Eric Johnston - The Japan Times

October 30, 2025

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Eric Johnston

JAPAN

Sep 27, 2018

Kyoto lodging tax kicks in on Monday

City becomes the third local government in Japan to implement a accommodation levy after Tokyo and Osaka Prefecture.

JAPAN / Politics

Sep 26, 2018

Okinawa residents urged to vote in advance of Sunday's election with Typhoon Trami on the way

With Typhoon Trami predicted to pass over Okinawa Prefecture this weekend, candidates for Sunday's gubernatorial election are making efforts to get voters to the polls early out of concern over the effect the storm could have on the final result.

JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE

Sep 23, 2018

Need to back up sinking Kansai airport stymies region ahead of G20, elections

When Kansai airport in Osaka Prefecture was shut down earlier this month after Typhoon Jebi flooded the main runway and terminal building — and caused a tanker to break loose and crash into the only bridge to the mainland — there were fears the damage meant the region's largest and only international...

Japan Times

JAPAN / Society / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE

Sep 23, 2018

Japan urged to up ranks of female politicians to reach U.N. sustainable development goals

To help meet the United Nations' 2030 sustainable development goal for gender equality and empowering all women and girls, Japan needs more female politicians, especially at the local level.

JAPAN

Sep 21, 2018

Kansai airport bounces back from typhoon but Kobe, Itami likely to help out anyway

Passengers were happy that the main international gateway to western Japan was all but back to normal more quickly than expected.

JAPAN / Politics

Sep 20, 2018

With Abe re-elected, local governments now look for him to deliver on campaign promises

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe secured strong support from the Liberal Democratic Party's local chapters in securing a third term as president of the party.

JAPAN / View from Osaka

Sep 15, 2018

Does Kansai need three international airports?

Twenty-four years after Kansai airport's opening, Typhoon Jebi roared through, flooding the main runway, parts of the main terminal building and dislodging a tanker in the adjacent bay that drifted into the facility's connecting bridge.

JAPAN

Sep 13, 2018

Kansai airport's Terminal 1 to partially reopen following flooding from Typhoon Jebi

Efforts are also moving forward to accept new domestic and international flights at nearby Kobe and Itami airports.

JAPAN / Politics

Sep 13, 2018

Meet the top contenders seeking to lead Okinawa: Atsushi Sakima and Denny Tamaki

Campaigning for the Sept. 30 Okinawa gubernatorial election officially kicked off Thursday, with two main candidates vying for leadership of the prefecture — Atsushi Sakima, 54, and Denny Tamaki, 58.

JAPAN / EXPLAINER

Sep 11, 2018

U.S. base relocation top issue in Okinawa gubernatorial election

Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga's death last month at age 67 from pancreatic cancer came just over three months before the originally scheduled gubernatorial election and just days after he announced the prefectural government would take steps toward retracting permission for landfill work related to a new...

JAPAN / Politics

Sep 10, 2018

Fate of U.S. base remains unresolved after Okinawa assembly elections

Voters in 25 Okinawan cities, towns and villages went to the polls Sunday to elect assembly members ahead of the Sept. 30 gubernatorial race, including the closely watched match in Nago, where the results failed to deliver a clear verdict on a controversial U.S. military base.

JAPAN / Politics

Sep 9, 2018

Okinawans vote in key local municipal assembly elections; U.S. base issue tops Nago residents' balloting

Voters in 25 Okinawan cities, towns and villages went to the polls Sunday in key local municipal assembly elections ahead of the Sept. 30 gubernatorial election.

JAPAN / Politics

Sep 7, 2018

As Kansai airport partially reopens, officials discuss temporarily routing some flights elsewhere

The central government and Kansai region officials push a proposal to temporarily route some international flights to Osaka's Itami airport and Kobe Airport following the temporary closure of Osaka International Airport.

JAPAN

Sep 6, 2018

Abe announces typhoon-hit Kansai airport will reopen to some domestic flights Friday

The airport remained closed Thursday after Typhoon Jebi caused flooding that damaged the main runway and tarmac, and drove a tanker into the bridge connecting the facility to the mainland.

JAPAN

Sep 5, 2018

Kansai counts the cost of Typhoon Jebi

Osaka and the Kansai region spent Wednesday cleaning up after Typhoon Jebi roared through the area Tuesday, causing widespread damage.

Japan Times

LIFE / Food & Drink

Sep 1, 2018

Crafting a Japanese gin: Domestic distilleries are producing low-volume, high-quality batches that source local ingredients

While rooftop beer gardens with cold glasses of one's favorite suds are the popular way among many in Japan to cool off during the hot summer and early weeks of autumn, gin, whether served neat with a bit of water, over the rocks, mixed in a tonic, or as one part of an endless variety of exotic cocktails...

JAPAN

Aug 30, 2018

Former Japanese diplomats, U.N. experts recall Kofi Annan's support and commitment

Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who died earlier this month, was remembered by former Japanese diplomats and U.N. experts as a strong supporter of Security Council reform plans that could have given Japan a permanent seat.

Japan Times

JAPAN

Aug 29, 2018

How one Hokkaido town curbed population decline in graying Japan

In early August, as much of the country suffered through some of its hottest temperatures on record, a small town in Hokkaido welcomed visitors from around the world to an annual photography festival that celebrated the outdoors.

Japan Times

JAPAN

Aug 26, 2018

Nara steps up efforts to deal with record numbers of deer and tourists

It's getting ever more crowded in the ancient capital of Nara as record numbers of two-legged visitors encounter record numbers of four-legged residents, creating concerns about the health and safety of both groups.

JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE

Aug 26, 2018

Osaka teachers resist mayor's plan to raise achievement test scores

Stung by the poor results of a national achievement test covering math, science, and Japanese, Osaka Mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura wants to raise scores on next year's exam by linking the test results to personnel evaluations and bonuses for school principals and teachers.

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

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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