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May 05, 2024
 

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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.
For Kanako Takahara's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jun 5, 2023
Investigators' pressure seen as reason for GaaSyy's return to Japan
Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department said that GaaSyy’s return was the “result of UAE authorities’ measures and not a voluntary one.'
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 2, 2023
Eastern Japan train operators to limit sales of Suica and Pasmo cards due to chip shortage
JR East and other railway operators said in a statement that they will limit sales of the IC cards “for the time being” since the card manufacturer is finding it difficult to secure chips.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 1, 2023
Japanese government to set aside extra ¥3.5 trillion annually for child care
With the added budget, Japan’s child care expense per child will be on par with Sweden’s, which is ranked first among OECD countries.
Japan Times
PODCAST / deep dive
May 31, 2023
G7 '23: Kishida's pumped from a Zelenskyy bump
Another year, another G7 summit done and dusted. How did Prime Minister Fumio Kishida do? Well, he’s thinking of an early election if that’s any indication.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
May 26, 2023
Man arrested after killings of police officers and others in Nagano Prefecture
Masanori Aoki, the eldest son of a local politician, has been arrested over the murder of one of two police officers.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
May 25, 2023
Three killed, one injured after apparent shooting and stabbing in Nagano
People in the area have been asked to remain indoors. According to police sources a male suspect was wearing camouflage clothing, a cap, sunglasses and a mask.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
May 21, 2023
Can Kishida’s diplomatic success translate to domestic gains?
The fanfare surrounding Kishida's closing remarks at the G7 summit masked a meeting that was meager on substance as he looks to pivot to domestic issues.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
May 20, 2023
Amid Ukraine war and economic concerns, LGBTQ issues struggle to get G7 spotlight
Summit host Japan stands out as the only G7 nation that hasn’t legalized same-sex marriage.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 20, 2023
Inside Hiroshima's Atomic Bomb Dome: Broadcaster taps tech to keep history alive
As each year passes, memories of the atomic bombing fade. With that in mind, NHK is using VR and AI to offer interactive experiences that will withstand the test of time.
Japan Times
Special Supplements / Hiroshima G7 Summit Special
May 19, 2023
Japan ready to expound on city’s anti-nuclear message
For Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, hosting the Group of Seven Leaders Summit in Hiroshima carries special meaning.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 18, 2023
Police on high alert ahead of G7 summit in Hiroshima
With recent attacks still fresh on people’s minds, drones, boats and around 24,000 police are patrolling the city.
Japan Times
JAPAN / FOCUS
May 16, 2023
Foreign media spotlight brought Johnny’s sexual abuse claims to the fore
With abuse accusations circulating for decades, reports by overseas media outlets ultimately cleared the way for coverage in the mainstream domestic press.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Entertainment news
May 15, 2023
Major Japanese talent agency apologizes over sexual assault claims
Allegations by former entertainers against the founder of Johnny & Associates have made headlines both domestically and internationally.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
May 10, 2023
Suspect arrested after junior high school boy stabbed in Tokyo's Ota Ward
The 13-year-old boy was rushed to a hospital, but his injuries appeared not to be life-threatening.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
May 9, 2023
Bill to curb long-term detention of asylum-seekers passes Lower House
The legislation would ease deportation rules, giving officials more power to remove asylum-seekers, while adding quasi-refugees status for people fleeing conflict-hit countries like Ukraine.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 9, 2023
Justice Ministry website down amid Anonymous criticism of immigration policy
Users were unable to access the website for about 50 minutes from 11 p.m. on Monday. Then, after the website was brought back online, it went offline again from 2:30 a.m.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 28, 2023
Refugee bill takes key step after OK from committee in Japan's Lower House
Passage was secured after four ruling and opposition parties agreed to changes, including on offering training to immigration officials who will conduct the refugee screening process.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 25, 2023
58 Japanese citizens and family members evacuated from Sudan
Forty-five of them were flown out on a Self-Defense Forces aircraft to neighboring Djibouti.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 21, 2023
Kishida on demographics, defense and disparity
In an exclusive interview, Prime Minister Kishida addresses the foreign and domestic issues that loom large, from the war in Ukraine to his promotion of “new capitalism” in Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 21, 2023
Immigration bill set to pass Japan's parliament as two opposition parties join revision discussions
A controversial bill to curb long-term detentions of illegal overstayers at immigration facilities is set to clear parliament by the end of its session in June.
With eye on China, defense chiefs agree to bolster interoperability
From left: U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Australian defense chief Richard Marles, Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro hold a joint news conference in Honolulu 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.
Biden calls ally Japan ‘xenophobic’ along with rivals China and Russia
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks in Syracuse, New York, on April 25.
Debate on constitutional revision at a standstill despite Kishida's pledges
With less than two months left before the conclusion of the current session of parliament, any possibility that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida can deliver constitutional reform before the end of his term as Liberal Democratic Party president in late September, as he has promised, appears remote.
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.

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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