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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
PODCAST / deep dive
Oct 23, 2019
Episode 27: The enthronement of Emperor Naruhito — pomp, splendor and a ¥16 billion bill
Emperor Naruhito became Japan's 126th emperor at an enthronement ceremony on Oct. 22, 2019. Japan Times politics reporter Sakura Murakami joins Oscar Boyd to discuss.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 22, 2019
Emperor Naruhito completes enthronement in ceremony rich with history and ritual
Sokui no Rei is one of the major events in a series of ceremonies and rites scheduled throughout the year following Emperor Naruhito's accession.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 18, 2019
Japan's SDF to head for Mideast waters, but Tokyo steers clear of U.S.-led coalition
Self-Defense Forces ships and planes will patrol the Gulf of Oman and other areas but avoid the U.S.-led coalition protecting shipping interests in the strategic waters.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Oct 18, 2019
Pomp and splendor: What to expect from the ceremonies for Emperor Naruhito's enthronement
To the joy of some, and perhaps the surprise of others, next Tuesday is a one-off national holiday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Oct 16, 2019
Plastic reuse the most efficient way to solve marine waste issue, experts say
Although marine plastic has become a prominent environmental issue in recent years, plastic is too valuable a resource to ever truly go away, so effectively managing such waste and placing it in a circular economy system would be the most efficient way to solve the issue, experts at a Tokyo seminar said last week.
Japan Times
PODCAST / deep dive
Oct 9, 2019
Episode 25: The start of an extraordinary Diet
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe set the tone for this year's extraordinary Diet session with a pledge to overhaul the nation's social welfare system to create one beneficial for all generations.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 8, 2019
Anti-NHK party leader plans to step down from Upper House to run in Saitama by-election
Political rebel and leader of the controversial NHK Kara Kokumin o Mamoru To (Party to Protect the People from NHK) Takashi Tachibana announced Tuesday that he plans to step down as an Upper House lawmaker — for now.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 4, 2019
Abe opens Diet session with call for social welfare reform for all generations
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe kicks off the extraordinary Diet session by tweaking his social welfare vows to appeal more to seniors and people with disabilities as he targets Article 9.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Oct 3, 2019
The quiet push to fix fractured Japan-South Korea relations
Almost a year has passed since the South Korean Supreme Court handed down a ruling ordering Japanese firms to pay damages to wartime forced laborers.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 18, 2019
Defense Minister Taro Kono says Japan not yet ready to point fingers over Saudi attack
New Defense Minister Taro Kono held back on Wednesday from saying that Iran was involved in last week's attack on Saudi Arabia's Aramco oil plants, highlighting how Japan's position on rising tensions in the Middle East differs from that of the United States.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Sep 13, 2019
New Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi vows Japan will take lead role on plastic waste
Koizumi said he wants to make Japan a leader in environmental issues and speak with Fukushima's fishermen about what to do with Tepco's radiation-tainted water.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 11, 2019
With Cabinet reshuffle, Abe confirms intent to seek change to Constitution
With two years left to cement his legacy, Prime Minister Abe carries out a major Cabinet reshuffle that reaffirms his desire to pursue outstanding issues such as constitutional revision.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 6, 2019
Renovated Okura Tokyo unveiled to the press ahead of public opening
Renowned for melding East and West, old and new with its architecture and design, The Okura Tokyo opened its doors to the press for the first time Friday after three years of renovations, ahead of its public opening on Sept. 12.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 23, 2019
Abe tied as longest-serving postwar Japanese leader with great-uncle Sato at 2,798 days
Saturday will be Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's 2,799th day in office.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 22, 2019
South Korea decides to exit intelligence-sharing pact with Japan
South Korea's decision is “extremely regrettable,” a Japanese government source was quoted as saying.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 20, 2019
CDP and DPP to 'join hands' in Japan's Diet in bid to thwart Abe's plans
In a move to counter the ruling bloc, Yukio Edano and Yuichiro Tamaki agreed Tuesday to merge their kaiha parliamentary groups in both houses of the Diet.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 15, 2019
Emperor Naruhito follows father's lead in expressing 'deep remorse' over WWII at memorial service
In 2015, then-Emperor Akihito sent shock waves across the nation by expressing remorse over Japan's involvement in the war.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 7, 2019
Rising Japan political star Shinjiro Koizumi and Christel 'omotenashi' Takigawa to marry, with baby on way
Wedding preparations are underway for Lower House member Shinjiro Koizumi, 38, a prominent politician who is widely seen as a potential future prime minister, and TV personality Christel Takigawa, 41.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Aug 6, 2019
With pro-constitutional revision forces just shy of the necessary seats, the DPP may be the party to tip the scales
A tug-of-war between the pro- and anti-revision forces has been playing out within the DPP, with leader Yuichiro Tamaki wavering between the two sides.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 6, 2019
CDP leader Yukio Edano tries to bury the hatchet with fellow opposition parties to counter ruling bloc
In a break from the usual rhetoric, Yukio Edano, leader of the largest opposition party in the Diet, is calling on smaller parties to join forces and form a larger joint parliamentary group within the Lower House to counter the overwhelming majority of the ruling bloc.
'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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