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October 30, 2025
 

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Eric Johnston

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Eric Johnston
JAPAN
Dec 11, 2018
Japan's two Aegis Ashore anti-missile candidate sites run into local opposition
Located in northwestern Honshu on the Sea of Japan coast, Akita Prefecture has long been thought of in Tokyo and especially western Japan as remote — part of poet Matsuo Basho's famed "The Narrow Road to the Deep North."
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 28, 2018
Japan gets mixed assessment from U.N. over efforts to curb greenhouse gases
The United Nations warned Tuesday that current national commitments to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions are insufficient to meet a 2030 reduction goal, and that unprecedented and urgent action is required by all nations — especially from members of the Group of 20 — to ensure global warming...
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 26, 2018
Citing G20 security issues, Osaka shuts down over 80% of private lodging operations
Between June and September, over 80 percent of Osaka minpaku private lodgings have been ordered closed by the city, Osaka Mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura said earlier this month.
JAPAN / Politics / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Nov 26, 2018
Time running out for Osaka leaders seeking to push city-prefecture integration plan
When Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui and Osaka Mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura left for Paris early last week for one final lobbying effort for the 2025 World Expo, they left behind a city and prefecture that remain deeply divided over their most basic political goal — the integration of Osaka Prefecture and the...
JAPAN
Nov 24, 2018
As Osaka basks in glow of successful 2025 Expo bid, economic concerns move to the forefront
After Osaka wins the right to hold the event, questions about costs and integrated casino resorts come to the fore.
JAPAN
Nov 24, 2018
Osaka wins bid to host 2025 World Expo
Osaka won the rights to host the 2025 World Expo, beating out rivals Yekaterinburg in Russia and the Azerbaijan capital of Baku, during voting in Paris on Friday.
JAPAN
Nov 23, 2018
Osaka governor and mayor make last-minute lobbying efforts in Paris to win 2025 World Expo
Officials, including Gov. Ichiro Matsui and Osaka Mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura attend last-minute lobbying efforts in Paris in a bid for the city of Osaka to be awarded rights to stage the 2025 World Expo.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 18, 2018
NGOs worry about their waning influence over the G20
Nongovernmental organizations are concerned whether Group of 20 leaders will heed their views over global issues.
Japan Times
JAPAN / View from Osaka
Nov 17, 2018
Kansai business community sees future foreign worker influx with both hope and concern
The news last week that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government is preparing to admit up to 345,000 foreign workers by 2023 has been met with a combination of hope they will help prop up agricultural, manufacturing and service sectors that are struggling to find workers, and concern that Abe has rushed...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 15, 2018
What's in a name? Sasayama residents to decide whether to become Tamba-Sasayama
What's in a name? That's the question facing voters in Sasayama, Hyogo Prefecture, who go to the polls Sunday to cast their ballots in a mayoral election and a referendum on whether to officially change the municipality's name to Tamba-Sasayama.
JAPAN / History
Nov 10, 2018
Examining Japan's first foray into global warfare
On the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, we examine the country's role in the conflict.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 6, 2018
Climate change issues likely to be one of top points at Osaka G20 summit: Jacques Attali
Dealing with various climate change-related issues is likely to be one of the top points of discussion at the Group of 20 Leaders' Summit in Osaka next June, Jacques Attali, one of the world's most prominent nongovernmental organization leaders, said in an interview with The Japan Times on Tuesday.
JAPAN
Nov 5, 2018
Cooperation and information sharing key in disaster response, speakers tell Hiroshima workshop
Given Japan's vulnerability to natural disasters, and with accelerating climate change widely predicted to increase severe weather patterns, increased cooperation and information sharing is more important than ever to meet the needs of victims.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 4, 2018
Business and political leaders in Kyoto push for efforts to fight food loss
For Japan to achieve its goal of reducing household food waste by 50 percent by fiscal 2030 compared with 2000, consumers and manufacturers need to change how they think about food, participants at a recent meeting on food loss said.
JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Oct 21, 2018
