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August 21, 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 / Explainer
Dec 20, 2021
Japan has released its digital vaccine passport. Here's what you need to know.
The digital version of the proof of vaccination issued by municipalities is joined by a new online service intended to simplify entry procedures for travelers.
JAPAN
Dec 15, 2021
Land ministry overstated construction orders data for years, potentially inflating Japan's GDP
The land ministry was 'rewriting' monthly data from about 12,000 select companies since 2013, at a pace of about 10,000 entries per year.
JAPAN
Dec 13, 2021
'Kin' (gold) chosen as the kanji character of 2021
With references to Olympic medals, baseball legends and cash handouts, the 2021 selection highlighted 24-karat moments from a turbulent year.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Explainer
Nov 11, 2021
What travelers from Japan need to know ahead of the holiday season
The latest information on returning to Japan after end-of-year travel: COVID-19 tests, required documentation, quarantine updates and more.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 8, 2021
Bureaucracy blunts impact of Japan's eased border controls
While lauded by companies and students as a step towards access to Japan, the easing of travel rules may not be as good as it sounds.
JAPAN
Nov 2, 2021
Japan to reduce quarantine from 10 to three days for business travelers and students
The major policy change, which is likely to boost economic exchanges with other countries, could start as early as Monday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 28, 2021
Japan to open up COVID-19 booster shots to all residents
The policy differs from that of other nations, where the shots are mainly being limited to older people, health care workers and those with pre-existing conditions.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 17, 2021
The policies and political backgrounds of each of the LDP leadership contenders
The candidates will hold policy debates, outline their platforms and seek further support among LDP lawmakers and rank-and-file members up until the Sept. 29 election.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 16, 2021
Seiko Noda makes last-minute bid for LDP presidency
Noda's candidacy is expected to split votes that could have gone to vaccine chief Taro Kono and make it harder for any candidate to win a majority in the first round of voting.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 8, 2021
Japan prioritized domestic trials of Pfizer before rollout, vaccine czar says
The nation's vaccine czar revealed that Pfizer trials included over 100 Japanese residents in the U.S., but said the health ministry needed domestic tests due to 'food and diet' differences.
JAPAN
Aug 25, 2021
More schools in Tokyo cancel Paralympic plans even as Games go on for some students
Over 20,000 students from across the capital are still expected to watch events in person, but most schools in Tokyo have canceled visits to competition venues.
Japan Times
JAPAN / First Person
Mar 5, 2020
Day 4 of Japan's Great Teleworking Experiment: Distractions aplenty but 'co-workers' are cute
Today is my fourth-straight day working from home and, consequently, the fourth day of my living nightmare.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 3, 2019
Through Keidanren role, Hiroaki Nakanishi looks to ditch dated aspects of Japan's corporate culture
At the same time, the 72-year-old organization reflects the most traditional — and at times outdated — aspects of corporate Japan.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Aug 18, 2017
Fashion rentals make sense for moms on the go
As a mother of three who works full-time, buying my own clothes ranks among the lowest priorities on my to-do list.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 17, 2016
Survey sees surge in 'secret savings' of married Japanese, with wives on top
The average amount of savings secretly accumulated by married women in 2016 was ¥1.47 million, rising by more than ¥200,000 from the year before, according to a survey by Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Co.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 10, 2016
Cheaper taxi rates to be trialed in Tokyo, Osaka in bid to lure more elderly, tourists
The transport ministry plans to trial lower base fares for short taxi rides.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Jan 15, 2016
Japan adult TV channel's Boob Aid charity event rubs some the wrong way, sparking online petition
More than 8,600 people have signed an online petition to protest the annual Boob Aid fundraising event, which allows donors to the charity to touch the breasts of porn actresses.
JAPAN
Jan 7, 2016
LDP lawmaker faces off against his party's old guard over child care leave plan
Liberal Democratic Party Lower House lawmaker Kensuke Miyazaki wanted to do something to change the nation's declining birthrate, so he announced last month he planned to take child care leave after his wife gives birth.
JAPAN
Dec 15, 2015
Child center stripped girls to find missing piece of paper
A child consultation center in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, said Tuesday it stripped eight girls naked to conduct a body search in August to look for a piece of paper that went missing earlier that day.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 9, 2015
Japan needs to seek out regional allies, view U.S. as 'second resort,' says head of think tank
Japan needs to stop relying on the U.S. for its defense and form a security alliance with other Asian nations if it is to become a respectable global leader in the decades to come, according to the founder and president of Washington-based think tank Economic Strategy Institute.
JICA to designate four Japanese cities as 'hometowns' for African nations
The Japanese flag (left) with the flag of the African Union
103-year-old remembers Soviet attack right after WWII
Shoichi Takahashi holds a photo of himself when he was younger, in Otaru, Hokkaido, on May 17.
Schools get students involved in revision of unreasonable ‘black rules’
At Yawata Junior High School in Nagoya, there are no more rules on clothing and hairstyles. Students are free to wear either the school's uniform or clothes of their own choosing.
Tokyo crowned No.1 'workation' spot
Workations were a burgeoning trend in the corporate world for years before the COVID-19 pandemic turbocharged it.
Japanese man suspected of ordering double murder in Manila
Two suspects arrested over the killing of two Japanese last week are held in restraints in Manila on Tuesday.
Tokyo crowned No.1 'workation' spot
Workations were a burgeoning trend in the corporate world for years before the COVID-19 pandemic turbocharged it.
Candidates preparing to make final pitches for Sawamura Award
Hawks pitcher Livan Moinelo has a 1.13 ERA in 19 starts this season.
Winning warship bid gives Japan confidence boost as Tokyo eyes more exports
Australia’s decision to select Japan's upgraded Mogami-class warship, seen in this computer-generated image, has been “well received across Japanese industry," a Defense Ministry official said.
In Paris, chefs Chizuko Kimura and Kei Kobayashi make their mark
Chef Kei Kobayashi is France's only Japanese chef with three Michelin stars.
In preserving Japanese hospitality, ‘details are everything’
Beniya Mukayu, a traditional "ryokan" inn located in Ishikawa Prefecture, considers itself at "the heart of onsen towns, local residents, farmers, fishermen, sake brewers and artisans" — all of which need new, sustainable methods of serving visitors to survive into the future.

Podcast

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

Longform

Members of the nonprofit group Japan Youth Memorial Association search for the remains of dead soldiers in a cave in Okinawa Prefecture in February.
The long search for Japan’s lost soldiers
By Tomoko Otake

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