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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 / Politics
Apr 5, 2019
Deputy land minister quits after using graft buzzword sontaku to describe his decision to fund project for Abe
The deputy land minister boasted that he helped get funds for a highway project without Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and deputy Taro Aso having to tell him to.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 2, 2019
What's in a name? Reiwa reflects today's politics, Japan's cultural history and a social philosophy
Media hype over Reiwa, the newly announced name for the upcoming era, continued unabated Tuesday. At the same time, a majority of people appeared to happily welcome the name, which means "auspicious" (rei) and "peace" or "harmony" (wa).
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 22, 2019
Okinawa Gov. Tamaki's plea for one-month suspension to work on Henoko base rejected by Tokyo, escalating tensions over Futenma relocation
Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya rejected on Friday a request by Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki for a one-month suspension of land reclamation work in the Henoko district of northern Okinawa Prefecture, further deepening tensions over the controversial project to relocate U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma within the prefecture.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Mar 1, 2019
For Japan, 'no deal' at Kim-Trump summit beats a bad deal with concessions to nuclear North Korea
At a glance, this week's Kim-Trump summit meeting in Hanoi, held to foster progress toward the denuclearization of North Korea, generated few tangible victories — despite U.S. President Donald Trump's boasts of the "tremendous" achievements he had expected.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 24, 2019
Donald Keene, lauded scholar of Japanese literature, dies at 96
Prominent U.S.-born Japanese literature scholar Donald Keene, who introduced a roster of talented writers from Japan to the world, died of cardiac arrest in Tokyo on Sunday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / History / FOCUS
Feb 22, 2019
Crown Princess Masako: A symbol of Japanese women's struggles in a male-dominated society
When Rika Kayama attended a violin concert at a Tokyo music hall in February last year, she was stunned to find a certain famous face in the crowd.
Japan Times
JAPAN / History / Heisei Icons
Feb 19, 2019
Ichiro Ozawa: The kingmaker and destroyer in Japanese politics
Reformer, kingmaker, shadow shogun, destroyer. With so many labels, no politician stands out like Ichiro Ozawa among Japan's conformist legislators.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 18, 2019
In Diet grilling, Abe refuses to deny nominating Trump for Nobel Peace Prize
The prime minister declines to comment but praises Trump's efforts to defuse the North Korean nuclear crisis.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 15, 2019
Abe's attacks on local governments yields backlash against his push to revise pacifist Constitution
Prime Minister Abe's dream of revising the Constitution gets harder after he claims 60 percent of Japan's local governments are resisting Tokyo's efforts to recruit new SDF members.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 8, 2019
Japan's opposition parties lay into ministry officials for extensive role in wage scandal probe
Lawmakers question the neutrality of the government's special “independent” probe into the wage data scandal after learning that bureaucrats, not outside experts, interviewed 25 of the 37 officials involved.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Feb 6, 2019
Abenomics under heavy fire after dodgy data hid apparent drop in wages across Japan in 2018
The government refuses to publicize the average real wage of workers for last year, causing heated debate in the current Diet session and raising questions about the credibility of Abenomics.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 4, 2019
Abe and Merkel seek to take Japan-Germany ties to 'higher level' amid trade turmoil and Brexit
Visit days after the Japan-EU trade pact took effect “sends a strong message on promotion of free trade” and strengthening economic ties, Abe said.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 24, 2019
Ichiro Ozawa may be on verge of comeback as Japan's DPP and Liberal parties form joint Diet group
One of Japan's most influential and divisive political figures in recent decades may be staging another comeback.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 21, 2019
Tokyo terminates working level talks with Seoul after revealing new evidence on radar lock-on dispute
The Defense Ministry announced Monday it will terminate talks with its South Korean counterpart over the radar lock-on dispute, while revealing what it claims are sounds, converted from radio waves, of the fire-control radar system of a South Korean destroyer.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jan 19, 2019
Challenges await Japan as Trump presidency enters its third year
On Sept. 26 in New York, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was facing reporters at a joint news conference with U.S. President Donald Trump when Trump cracked a joke that in fact sounded like a veiled threat.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 14, 2019
As foreign ministers lay groundwork for Tokyo-Moscow territorial talks, what are the issues and obstacles?
Foreign Minister Taro Kono met his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in Moscow on Monday in a bid to lay the groundwork for a key diplomatic goal being pushed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe — winning back at least some of the territory off Hokkaido seized by the Soviet Union in the closing days of World War II.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 5, 2019
Osaka girl, 9, to become Japan's youngest pro go player in April
A 9-year-old girl from the city of Osaka will soon become the youngest professional go player in Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / 2019 Outlook
Jan 2, 2019
2019 to test Abe and Japanese diplomats over efforts to secure return of Russian-held isles
2019 will be a big year for Japanese diplomats and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, with a number of major events that will be attended by hundreds of top leaders and VIPs from across the globe.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Help Wanted?
Dec 31, 2018
Japan said unready for drastic social changes despite impending arrival of foreign workers
Experts bemoan the lack of support measures so far for incoming laborers.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 12, 2018
Foreign Minister Taro Kono ignores questions on Russian-held islands ahead of talks
The foreign minister's image was tarnished during a news conference Tuesday when he asked for the next question repeatedly when queried by reporters over a diplomatic row with Russia.

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