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May 02, 2024
 

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Natsuko Fukue
For Natsuko Fukue's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 13, 2012
Ozawa portrait hung at Diet with other old-timers
A portrait of former Democratic Party of Japan leader Ichiro Ozawa, who is on trial for allegedly breaking the political funds law, was displayed in the Diet on Monday.
JAPAN
Mar 9, 2012
Lower House OKs ¥90 trillion 2012 budget but deadline delays loom
The Lower House passed a ¥90.3 trillion budget for fiscal 2012 on Thursday, ensuring the legislation will be enacted, but the opposition camp could still prevent it from entering into force before the new fiscal year starts.
JAPAN
Mar 6, 2012
DPJ leaders propose slashing lawmaker salaries by 14%
The ruling Democratic Party of Japan's executive members decided Monday to slash legislators' salaries by about 14 percent — nearly double the 7.8 percent pay cut for civil servants approved by the Diet last week.
JAPAN
Mar 1, 2012
In rare case of bipartisanship, Diet cuts bureaucrats' pay
A bill to slash national civil servant salaries by an average of 7.8 percent for two years was enacted Wednesday after clearing the opposition-controlled Upper House.
JAPAN
Mar 1, 2012
10% wage cut for Diet ranks OK by Noda
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said Wednesday he would advocate cutting the salaries of lawmakers by more than 10 percent.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 29, 2012
Noda tax quest one dimensional?
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has cleared numerous political hurdles since taking office in September, but his goal of raising the consumption tax and reforming the social security system may prove insurmountable as he wages a two-front battle.
JAPAN
Feb 24, 2012
Civil servant pay cuts clear Lower House
The Lower House passed a bill Thursday to cut civil servants' salaries 7.8 percent for two years in a move expected to save taxpayers ¥580 billion.
BUSINESS / ANALYSIS
Feb 18, 2012
Fiscal ills not DPJ's doing but it's holding the bag
The tax and social security reform outline adopted by the Cabinet on Friday indicate the government has run out of options and must finally address welfare costs and public finances that have been spiralling out of control for years.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Feb 14, 2012
Literary awards run spectrum
When writer Shinya Tanaka won the prestigious Akutagawa Prize last month, he said, "I deserve this," paraphrasing U.S. actress Shirley MacLaine at the Academy Awards ceremony in 1984.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 10, 2012
Will shrinking the Diet solve anything?
A company saddled with a hefty debt load might try to get back on a healthy track by laying off employees or reducing pay.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 27, 2012
Opposition digs in against Noda
Opposition lawmakers grilled Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Thursday over planned social security and tax reforms and his "inability" to keep his party's campaign pledges, and pressed again for him to call a Lower House election.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 25, 2012
Noda team faces rocky Diet session
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda says his partially reshuffled Cabinet is the best lineup ever, but it will need to be to face the turbulence expected in the Diet session that started Tuesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 23, 2012
LDP chief pursues snap election at party rally
Liberal Democratic Party President Sadakazu Tanigaki pledged Sunday to force the ruling Democratic Party of Japan to dissolve the Lower House as early as possible so a snap election can be held to return the conservative party to power.
Japan Times
JAPAN / CABINET INTERVIEW
Jan 21, 2012
New defense chief says he won't take Futenma shortcut
New Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka said he doesn't intend to draft a special bill to bypass the Okinawa governor's authority and start building a contentious new facility for the U.S. Futenma base.
JAPAN
Jan 17, 2012
Noda to DPJ: Focus Diet on reforms
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda called for support from his Democratic Party of Japan colleagues Monday to back his planned reform of the social security and tax systems and urged unity to weather what looks to be a stormy Diet session starting in a week.
JAPAN
Jan 14, 2012
Picks mirror more pragmatic tack, bid to exert leadership
With a minor but crucial reshuffle Friday, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda prepared to tackle his most important and difficult task — raising taxes.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 3, 2012
New year could prove daunting for Noda
In the four months since winning the Democratic Party of Japan presidential election, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has survived by taking a cautious approach to governing, managing to compile the 2012 budget and several bills to finance restoration of the disaster-hit Tohoku region.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Dec 13, 2011
Fukushima rice in cesium limbo
Autumn is high season for freshly harvested "shinmai," the new rice marketed as a seasonal favorite in Fukushima Prefecture. But the farmers there fear their fare will go unsold because harvests around three cities have turned up excessive levels of radioactive cesium, prompting shipment bans.
JAPAN
Dec 10, 2011
Ichikawa, Yamaoka censured in Diet
The Upper House passed nonbinding censure motions Friday against Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa and consumers affairs minister Kenji Yamaoka, dealing a blow to Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's administration on the last day of the extraordinary Diet session.
JAPAN
Nov 30, 2011
High cesium level found in Date rice
The government on Tuesday ordered a ban on the shipment of rice harvested in two more districts in Fukushima Prefecture after tests detected dangerously high levels of radioactive cesium.
'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.
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.
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.

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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