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May 02, 2024
 

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Sakura Murakami
Reuters
For Sakura Murakami's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 22, 2021
Olympic pin collectors lament loss of trading chances in Tokyo
Mostly produced by media and sponsors and given to their staff, the rarest badges can fetch hundreds of dollars on auction websites.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 25, 2021
Japan prods U.S. to fix 'East Sea' reference over North Korea launches
Japan and South Korea have long been at odds over the name of the body of water between Japan and the Korean Peninsula.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 25, 2020
Suga faces fire as controversy over Abe parties returns to spotlight
The prime minister was grilled by opposition lawmakers Wednesday over whether he made inaccurate claims at the Diet last year about a potential breach of laws on gift-giving.
Japan Times
PODCAST / deep dive
Aug 28, 2020
[Rebroadcast] What's the secret to Shinzo Abe's longevity?
This episode was originally recorded in December 2019, in a world that had not yet gone through the trials of the coronavirus, and when Japan was looking ahead to hosting the Olympics this summer.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Jul 16, 2020
A Tokyo temple offers pandemic-hit Vietnamese workers a safe haven
Lured by higher wages but often burdened by debt to recruiters, Vietnamese are the fastest-growing group of foreign nationals in Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 8, 2020
Masks, disinfectant, social distancing: Japan faces disasters amid pandemic
Authorities have been warning local officials for months to include virus measures in disaster preparations.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 29, 2020
Japanese hotels lose out on Olympic bet as coronavirus spreads
The Osaka Corona Hotel has been eerily quiet and empty the past few weeks.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 24, 2020
Japan's next restroom revolution? Phasing out squat toilets for Tokyo 2020
On southwestern Miyajima island, Hiroshima Prefecture, a short walk from one of the country's most famous ancient temple sites, there's a brand new attraction for tourists — a state-of-the art public toilet block nearly as big as a tennis court.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / Outlook 2020
Jan 2, 2020
What will Abe do to cement his legacy?
If you look at Japan's 2020 political calendar now, it will look like it is going to be a relatively quiet one.
Japan Times
PODCAST / deep dive
Dec 12, 2019
Episode 32: What's the secret to Prime Minister Abe's longevity?
What has allowed Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to stay in office for such a long time?
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 9, 2019
Abe granted brief respite as scandal-hit extraordinary Diet session draws to a close
During the course of the session two ministers resigned, a plan for reforming college English-language tests was withdrawn and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was accused of breaching election campaign laws.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 29, 2019
Diet deliberations slow as opposition hounds government over cherry blossom-viewing scandal
The opposition camp's boycotts over Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's handling of the campaign violation affair is putting the ruling bloc under pressure as the extra Diet session comes to a close.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 27, 2019
Abe shows uncharacteristic openness in burasagari interviews, as looming year-end adds to pressure over recent scandals
Since reshuffling his Cabinet in September, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has seen two ministers resign in close succession amid scandal, the thwarting of an educational reform plan at the Diet, and debate about a referendum law key to constitutional revision grind to a halt.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 21, 2019
Abe's push to change Japan's Constitution hits roadblock as parties scrap Diet discussion
LDP sources have said the party has all but given up hope of passing the bill this year, reports have said.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 20, 2019
Abe becomes Japan's longest-serving prime minister
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe became the nation's longest serving prime minister on Wednesday, beating previous record holder Taro Katsura by having served for a total of 2,887 days.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 1, 2019
Lawmakers from Japan and South Korea push for top-down resolution to crumbling bilateral ties
About a year after South Korean courts ordered Japanese companies to compensate for the emotional suffering of Korean wartime laborers, lawmakers from both countries Friday agreed on the need to halt the deterioration in ties and called on their leaders to resolve the stalemate at a summit.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 31, 2019
Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai resigns over wife's alleged election law breach
The resignation marks the second departure from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet in just a week after trade minister Isshu Sugawara resigned Friday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 29, 2019
Japan and South Korea deny reports of joint fund to address wartime labor issue
Top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga emphatically denied the report, saying it is “not factually true,” while a senior Foreign Ministry official claimed the report is “an outright lie.”
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 25, 2019
Japan trade chief Isshu Sugawara exits amid allegations he broke election campaign law
A tabloid's expose on a funeral gift to a supporter ousts the METI chief after just a month and a half in office.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 24, 2019
Breakthrough elusive as Abe meets South Korean prime minister amid strained bilateral ties
Abe told Lee that the two countries were important neighbors and it was vital they work together to address North Korea's nuclear program.
'So hot you can't breathe': Extreme heat hits the Philippines
A pedestrian cools himself with a folding hand fan as he waits for a ride along a road in Manila on Wednesday, as extreme heat hit the Philippines.
Did Japan intervene to prop up the yen? Analysts think it did.
A man walks past an electronic board displaying the exchange rate for the yen against the U.S. dollar (right) in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Town to block view of Mount Fuji in response to overtourism
The town government of Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, decided to set up a 2.5-meter-high screen to prevent tourists from taking pictures of Mount Fuji looming behind a convenience store.
Number of vacant homes in Japan hits record high of 9 million
A vacant house in Tokyo is seen demolished in January 2020.
Weak yen fattens tourist wallets in Japan
People visit the Ameya Yokocho market in Tokyo's Ueno district during the Golden Week holiday on Tuesday.
Kishida sets sights on energy and climate in South America trip
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will use a policy speech in Sao Paulo to set out his vision for ties between Japan and South America, almost 10 years after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe advocated for stronger ties between the two in the same city.
Yellow sand allergy: A health issue made worse by climate change
A screenshot of the Meteorological Agency's satellite image of clouds and yellow sand (in pink) on Sunday.
Climate change, chalky grains and the risks for Japan’s rice farmers
A farmer plants seedlings in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima Prefecture. Japan’s self sufficiency rate for rice is nearly 100%, compared with 38% for food overall, on a calorie basis.
Japan wants you to spend more with ‘luxury tourism’
Performers play a traditional drum unique to Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, in the prefectural capital of Kanazawa on March 16 to mark the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line to Tsuruga Station in Fukui Prefecture.
Theaster Gates’ ambitious ‘Afro-Mingei’ brings Black Chicago to Tokyo
Theaster Gates' “A Heavenly Chord” lines up church pews before seven speakers and a Hammond B3 organ, a type of electric organ prevalent in Black American churches.

Podcast

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.
[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Longform

When trying to trace your lineage in Japan, the "koseki" is the most important form of document you'll encounter.
Climbing the branches of a Japanese family tree
By Alex K.T. Martin

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