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July 06, 2025
 

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Kanako Takahara

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Kanako Takahara
Kanako Takahara is a staff writer who has covered national politics, diplomacy, business and the economy at The Japan Times. A graduate of Sophia University, she is currently a national news editor.
Japan Times
JAPAN / FOCUS
Mar 17, 2022
Japan’s latest quake evokes memories of 3/11. Was it an aftershock?
The 7.4 magnitude quake that hit Tohoku shook a region that's still recovering from the devastation of the March 2011 disaster. Experts are split on whether the quakes are closely linked.
JAPAN
Mar 16, 2022
Japan to revoke Russia's most favored nation trade status
The U.S., EU and U.K. have announced similar moves following a G7 leaders' statement describing actions to deny the preferred trade status to Moscow.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 15, 2022
Japan looks to offer enhanced support to help Ukrainian refugees settle
Making use of help offered by firms and municipalities, measures would include providing accommodation, daily supplies, language education, job-hunting support and education for children.
JAPAN
Mar 11, 2022
Japan's COVID-19 panel approves eased criteria for lifting quasi-emergency
The move comes as quasi-emergency measures in place in 18 prefectures, including Tokyo, Osaka and Aichi prefectures — are set to expire on March 21.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 11, 2022
Israel, Sweden and Chile are recommending a fourth COVID-19 jab. What about Japan?
If fourth doses in Japan are administered six months after third shots, a second booster rollout could begin as early as this summer.
Japan Times
JAPAN / FOCUS
Mar 10, 2022
Are Ukrainians who flee 'refugees' or 'evacuees'? For Japan, it's complicated.
Many governments and organizations describe Ukrainians escaping Russia's invasion as refugees, but Tokyo is using a term that more closely translates to 'people who have been evacuated.'
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 9, 2022
From housing to jobs to education, support grows for Ukrainians fleeing to Japan
Yokohama and Osaka Prefecture are among the local governments looking to help evacuees by providing housing and other services.
JAPAN
Mar 8, 2022
Japan hits Russia and Belarus with more sanctions over Ukraine invasion
Relations between Japan and Russia — from diplomacy to business — are quickly growing fragile as Tokyo joins Western countries in putting pressure on Moscow.
JAPAN
Mar 3, 2022
Kishida announces raising of daily arrival cap to 7,000
Considering there are about 150,000 foreign students waiting to enter Japan, Kishida said the government will create a program allowing them to come using vacant seats on weekday flights.
JAPAN
Mar 2, 2022
Kishida announces that Japan will accept Ukrainian refugees at an early date
Around 660,000 refugees had fled Ukraine to neighboring countries in the six days since Russian soldiers invaded the country, according to the UNHCR.
JAPAN
Mar 1, 2022
Japan opens borders for the first time in three months
It may be a while before airports such as Haneda, Narita and Kansai are flooded with new arrivals, as Japan still has a cap of 5,000 people allowed to enter the nation every day.
JAPAN
Feb 28, 2022
Japan looks to extend quasi-emergencies in Tokyo and nine other prefectures
Areas where a high proportion of beds for COVID-19 patients are occupied could see the measure extended by about two weeks.
Japan Times
PODCAST / deep dive
Feb 24, 2022
Japan relaxes its border restrictions
Japan's strict border policies are finally relaxing — at least a little bit — and from March, new entrants will be allowed to come to the country once again.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Explainer
Feb 21, 2022
What you need to know about Japan's upcoming eased border restrictions
March will bring sweeping changes to the country's border rules — covering quarantines to those eligible for entry — but navigating government websites for answers can be tricky.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 17, 2022
It's official: Japan eases entry restrictions for foreign students, business travelers and other nontourists
The move comes amid growing concerns over economic and reputational costs, and as Kishida indicates exiting the sixth wave.
JAPAN
Feb 16, 2022
Japan to shorten or drop quarantine requirements for most arrivals from March
The government is also expected to raise the cap on daily new entrants from overseas to 5,000 from the current 3,500.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 15, 2022
COVID deaths a concern in Japan even as new cases appear to be peaking
Infections are beginning to decline nationally, but experts say it is still too early for people to let their guard down — and that other virus benchmarks will continue to rise.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 12, 2022
Kishida says Japan looking to ease entry restrictions on foreign workers and students
'We will take into account the scientific knowledge we've gained about the omicron variant and changes in the infection situation both at home and abroad,' the prime minister said.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Feb 4, 2022
As COVID cases surge in Japan, is a state of emergency the way to go?
Record nationwide cases have moved the question to the top of the agenda, but some prefectures and experts are skeptical about what such a move really achieves.
JAPAN / Science & Health / EXPLAINER
Feb 2, 2022
What you need to know about recovering from COVID-19 at home
To lower the burden on health care systems, the rules for self-isolation are changing — here's a rundown of the latest from the health ministry.
Japan braces for more quakes as authorities dismiss doomsday hype
Evacuees from Akuseki Island, located in the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecuture, arrive at Kagoshima Port on Friday.
Hidden AI prompts in academic papers spark concern about research integrity
Waseda University is one of 14 institutions in eight countries found to have used hidden prompts in research papers.
A prophesied disaster (likely) won’t strike Japan this weekend
A viral manga prediction of a July 5 disaster has gripped Japan with anxiety and triggered an economic impact, but experts warn that while such dates are unreliable, the threat of a massive earthquake remains real. 
Residents of Tokara Islands begin evacuation as seismic swarm continues
Details about evacuations from Akuseki Island, located in the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecture, is seen written on a whiteboard in the city of Kagoshima on Thursday.
U.S. military apologizes over Okinawa sexual assault case
Col. Neil Owens (right), chief of staff for the 3rd Marine Division, bows in apology at the Okinawa Prefectural Government office in Naha on Thursday.
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Flag football facing challenges and opportunities ahead
Japan’s women’s flag football team at the 2025 International Bowl in Los Angeles in June. The sport is enjoying continued growth in the country.
From Hokusai’s Great Wave, shinkansen to One Piece: a cultural treasure box for Lego Japan
Michael Ebbesen, general manager of Lego Japan, says Lego bricks based on Japanese culture have a rich global appeal and are sellable around the world.
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
Chef Hideaki Matsuo (middle) and the staff of Oseto Suisan Fisheries prepare to check on their sustainably farmed fish.
As Southeast Asia heats up, a Japanese cooling giant sees a major opportunity
An employee of Daikin Cambodia explains the use of different tools during an air conditioner installation training session in Phnom Penh. Daikin is one of Japan’s oldest air conditioning companies, but as Japan’s population falls, the firm is keying in on overseas growth.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji
By Alex K.T. Martin

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