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May 18, 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
Nov 10, 2001
Calls for Cabinet shakeup dog Koizumi
Speculation that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will reshuffle his Cabinet sometime after the current Diet session ends Dec. 7 has not ebbed, despite his repeated denials.
JAPAN
Nov 10, 2001
Calls for Cabinet shakeup dog Koizumi
Speculation that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will reshuffle his Cabinet sometime after the current Diet session ends Dec. 7 has not ebbed, despite his repeated denials.
JAPAN
Oct 27, 2001
Move to change electoral system decried
A move by the ruling bloc to partially change the House of Representatives electoral system has been widely criticized as a political compromise by the Liberal Democratic Party to please coalition partner New Komeito.
JAPAN
Oct 17, 2001
Koizumi leaves SDF bill behind, puts focus on economic revival
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi cleared his biggest political hurdle in the ongoing Diet session Tuesday as the Lower House special committee approved a bill enabling the Self-Defense Forces to provide noncombat support to any U.S.-led response to the Sept. 11 attacks.
JAPAN / VIEWS ON KABUL
Oct 10, 2001
Lining up with U.S. a bad move
Dispatching the Self-Defense Forces to provide emergency support to refugees will only heighten anti-Japanese sentiment in Afghanistan and Pakistan, a volunteer aid worker said.
JAPAN / WEEKEND WISDOM
Sep 9, 2001
Takarazuka chief pins group's success on Japan's decline
The success of the extravagant, all-woman Takarazuka theatrical troupe over the past decade owes a great deal to Japan's economic decline since the bubble economy of the late 1980s burst, according to Shinji Ueda, president of the Takarazuka Revue Co.
JAPAN
Aug 10, 2001
Yasukuni awaits as minefield for Koizumi
and TOSHI MAEDA Staff writers One might wonder why Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is so bent on visiting Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15, the anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender, amid a steady outcry from Seoul and Beijing and opposition from inside his ruling camp.
JAPAN
Jun 26, 2001
Will LDP groundswell extend beyond Tokyo?
Despite the Liberal Democratic Party's resounding victory in Sunday's Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election, experts said it remains unclear whether the groundswell will mean very much in the Upper House election next month.
JAPAN
Jun 12, 2001
Koizumi's bid to empower urban voters hit
Toshikatsu Matsuoka is frustrated.
JAPAN
May 26, 2001
Koizumi, coalition to be tested in July
Although Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and his Cabinet continue to enjoy record-high public approval ratings, the real test for the new administration will come in the July House of Councilors election.
JAPAN
Apr 19, 2001
LDP race: popular appeal vs. vote machines
Garnering support in the Liberal Democratic Party for former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto before Tuesday's LDP presidential poll was no easy task for staffers.
JAPAN
Feb 15, 2001
Politicians test online waters for votes
Staff writer In a country where nearly 30 million people out of the 120 million population use the Internet, about 400 out of 732 Diet members have their own Web site.
JAPAN
Feb 14, 2001
Politicians rethinking reliance on vote-gathering machinery
Staff writer It is election year in Japan again. About half of the seats in the Upper House will be up for grabs in the triennial election in July, while the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election -- often seen as an indicator of voting trends in national polls -- is expected in June.
JAPAN
Feb 14, 2001
Politicians rethinking reliance on vote-gathering machinery
Staff writer It is election year in Japan again. About half of the seats in the Upper House will be up for grabs in the triennial election in July, while the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election -- often seen as an indicator of voting trends in national polls -- is expected in June.
JAPAN
Jan 31, 2001
Scandals tipped to rock coming Diet proceedings
Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori opens the 150-day regular Diet session today amid a series of scandals involving members of his Liberal Democratic Party and a Foreign Ministry bureaucrat.
JAPAN
Nov 19, 2000
JCP won't back Kato as prime minister
The Japanese Communist Party would not support Koichi Kato as the nation's leader even if the heavyweight LDP member, who is trying to topple the Cabinet of Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, revolts from the Liberal Democratic Party, according to JCP leader Tetsuzo Fuwa.
JAPAN
Oct 27, 2000
Ruling bloc turns deaf ear to other options
Passage of a controversial electoral reform bill Thursday has provided another example of the ruling coalition's increasing use of force that opposition lawmakers describe as as tyrannous.
JAPAN
Sep 9, 2000
DPJ race for Upper House begins
The ultimate goal of the Democratic Party of Japan to wrest power from the current ruling triumvirate is seen to mainly hinge on whether party leader Yukio Hatoyama can steer his party to victory in next summer's House of Councilors election.
JAPAN
Aug 18, 2000
Tanaka says no to factions, holds on to freedom
One of the questions surrounding a group of Liberal Democratic Party members trying to stand up to the old guard is who the group would support in the next LDP presidential race.
JAPAN
Aug 7, 2000
'New breed' of woman emerges in Japan
Two weeks after Sakae Sasaki decided to open a cake shop in Tokyo's Meguro Ward in 1996, she realized she was pregnant.
Japanese stripper bids to have her porn movies taken off internet
Plaintiff Miyuki Ariga (left) speaks at a news conference along with her lawyer, Yoshitomo Morohashi, after filing a lawsuit at the Tokyo District Court on Monday.
Japan passes bill to introduce 'blue ticket' fines for cyclists
A new system under which bicycle riders pay fines for minor traffic violations to escape criminal punishment is expected to be introduced in Japan no later than 2026.
Japan changes law to allow joint custody after divorce
Legislation that allows the option of joint custody of children after divorce is passed at the Upper House plenary session on Friday.
U.S. envoy to Japan makes landmark visit to front-line island near Taiwan
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel meets with members of the Self-Defense Forces stationed on Yonaguni, Okinawa Prefecture, on Friday.
Japan to review romanization system for first time in 70 years
An advisory panel to the education ministry will consider how the Japanese language should be transcribed into the Latin alphabet, including unifying different romanization styles currently in use.
Can AI-generated inventions be patented? A Tokyo court says no.
The Tokyo court's ruling comes amid ongoing debates on how to regulate generative AI and is part of a transnational class action lawsuit.
A new initiative rethinks old Tohoku crafts
The colored patterns of Tsuguru "nuri," made in Aomori Prefecture, are achieved by applying multiple coatings of lacquer, which are later polished down to reveal layers of colors beneath.
Xi and Putin mark ‘new era’ amid efforts to counter U.S. ‘containment’
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend an event in Beijing on Thursday. During Putin's visit, the leaders showed off their growing alignment amid efforts to push back against the U.S.-led world order.
Unraveling the Japanese prose of Yukio Mishima
Author Yukio Mishima accepts the Arts Festival Award in the drama category at the 20th Arts Festival Award Ceremony on Jan. 22, 1966.
New Taiwan president to set tone for ties with China at inauguration
Taiwan President-elect Lai Ching-te arrives at the CyberSec 2024 Exhibition in Taipei on Wednesday.

Podcast

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