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April 28, 2025
 

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Tomohiro Osaki

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Tomohiro Osaki
Tomohiro Osaki is a staff writer in the Domestic News Division. A graduate of Sophia University in Tokyo, he likes to explore under-reported realities of Japanese youth, with a tendency toward the taboo.
JAPAN
Dec 29, 2015
Reporters Without Borders retracts Yasuda hostage comments
France-based Reporters Without Borders withdraws comments claiming a Japanese freelance journalist is being held hostage by an armed group in Syria, following criticism the premature announcement may have endangered his life.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Dec 28, 2015
Eat-in areas on the rise in Japan’s convenience stores and supermarkets
In the quest for next-level service, convenience stores and supermarkets are increasingly keen to experiment with "eat-in" lounge areas.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Dec 22, 2015
Manga artist Hasumi stirs outrage again with new book slammed as racist
After gaining the spotlight at home and abroad a few months ago over a controversial manga illustration denigrating a Syrian refugee girl, artist Toshiko Hasumi seemingly remains unrepentant.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Dec 18, 2015
Japan hangs two prisoners, including first convicted in lay judge trial
The executions cast a spotlight on the moral and emotional burden of nonprofessionals being asked to hand down death sentences.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Dec 16, 2015
Japan's top court upholds same-name rule for married couples, overturns remarriage moratorium for women
The Supreme Court confirms the constitutionality of a controversial law requiring married couples to use the same surname in official matters.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 15, 2015
SEALDs members' next step — launching a think tank
Members of the student group that ignited a massive wave of youth protests last summer against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's security bills are embarking on a new project.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Dec 15, 2015
Spouses await court ruling on retaining maiden name in marriage
Tears welled up in Kaori Oguni's eyes as she recalled the heartache she felt at what was supposed to be one of the happiest moments of her life — that is, when she and her husband registered their marriage at a Tokyo ward office in 2006.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 10, 2015
Yoshinoya says study proves 'gyudon' is healthy
Affordable and ubiquitous, gyudon beef-on-rice bowls are a go-to dish for many broke college students and busy businessmen. Those who hesitate are those who think the brown slivers of beef look unhealthy.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Dec 2, 2015
Gifu city's sexually suggestive tourism promotion sparks Twitter outrage
A controversial flyer featuring an anime character with accentuated breasts has landed a small city tourism agency in hot water, with calls it is tantamount to sexual harassment.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Dec 1, 2015
Plaintiffs across Japan charge that My Number ID system is unconstitutional
About 150 people file complaints with district courts across the nation calling on the government to cease using their My Number identification codes, saying the system will violate their right to privacy.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 1, 2015
Fun video shows walking while looking at a smartphone is dangerous, even for samurai
Even samurai would have been vulnerable had they been glued to smartphone screens while walking.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 27, 2015
Court acquits Kikuchi of 1995 Aum bombing, deeming she was unaware of plot
The Tokyo High Court acquits former Aum Shinrikyo cult member Naoko Kikuchi of attempted murder in a 1995 bomb attack.
JAPAN
Nov 26, 2015
Japan repatriates 22 illegal immigrants to Bangladesh, among them unsuccessful asylum seekers
The government has repatriated 22 illegal immigrants from Bangladesh in the fourth round of its contentious mass deportation program using a state-chartered plane, the Justice Ministry announced Thursday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 25, 2015
Supreme Court says December election 'in state of unconstitutionality,' but won't nullify results
The top court decides that the last Lower House election was borderline unconstitutional due to the high level of vote-value disparities among constituencies.
JAPAN
Nov 19, 2015
Education board member calls for more prenatal screening to reduce 'burden' of disabled children
An Ibaraki education board member sparks online outrage by suggesting more prenatal screening to reduce difficulties for parents of disabled kids.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 16, 2015
Anchorwoman who fled Japan during Fukushima crisis to get lost salary from NHK
The Tokyo District Court nullifies a decision by NHK to end the contract of a French anchorwoman who temporarily fled Japan during the Fukushima nuclear crisis in March 2011.
Japan Times
JAPAN / NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Nov 15, 2015
Revision of Japan's archaic sex crime laws falling short: critics
Mika Kobayashi was 24 and bicycling home from work on a western Tokyo street on Aug. 31, 2000, when a young man drove up and asked for directions. To see his map, she dismounted and leaned in toward the driver's seat.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Nov 15, 2015
Survivors of domestic abuse hold parade in Shibuya
In a rare event designed to raise their profile, about 50 survivors of domestic abuse and their supporters held a parade in central Tokyo Sunday to demonstrate their vows not to succumb to violence.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 13, 2015
Transgender bureaucrat sues METI over sex discrimination
A transgender trade bureaucrat on Friday launched a landmark ¥18 million discrimination lawsuit against the government, claiming the trade ministry refused to let her use the female toilets and harassed her about her sex change.
JAPAN / Society
Nov 12, 2015
Welfare ministry proposes easing child care leave prerequisites
Amid a surge in nonregular workers, it would ease the current rigid requirement for child care leave that prevents many mothers from returning to work.
China seizes disputed reef near key Philippine military outpost
China Coast Guard officers unfurl a national flag on Sandy Cay reef, near the Philippine-held Thitu Island, in disputed waters of the South China Sea this month in this screen shot taken from Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
Japan to resist Trump efforts to form trade bloc against China
As Japan gears up for the trade talks, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is also seeking to cushion the blow that the U.S. tariffs may have on the domestic economy.
As many as nine dead after driver plows into Vancouver festival crowd
An ambulance is parked at the site of the Lapu Lapu day festival, where a vehicle drove into a crowd killing several people in Vancouver on Saturday.
Japan’s legal system struggles to deal with AI-made child sexual abuse images
AI-generated content — including those made using pictures of real people, which are known as “deepfakes” — is not explicitly covered under Japan's current legal framework, nor are human-drawn illustrations that depict child abuse.
How to bring up bad news in Japanese
As in other cultures, when someone shares bad news in Japanese it’s best to respond with supportive words.
Amid uncertain tariffs, is now the time to buy a new iPhone?
An Apple store in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward in September. Prices for the newest iPhone models start at around ¥100,000 ($700) in Japan.
Built in a flash, Osaka Expo pavilions wrestle with sustainability
Kengo Kuma & Associates oversaw the construction of the Malaysia pavilion, which is encased in interwoven rows of bamboo that appear to ripple.
Japan weighs using U.S. rice imports as tariff negotiation tool with Trump
A restaurant owner pours California-grown Calrose rice into a rice cooker at his restaurant in Tokyo
Is Japan’s parliament ready to welcome more youth to its ranks?
Lower House lawmaker Kai Odake in his Tokyo office on Wednesday
Crow meat, goat tartare: Mauvaise Herbe raises its game
Crow meat, shaped into a ball and attached to a foot of the bird, is one of the peculiar offerings of game at Mauvaise Herbe.

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