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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
Nov 25, 2011
Noda seeks to appease party foes to TPP talks
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda held a meeting Thursday with lawmakers from his Democratic Party of Japan in an effort to ease their opposition to Japan taking part in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 18, 2011
Fukushima to ban rice grown in Onami
The government on Thursday banned shipments of rice harvested in the Onami district in the city of Fukushima after one farm's product registered levels of radioactive cesium above the provisional limit.
JAPAN
Nov 17, 2011
No need for U.S. to correct TPP comments, Noda says
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said Wednesday he will not ask Washington again to revise a statement that he claimed misquoted his comments about Japan's stance on free-trade talks.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 12, 2011
Japan will join TPP dialogue, Noda decides
Japan will join the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda officially announced Friday night, a day after he delayed making an declaration on the country's stance on the free-trade initiative.
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Nov 12, 2011
Dissent within DPJ ranks looks set to fester
Delaying the decision to take part in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations by a day may have bought a little time, but experts said Friday there is no going back for Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda now that he has announced Japan will participate in the free-trade talks.
JAPAN
Nov 11, 2011
DPJ shelves tobacco tax hike to appease opposition
The ruling Democratic Party of Japan on Thursday postponed its plan to raise the tobacco tax, a compromise intended to win the opposition camp's support over the passage of budget-related bills.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 10, 2011
Tohoku teens share views of survival
Asaka Yanada, a 15-year-old high school student from Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, ran as fast as she could toward a hill for 2 km, shepherding elementary school students, when the giant tsunami engulfed her hometown on March 11.
JAPAN
Nov 9, 2011
Tohoku recovery bond redemption put at 25 years
The Democratic Party of Japan yielded to the opposition camp Tuesday and agreed to redeem the bonds for financing the reconstruction of the Tohoku region in 25 years.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 1, 2011
Noda takes flak in Diet over extra budget, free trade
Opposition lawmakers lashed out at Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Monday over what they said is the administration's unclear stance on whether to join free-trade talks, criticized components of the third extra budget for the Tohoku region reconstruction and called on him to dissolve the Lower House for a snap election.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Oct 18, 2011
Bureaucrat housing perks draw fire
As The Government Scrambles To Find Funds To Rebuild The Disaster-hit Tohoku Region, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda Hinted Monday The Government May Cancel A ¥10.5 Billion Project To Construct A State-owned Housing Complex For Civil Servants In Asaka, Saitama Prefecture, Amid An Opposition Uproar.
JAPAN
Sep 30, 2011
Eight prefectures eyed for radioactive dumps
The Environment Ministry has revealed a controversial plan to build temporary storage facilities for soil contaminated with radiation from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant in eight prefectures in the Tohoku and Kanto regions.
JAPAN
Sep 29, 2011
Noda eyes reduced media contact
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda hinted Wednesday that he may hold regular news conferences instead of standup interviews with the press, apparently reflecting caution in dealing with the media.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Sep 28, 2011
Aides' convictions bode ill for Ozawa
The convictions Monday of Democratic Party of Japan ex-leader Ichiro Ozawa's former aides for making false entries in his political funds records will inevitably impact the kingpin's own trial that starts next month and weaken his clout in the ruling party, legal and political observers said Tuesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 27, 2011
Opposition slams Noda for dodging discussion of reconstruction budget
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda came under fire from opposition lawmakers at the Lower House Budget Committee meeting Monday for failing to keep the Diet in session long enough to discuss the budget for the reconstruction of the disaster-hit Tohoku region.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 23, 2011
Maehara speaks out for continued export of nuclear reactors
Drawing on its technology and experience, Japan should continue to export nuclear reactors despite the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant, ruling party policy chief Seiji Maehara said Wednesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 17, 2011
Koshiishi still siding with Ozawa
Azuma Koshiishi, the new secretary general of the Democratic Party of Japan, said he still believes Ichiro Ozawa's suspension should be lifted.
Japan Times
JAPAN / CABINET INTERVIEW
Sep 16, 2011
Despite pyramid sales donations, new consumer chief vows to run tight ship
Newly appointed consumer affairs chief Kenji Yamaoka says he will keep an eye on shady businesses that target consumers, while claiming that donations he received from businesses and a group involved in a pyramid scheme were legal.
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Sep 3, 2011
Lineup competent but lacking buzz
The new ministers hand-picked Friday by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda lack the star power or celebrity status needed to reverse the Democratic Party of Japan's dwindling popularity.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 2, 2011
Noda taps Fujimura to be right-hand man
Newly appointed executives of the Democratic Party of Japan promised the leading opposition parties Thursday that they will uphold agreements to give up or scale back some of the key pledges the DPJ made before taking power, including the monthly child allowances.
JAPAN
Sep 1, 2011
Noda's key first task: filling Edano's shoes
Prime Minister-elect Yoshihiko Noda is looking to form an administrative team that satisfies loyalists of disgraced Democratic Party of Japan kingpin Ichiro Ozawa and his own allies, and one main task will be picking a right-hand man to fill the shoes of Yukio Edano, the departing chief Cabinet secretary.
'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.

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