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Jesse Johnson
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Feb 17, 2016
Canadian behind Rodman trips to bring hockey to North Korea
The Canadian man who once helped bring basketball hall-of-famer Dennis Rodman to North Korea is now eyeing another project: a hockey tournament that could see former NHL players visit the secluded nation.
Japan Times
WORLD / ANALYSIS
Feb 1, 2016
U.S. risks credibility gap by swatting China with international treaty it has never ratified
In the wake of Washington's second "freedom of navigation" operation near Beijing's man-made islets in the South China Sea, an often overlooked fact remains: The set of laws governing global maritime behavior that the U.S. has been touting has never been ratified by the Senate.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 31, 2016
U.S. defies Chinese maritime claims after warship sails near island in disputed South China Sea
The U.S. Navy sent a Japan-based warship within 12 nautical miles (22 km) of an island in the South China Sea Saturday that is claimed by Beijing and others in an effort to challenge what the Pentagon called "excessive maritime claims."
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 24, 2016
China's risk tolerance exceeds expectations amid faltering U.S. rebalance to Asia, study says
Beijing's view of American power as less of a constraint in Asia is boosting its willingness to pursue more aggressive risk-taking, putting a damper on Washington's rebalance to the region, a major independent U.S. report has warned.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Jan 13, 2016
U.S.-Philippine military deal ruling likely to bolster Tokyo's ties with Manila
A top-court ruling may bolster Manila's security ties with Tokyo as it grapples with an increasingly bellicose Beijing.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 16, 2015
Australia conducts surveillance flight in South China Sea; move could focus attention on Japan
Australia performs a “freedom of navigation” flight near artificial islands China is building in the South China Sea.
Japan Times
JAPAN / History
Dec 11, 2015
Fifty Japanese scholars attack McGraw-Hill, U.S. academics on 'comfort women' issue
The “comfort women” dispute heats up as 50 Japanese scholars chide the author of a U.S. textbook and his backers for “errors” they claim no Japanese scholar would support.
Japan Times
WORLD / Society
Nov 21, 2015
Roanoke mayor apologizes for Japanese internment remarks
The embattled mayor of Roanoke, Virginia, apologized Friday for comments earlier in the week citing the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II in a statement defending his push to keep Syrian refugees out of the area.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 30, 2015
Abe treads in China's footprints in Central Asia, picks up human rights baggage
Prime Minster Shinzo Abe's trip to Mongolia and Central Asia — in which he became the first Japanese leader ever to visit Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan — looks to bring in a raft of investment deals for Tokyo. But the whirlwind tour likely had other motivations, too, and raises questions...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Oct 21, 2015
As U.S. eyes South China Sea patrols, will Japan play a role?
Some experts say Japan, with its newly empowered military, could play a larger role in Washington's activities near China's man-made islands is the South China Sea.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 4, 2015
IS claims killing of Japanese in Bangladesh
The Islamic State group claims responsibility for shooting a Japanese to death in Bangladesh and vows to wage more attacks.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 16, 2015
Japan waits to see whether new Australian leader will rock the boat on defense
Japan watches anxiously after one of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's closest Asia-Pacific allies in ousted in a party leadership vote.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 10, 2015
Europe's approach to Syria exodus contrasts with Japan's dodging of refugees
As Europe faces what is possibly its greatest refugee crisis since World War II, the issue remains a faraway problem for Japan, which accepted a mere 11 refugees in 2014.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Sep 2, 2015
China's leaders welcome chance to distract attention with war parade
The noise of tanks and thousands of marching feet may be intended to stiffen the confidence of Chinese citizens, but Tokyo's reaction may be more subdued.
Japan Times
JAPAN / History
Aug 9, 2015
As Abe gears up for WWII anniversary statement, will Emperor weigh in?
As Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gets set to deliver his World War II anniversary statement, Emperor Akihito emerges as a possible counterbalance to any watered-down speech.
JAPAN
Jul 31, 2015
WikiLeaks alleges widespread U.S. spying on Japanese government, major companies
Anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks releases a trove of documents titled “Target Tokyo” detailing alleged snooping by the U.S. National Security Agency on the Japanese government and businesses — just as negotiators from 12 nations, including Japan and the U.S., hope to wrap up the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 14, 2015
Parody of LDP security bills video goes viral ahead of Diet vote
An animated video released by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party that attempts to explain the need for the security bills currently being debated by the Diet has spawned a scathing parody that attempts to shoot holes in the ruling coalition's argument for the legislation.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 9, 2015
LDP, DPJ take to Internet to mount security bill-related campaigns of persuasion
As Prime Minister Shinzo Abe prepares to ram through legislation that would drastically alter Japan's security stance, both the LDP and DPJ are taking their arguments to the people — via a variety of online media.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 11, 2015
Security bills' credibility hobbled by suspicious explanations and reporting: scholars
As the Diet continues debate over a raft of contentious bills that would upend Japan's postwar security regime, some scholars and experts are noting the need for at least some changes to the nation's defense posture considering the security climate in the region — and a more transparent approach to...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 11, 2015
LDP produces manga to make case for constitutional revision
The Liberal Democratic Party has published a new manga targeted at younger voters that argues the pacifist Constitution should be revised because it was hastily written in just eight days — by foreigners.

Longform

Wozme, founded by dancer and choreographer Wakaba Kohei, is composed of Kana Kitty, Ami Ishii, Akane Watanabe and Natsuki. Its aim is to inject elegance and beauty, traits traditionally associated with femininity, into the sometimes grotesque art form of butoh dance.
Wozme, an all-women dance troupe, wants to move the needle in butoh