author

 
Menu
Search
 
July 27, 2024
 

Today's print edition

Home Delivery
Subscribe for more access
Alex K.T. Martin

Meta

Alex K.T. Martin
Alex K.T. Martin is a Tokyo-based journalist and senior writer at The Japan Times, primarily focusing on feature stories. Previously he was a Tokyo correspondent for The Wall Street Journal.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 21, 2010
Okada urges less heat in Senkaku row
Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Katsuya Okada cautioned both Japan and China not to resort to extreme nationalism following the recent bilateral spat in connection with the Senkaku Islands.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Oct 13, 2010
No easy way out of 'twisted' Diet
The Democratic Party of Japan has faced a divided Diet since its ruling coalition lost its Upper House majority in July's election. While the DPJ-led coalition retains a majority of seats in the more powerful Lower House, the opposition now controls the other chamber, giving it the power to veto the...
JAPAN
Oct 2, 2010
Kan vows measures to protect economy
Prime Minister Naoto Kan vowed Friday to fix the suffering economy with a stream of measures aimed at putting the brakes on deflation and coping with the strong yen.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 1, 2010
Rocky road ahead for Kan as DPJ addresses economy
The top priority for Prime Minister Naoto Kan and the Democratic Party of Japan during the extraordinary Diet session Friday will be to clear a supplementary budget to kick start the feeble economy.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 25, 2010
Friction cited in move to free Chinese skipper
Japan was set to release a Chinese fishing boat captain as early as late Friday because his detention over a territorial dispute has strained bilateral relations, the transport ministry said.
JAPAN
Sep 23, 2010
DPJ bumps up extraordinary Diet session to Oct. 1
The government and the ruling Democratic Party of Japan decided Wednesday to convene an extraordinary Diet session on Oct. 1 instead of Oct. 6.
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Sep 18, 2010
Prime minister makes bold move in shutting out Ozawa's influence
Taking the podium following the announcement of his victory against Ichiro Ozawa in the Democratic Party of Japan presidential election Tuesday, Prime Minister Naoto Kan called for party unity and promised that now the battle is over, "there were no sides."
JAPAN
Sep 16, 2010
Kan shifts focus to Cabinet picks
A day after his re-election as president of the Democratic Party of Japan, Prime Minister Naoto Kan got busy Wednesday choosing new lineups for his Cabinet and the DPJ leadership.
JAPAN
Sep 11, 2010
Kan, Ozawa draw flak for fiddling while Rome burns
As Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Democratic Party of Japan kingpin Ichiro Ozawa battle toward their showdown Tuesday, observers are criticizing them for creating a political void in the ruling party at a time when Japan is struggling to rekindle the economy and address other pressing issues.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 10, 2010
LDP's Koike, Ishihara get top posts
The Liberal Democratic Party installed new executives Thursday, introducing a fresh lineup to help LDP President Sadakazu Tanigaki prepare for the fall Diet session.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 8, 2010
Kan confident of Ozawa's cooperation after DPJ election
Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Tuesday he and his rival hope to continue working together regardless of who wins the Democratic Party of Japan presidential election.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Sep 4, 2010
Ozawa milks challenger role
The battle between Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Democratic Party of Japan kingpin Ichiro Ozawa comes at a time when Japan is struggling with a slumping economy, strong yen and numerous other issues requiring prompt attention.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 2, 2010
Kan, Ozawa kick off DPJ poll race
Campaigning officially kicked off Wednesday for the Sept. 14 Democratic Party of Japan presidential election, with Prime Minister Naoto Kan trying to keep the helm and DPJ kingpin Ichiro Ozawa seeking to wrest it from him.
JAPAN
Sep 1, 2010
Race is on: Ozawa to challenge Kan
Democratic Party of Japan heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa confirmed Tuesday he will run for DPJ president and thus prime minister, dashing party hopes that an internal power struggle can be avoided before the Sept. 14 election.
JAPAN
Aug 27, 2010
Foreigners can vote for DPJ leader
As the Democratic Party of Japan's presidential election nears, an interesting fact has surfaced regarding internal regulations on who gets to vote for the ruling party's leader — and effectively the prime minister.
JAPAN
Aug 24, 2010
Kan chats up Ozawa's DPJ rookie ranks
Prime Minister Naoto Kan made a bold gesture Monday by reaching out to junior Democratic Party of Japan ranks considered faithful to DPJ kingpin Ichiro Ozawa, who rumor has it may run against Kan for the party presidency next month and hence seek the prime ministership.
JAPAN
Aug 18, 2010
Mihara's fight for women's health is personal
The turning point in Junko Mihara's life came two years ago when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer and had to have her uterus removed.
JAPAN
Aug 16, 2010
Kan expresses remorse for casualties of war
Commemorating 65 years since the end of World War II, Prime Minister Naoto Kan delivered a speech Sunday expressing deep remorse for the damage Japan inflicted on its neighbors and its own people during the war, vowing to work toward global peace.
JAPAN
Aug 8, 2010
Gemba: DPJ open to cross-party talks
Koichiro Gemba, the ruling Democratic Party of Japan's Policy Research Committee chairman, expressed willingness to undergo tough negotiations with the opposition camp to pass critical bills, now that his party faces a divided Diet.
JAPAN
Aug 3, 2010
Kan offers opposition budget input
Prime Minister Naoto Kan took a defensive stance Monday, offering to reflect the opinions of the opposition camp in drawing up the fiscal 2011 budget.
Japan's population continues to fall even as foreign resident count rises
The number of residents in Tokyo as of Jan. 1 rose by 0.03% from a year before, data shows, marking a year-on-year increase for the first time in three years, while the country's other 46 prefectures saw their populations continue to decline.
Japan’s minimum wage set for record ¥50 hike in major boost
Demonstrators rally to demand a big hike in minimum wages in Tokyo last week.
One dead, three missing as heavy rain batters Tohoku
Camera footage shows the Mogami River bursting its banks in Tozawa, Yamagata Prefecture, on Friday morning.
Yen melt-up nudges Japanese stocks into correction territory
Japanese stocks are down 10% from their July peak as the yen strengthens.
Yen rally could help end crushing wage decay in Japan
Some economists say a sticky weak yen trend would have a negative impact on Japan's real wage growth.
Japan’s minimum wage set for record ¥50 hike in major boost
Demonstrators rally to demand a big hike in minimum wages in Tokyo last week.
Japan loses top spot on strongest passport list to Singapore
Japan had the strongest passport for six years running from 2018, before being dethroned by Singapore on the 2024 list.
Why Japan's mysterious stash of classified funds escapes scrutiny
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi (right) during a meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Terunofuji, as he tends to do, returns to stamp his authority on sumo pretenders
Terunofuji (left) throws down Kirishima on Tuesday to build on his perfect record at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.
Japanese startups advised to internationalize to get some global mojo
Entrepreneurs who participated in the Beyond Japan Zero to X program last year share their experiences in the United States during a meeting in May in Tokyo.

Podcast

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

Longform

Traditional folk rituals like Mizudome-no-mai (dance to stop the rain) provide a sense of agency to a population that feels largely powerless in the face of the climate crisis.
As climate extremes intensify, Japan embraces ancient weather rituals
By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Azabudai Hills, Tokyo’s green new downtown ‘village’
Azabudai Hills, Tokyo’s green new downtown ‘village’

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS note

Read more

SUPPLEMENTS BINDER