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 Reiji Yoshida

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Reiji Yoshida
Reiji Yoshida is a staff writer and deputy manager of the Domestic News Division. Since joining The Japan Times in 1993, he has intensively covered domestic politics, diplomacy and defense issues as well as the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis.
For Reiji Yoshida's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 24, 2019
Iran's envoy to Japan denies responsibility for tanker attack, saying Trump 'doesn't deserve trust'
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump "does not deserve trust," and no effective negotiations will be held unless Washington eases "pressure" against Tehran by lifting economic sanctions, the Iranian ambassador to Japan told a news conference in Tokyo on Monday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 22, 2019
Xi might visit Japan next spring, China's new ambassador Kong Xuanyou reveals
China’s new ambassador to Japan revealed on Friday that Beijing and Tokyo are working to arrange a state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping “in the near future,” possibly next spring.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jun 20, 2019
After trade feuds in Tsukuba, Japan faces uphill task at G20
Japanese diplomats are expecting a tough, long battle of words to ensue over the joint communique until the very last minute.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 13, 2019
Trump 'frustrated' with lack of Japan trade deal, Ambassador William Hagerty says
Touching on the Trump-Kim summit in Hanoi in February, Hagerty argued it was “not a failure, as some have portrayed it.”
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 11, 2019
U.S. Ambassador to Japan William Hagerty says he has high hopes for Abe visit to Iran
The American envoy said Trump has great confidence in the prime minister and that the U.S. hopes he will have “productive engagements that lead to progress.”
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 11, 2019
Hong Kong activist urges Japan to put pressure on city government to withdraw extradition bill
Tokyo should put pressure on the Hong Kong government to withdraw a controversial bill that would allow extraditions to mainland China, given Japan's strong economic ties with the former British territory and the large number of mutual visits by tourists, a high-profile pro-democracy activist told a news conference in Tokyo.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jun 10, 2019
Japanese diplomats seek to manage expectations over Abe's visit to Tehran
Days before the trip, high-ranking Japanese diplomats started emphasizing a somewhat unexpected message: Abe is not visiting Iran as a mediator nor messenger.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 7, 2019
Remains of Japan ASDF pilot found, two months after F-35A fighter crash off Aomori
Remains of the pilot of an Air Self-Defense Force F-35A stealth jet fighter that went missing off Aomori Prefecture on April 9 have been retrieved from the ocean, Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya said Friday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 31, 2019
Russian and Japanese foreign ministers fail to make breakthrough on island issue in Tokyo talks
Progress in the long-standing territorial dispute over Russian-held islands off Hokkaido remained elusive during a meeting between Foreign Minister Taro Kono and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
May 27, 2019
Trump stays on script in Tokyo summit with Abe covering trade and North Korea
Instead, it appears Tokyo was able to avoid the embarrassments that Trump is famous for.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 25, 2019
With Trump visit to Tokyo, Japan and U.S. look to highlight strengthened alliance and avoid trade differences
Officials and experts say the top priority for President Donald Trump's during his state visit is to show off his friendship with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and highlight a strong Japan-U.S. alliance.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 23, 2019
Japan's plan to remodel Izumo-class carriers: Needed upgrade or mere show of force?
Rarely have Maritime Self-Defense Force ships garnered this much attention.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 20, 2019
Japan seeks arbitration with South Korea over wartime labor compensation
Tokyo cites a 1965 pact that explicitly declares all compensation issues have been “settled completely and finally.”
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 7, 2019
Flight data recorder from Japan's crashed F-35A retrieved, but key data still missing
The Defense Ministry has retrieved part of the flight data recorder from a F-35A stealth fighter that went missing last month, but it was heavily damaged and also did not include a storage device to record speed and altitude data, Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya told reporters Tuesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / Heisei Icons
Apr 25, 2019
Junichiro Koizumi: Maverick reformer left Japan all shook up
Junichiro Koizumi is regarded as the most accomplished politician of the Heisei Era, according to one survey.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 22, 2019
One Japanese national killed, four others injured as Sri Lanka attacks rock expat community
Sri Lanka seeks to restore stability following one of Asia's deadliest terrorist attacks in years.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / ANALYSIS
Apr 13, 2019
Tokyo and Washington finally set to kick off trade talks as American farmers fume over poor Japan access
Negotiators from Japan and the United States will meet in Washington to discuss opening the Japanese market to more American goods.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 12, 2019
Japan won't consider revising F-35A procurement plans while cause of crash still not known
The Defense Ministry is not considering a revision to its plan to procure a total of 105 F-35A stealth fighters despite the crash Wednesday of one of the jets into the sea off Aomori Prefecture, Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya said Friday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 10, 2019
F-35A fighter jet crashed, Japan's defense ministry says, as hunt for missing pilot continues
According to Air Self-Defense Force, the incident in waters off Aomori Prefecture is the first crash involving an F-35A fighter anywhere in the world.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 9, 2019
Japan announces new ¥10,000, ¥5,000 and ¥1,000 bank notes as Reiwa Era looms
The portraits on the new bills will be rendered as 3D holograms, which the Finance Ministry said is a world first for currency.

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