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May 01, 2024
 

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Shoko Oda
For Shoko Oda's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 22, 2022
Japan's Tepco honing offshore wind bid as competition heats up
Japan is aiming to award 10 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by the end of the decade, spurring a contest for the contracts to build the projects.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 22, 2022
China's interest in Shell's Russian gas stake adds impetus for Japan to stay
Exiting Russian LNG projects would force Japan to source replacement fuel from the already tight spot market, threatening to boost prices that are trading near record-high levels.
Japan Times
PODCAST / deep dive
Apr 6, 2022
Tokyo's energy crisis — a decade in the making
Bloomberg energy reporter Shoko Oda joins Deep Dive to explain why the energy crisis was a decade in the making.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 6, 2022
Nuclear power’s growing fan base in Japan faces a reality check
A web of red-tape governing nuclear reactors born from the Fukushima nuclear disaster 11 years ago means that the resumption of operations can't speed up, no matter the political pressure.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 2, 2022
IEA nations agree to join Biden’s massive oil-stock release
The U.S. president said he expects allies in the IEA to agree to release an additional 30 million to 50 million barrels from their own reserves.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 30, 2022
Japanese power retailers exiting business as energy crunch worsens
In the last month, at least four companies halted power retail operations, as a surge in wholesale electricity prices makes it challenging to procure stable supply and turn a profit.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / FOCUS
Mar 26, 2022
The future of energy will require citizens to make sacrifices. Just ask Tokyo residents.
Not since the late 1970s have governments around the world been under so much pressure to ask their citizens to cut energy consumption for the greater good.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 23, 2022
Tokyo power squeeze easing, government says, after residents and businesses cut back
An electricity shortage warning for Tokyo was lifted Wednesday, with solar supplies expected to be more abundant and cold weather subsiding, according to the trade ministry.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 22, 2022
Japan’s power crisis was a decade in making and won’t go away
The world's third-largest economy has been running on a thinner supply of electricity since the triple meltdown at Fukushima in March 2011 shut its massive fleet of nuclear reactors.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 25, 2022
Japan’s petrochemical firms need to merge to survive, Mitsubishi Chemical CEO says
Jean-Marc Gilson compared the situation facing the chemical industry to other industries Japan once dominated, such as semiconductors and flat-screen televisions.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 18, 2022
Japan’s top power producer seeks long-term clean ammonia deal
Much of ammonia is still produced by burning natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas, but there's anticipation that it could be made from cleaner energy in the future.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 21, 2022
Surging gasoline costs unsettle Asia as inflation poses challenge
South Korea has taken steps to ensure a steady supply of the key fuel while tracking prices, and Japan may soon hand aid to local refiners.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 19, 2022
Japan’s LNG inventories slump to seven-month low on cold weather
The country has also received 10% fewer LNG deliveries in the one-month period through Monday compared to last year.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 23, 2021
Former vaccine chief Taro Kono says Japan should hasten booster rollout
Kono's comments came just after Japan confirmed the first cases of community transmission of the omicron variant.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 16, 2021
Goldman-founded energy firm says Japan must do more on climate
There is an ongoing struggle in Japan as the country aims to fulfill ambitious climate change goals while maintaining a secure and stable energy system.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 22, 2021
From bathhouses to fisheries, hidden inflation is creeping across Japan
Gasoline prices soared to a seven-year high this month and the government is expecting the tightest power supply in a decade this winter.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 30, 2021
Soul food photo boosts Twitter profile of Japan's next leader
The politician set to become Japan's next prime minister may not be all that savvy on social media — but a photo of his favorite food struck a chord with Twitter users.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 30, 2021
Having secured Japan's top job, Kishida must now win over its voters
While the ex-banker is almost guaranteed to be made prime minister by his party at a special session Monday, within weeks he will need to face a skeptical public in a general election.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 30, 2021
What Japan’s middle-of-the-road new leader means for investors
For good or ill, Kishida is seen by investors as a continuity choice — stable, but unlikely to energize markets much.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Sep 29, 2021
Japan's GPIF, world’s top pension fund, won’t invest in China’s sovereign debt
As Chinese debt is being added to the FTSE Russell global bond index, the Japanese fund will instead use a version of the World Government Bond Index that excludes Chinese government bonds.
'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.
Yen rebounds strongly after first slide past ¥160 since 1990
The yen dropped to ¥160.245 per dollar on Monday before heading into the other direction to ¥155.01 amid speculation of an intervention by Japanese currency authorities.
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.
JAL cancels international flight after captain gets drunk at Dallas hotel
A Japan Airlines' flight from Dallas to Tokyo was canceled last week after its captain got drunk at a local hotel.
Golden Week crowds greeted with high temperatures as holiday period kicks off
The departure lobby for domestic flights is crowded with travelers at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on Saturday, the first day of this year's Golden Week holidays.
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.
Casa del Cibo: A thriving jewel born from Tohoku’s harsh past
When chef Ryohei Ikemi moved to Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, and opened Casa del Cibo in 2011, it was the first proper Italian restaurant in the city.
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.

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

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

A young restaurant leads the way in Karuizawa
A young restaurant leads the way in Karuizawa

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