Osaka casting a nervous eye toward rival Baku in bid for 2025 World Expo
With one month to go until the host of the 2025 World Expo is selected, Osaka officials are casting a nervous eye toward Baku, the city they increasingly see as their toughest rival.
JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Oct 21, 2018
Is Yumeshima safe as a casino site? Some question Osaka's pitch after flooding at Kansai airport
Less than two months ago, Typhoon Jebi ripped through western Japan and slammed a tanker into the only bridge leading to Kansai International Airport, forcing it to shut down.
Japan Times
JAPAN / View from Osaka
Oct 20, 2018
For Kyoto, a chance to lead Japan in fight against food loss
Compared with constitutional revision, the economy, celebrity gossip and pontificating (if not panicking) over geopolitical changes in East Asia and Japan's role in those changes, Japan's mainstream media and politicians had, until recently, given environmental issues less attention.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 9, 2018
Will Japan be a climate leader or a climate laggard?
A summer of typhoons and flooding has put the issues of severe weather, global warming and climate change mitigation domestically and internationally back on top of Japan's political agenda.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Oct 1, 2018
Tamaki's election in Okinawa ensures feud over Futenma base will continue
The long-running standoff between Okinawa Prefecture and Tokyo over construction of a replacement facility for a U.S. military base is set to continue in the wake of Sunday's gubernatorial election.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 30, 2018
In blow to LDP, opponent of U.S. base relocation plan Denny Tamaki wins Okinawa gubernatorial race
In a major defeat for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the ruling bloc, Kyodo News and other media reported Sunday evening that former Lower House member Denny Tamaki, a staunch opponent of a controversial central government-backed plan to relocate a U.S. military base, won Okinawa's governor race over...
Inside Tokyo's 'phantom' stations — and the stories they tell
Mamoru Iwai, stationmaster of Keisei Ueno Station, says that, other than earthquake-proofing, the former Hakubutsukan-Dobutsuen (Museum-Zoo) Station has remained untouched.
At first summit with Trump, Takaichi pledges 'new golden age' for alliance
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi raises her fist as U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech in front of U.S. Navy personnel on board the U.S. Navy's USS George Washington aircraft carrier at the American naval base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Tuesday.
Abe shooting suspect Yamagami pleads guilty to murder
Members of the media gather outside the Nara District Court in the city of Nara on Tuesday hours before the start of the trial of Tetsuya Yamagami, the man accused of fatally shooting former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July 2022.
Takaichi buys time and builds trust with ‘near-perfect’ Trump summit
U.S. President Donald Trump walks with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi aboard the USS George Washington aircraft carrier during a visit to the U.S. Navy's Yokosuka base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Tuesday.
JPYC, world’s first yen stablecoin, is issued
Noritaka Okabe, head of Japanese startup JPYC, at a news conference for the first yen stablecoin in Tokyo on Monday
At Japan Mobility Show, BYD gears up to conquer Japan's EV market
BYD Auto Japan President Atsuki Tofukuji unveils the Racco at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Oasis returns to Tokyo: Rain, rapture and rock
Fans wait to get into the Oasis show at Tokyo Dome on Saturday. While lining up in the rain, some broke into impromptu versions of the British rock group's hits.
Kyushu banzuke sets the stage to cement 2025’s sumo narratives
Onosato ahead of his bout against Aonishiki at The Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Oct. 18
Tokyo Film Festival opens with global stars and a spotlight on Asian storytelling
Director Junji Sakamoto (left) walked the Tokyo International Film Festival red carpet with Sayuri Yoshinaga (center) and Non (right), who both play mountaineer Junko Tabei, the first woman to summit Mount Everest, in the biopic "Climbing for Life."
Spanish artist and Japanese writer duos diversify the manga talent pool in Japan
"Menheim” is a dark fantasy manga with a story that centers on a girl’s quest to find a cure for her ill brother.

Podcast

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

Longform

Mamoru Iwai, stationmaster of Keisei Ueno Station, says that, other than earthquake-proofing, the former Hakubutsukan-Dobutsuen (Museum-Zoo) Station has remained untouched.
Inside Tokyo's 'phantom' stations — and the stories they tell
By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

We are pleased to announce the winners of the 6th annual Sustainable Japan Award.
We are pleased to announce the winners of the 6th annual Sustainable Japan Award.

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