese-ruled city into its worst crisis in decades.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Sep 2, 2019
Hong Kong leader says she would 'quit' if she could, fears ability to resolve crisis 'very limited'
Embattled Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said she has caused "unforgivable havoc" by igniting the political crisis engulfing the city and would quit if she had a choice, according to an audio recording of remarks she made last week to a group of businesspeople.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Aug 31, 2019
China rejected Hong Kong plan to appease protesters, sources say
Earlier this summer, Carrie Lam, the chief executive of Hong Kong, submitted a report to Beijing that assessed protesters' five key demands and found that withdrawing a contentious extradition bill could help defuse the mounting political crisis in the territory.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / FOCUS
Jun 26, 2019
Pro-China groups step up offensive to win over Taiwan
When Taiwanese businessman Jhang Yun-nan wanted to find buyers for his company's new cleaning products in China, he turned to an unconventional channel: a Taiwanese party that advocates the unification of China with the self-ruled democratic island.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Jun 16, 2019
How Hong Kong protests and Beijing pressure forced Carrie Lam to cave on extradition bill
With an escalating U.S. trade war, a faltering economy and tensions in the South China Sea vexing her bosses in Beijing, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam appeared in no mood to compromise on a planned extradition law at recent meetings, according to foreign envoys and business people who met with her.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / FOCUS
Mar 18, 2019
Activists in Hong Kong and Taiwan feel heat as China fears 'separatist' collusion
As Beijing grows wary of pro-independence groups seeking to forge closer ties in Hong Kong and Taiwan, activists say they are coming under increased surveillance and harassment from pro-China media outlets and unofficial "operatives."
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 18, 2019
As cramped Hong Kong eyes $64 billion island-building plan, critics say developers are hoarding unused land
Hong Kong's government says it needs to build billions of dollars' worth of artificial islands to give the city's glittering skyline room to grow, but critics say developers are hoarding unused land that could solve the problem.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 19, 2018
Before a packed court, three Hong Kong Occupy leaders plead not guilty to public nuisance charges
Three leaders of Hong Kong's 2014 pro-democracy Occupy movement, which paralyzed parts of the Chinese-ruled city for nearly three months, denied public nuisance charges on Monday as international criticism of the erosion of civil liberties grows.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 17, 2018
Hong Kong's freedoms under scrutiny as Occupy democracy leaders face trial
Nine leaders of Hong Kong's 2014 civil disobedience Occupy Central movement go on trial Monday at a time when the Chinese-ruled financial hub's civil liberties are coming under increasing strain.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Sep 21, 2018
China tightens embrace of Hong Kong with bullet train and other giant projects
Hong Kong's first bullet train will glide out of a sleek harbor-front railway station bound for mainland China on Saturday, launching a new era of integration — and raising fears among some for the territory's cherished freedoms.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 21, 2017
Upcoming China-Hong Kong bridge: unifying link, or tentacle of Beijing control?
As a 30-km (19-mile) bridge between Hong Kong and China across the Pearl River estuary nears completion, Chinese officials are hoping it will bring more than economic integration at a time of growing tension between the two sides.
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.
Number of vacant homes in Japan hits record high of 9 million
A vacant house in Tokyo is seen demolished in January 2020.
'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.
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.
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.
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

When trying to trace your lineage in Japan, the "koseki" is the most important form of document you'll encounter.
Climbing the branches of a Japanese family tree
By Alex K.T. Martin

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