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May 17, 2024
 

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Natsuko Fukue
For Natsuko Fukue's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 25, 2011
Ozawa ally quits farm post, fanning fears of DPJ meltdown
A Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker close to Ichiro Ozawa tendered his resignation Thursday as parliamentary secretary of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry, adding to Prime Minister Naoto Kan's woes.
JAPAN
Feb 25, 2011
Nobuko Kan fliers rile, worry DPJ members
Prime Minister Naoto Kan's unpopularity among voters is increasing and now his wife, Nobuko, appears to be coming in for the same treatment because of Democratic Party of Japan fliers that represent her as a comic character.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 23, 2011
DPJ suspends Ozawa; Kan hints at election
The Democratic Party of Japan's key executive body opted Tuesday to suspend Ichiro Ozawa's party membership pending the outcome of his trial, despite rising pressure from the indicted kingpin's allies to withhold punishment.
JAPAN
Feb 19, 2011
DPJ revolt shows signs of growing
The rebellion against Naoto Kan is far from over and a few more lawmakers are likely to get on the bandwagon, a Democratic Party of Japan source said Friday, fueling speculation the uprising within the party could force the prime minister to step down.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 18, 2011
Punish Ozawa at your peril: 16 DPJ allies
Sixteen Lower House members of the Democratic Party of Japan loyal to Ichiro Ozawa applied Thursday to leave the DPJ's parliamentary group in the Diet and form a new group in an apparent attempt to pressure party leaders to back away from punishing the kingpin.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Feb 17, 2011
Kan in budget vote, Ozawa bind
Already beset by opposition attacks, Prime Minister Naoto Kan is facing another threat to his leadership: a deepening rift within his Democratic Party of Japan over how to punish scandal-ridden party don Ichiro Ozawa.
JAPAN
Feb 16, 2011
Top DPJ body agrees to suspend Ozawa
The top decision-making body of the Democratic Party of Japan decided Tuesday to accept a proposal to suspend Ichiro Ozawa's membership in the party, a participant in the meeting said.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 15, 2011
Kan short on budget, leadership options
Prime Minister Naoto Kan is expected to face mounting calls to resign or call a snap election in order to get the fiscal 2011 budget bills passed on time, experts say.
JAPAN
Feb 15, 2011
DPJ execs move step closer to suspending Ozawa
Democratic Party of Japan executives moved a step closer Monday to suspending the membership of former party leader Ichiro Ozawa, who has been indicted over alleged misconduct involving his political funds.
JAPAN
Feb 11, 2011
Kan whiffs again in latest bid to dislodge Ozawa from DPJ
Prime Minister Naoto Kan failed again Thursday to coax indicted Democratic Party of Japan heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa into leaving the DPJ.
JAPAN
Feb 4, 2011
Three admit to throwing sumo bouts
Sports minister Yoshiaki Takaki told the Diet on Thursday that three people in the sumo world have admitted bout-fixing, further disgracing the Japan Sumo Association and jeopardizing its status as a certified public interest corporation.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 29, 2011
Kan defends being S&P-blindsided
Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Friday defended his remarks on the downgrade of Japan's sovereign credit rating by Standard & Poor's, saying he had yet to be informed of the news when he said he was "not familiar with the matter."
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 28, 2011
Opposition issues Ozawa terms
Senior opposition lawmakers demanded Thursday that Ichiro Ozawa testify under oath in the Diet over his alleged involvement in falsifying political funding reports.
JAPAN
Jan 24, 2011
LDP pledges to send ruling party packing
Liberal Democratic Party President Sadakazu Tanigaki pledged Sunday at his party's annual convention to lead the fight to corner the ruling Democratic Party of Japan into dissolving the Lower House for a snap election.
JAPAN
Jan 22, 2011
Government budget woes grow worse
An official prediction released Friday points to harder fiscal challenges ahead, with the combined primary budget balance deficit of the central and local governments predicted to grow to ¥23.2 trillion in fiscal 2020, ¥1.5 trillion more than was estimated in June.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Q&A
Jan 20, 2011
Chasm emerges as lawmakers debate tax reform pros and cons
Tax and social welfare reforms will be the administration's priority this year, according to Prime Minister Naoto Kan.
JAPAN
Jan 20, 2011
Key ministers meet to weigh tax hike
Key Cabinet ministers agreed Wednesday to map out comprehensive proposals on social welfare and tax reforms, with an eye to hiking the sales levy, by June as they met for the first time to explore ways to cope with the problems of a rapidly aging society and mounting government debt.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 18, 2011
Sengoku feels media painted him wrongly
Yoshito Sengoku, who was replaced as chief Cabinet secretary in Friday's reshuffle, voiced frustration Monday with media reports portraying him as the power behind the throne in the ruling Democratic Party of Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Jan 15, 2011
Analysts doubt new picks' clout
Despite Prime Minister Naoto Kan's pledge to create the "best lineup to overcome the crisis," political pundits were skeptical that replacing Yoshito Sengoku with Yukio Edano as chief Cabinet secretary and taking on outsider Kaoru Yosano will help his team solve the ruling party's biggest problems.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 14, 2011
Edano to replace Sengoku in new Cabinet
CHIBA — Prime Minister Naoto Kan was rumored Thursday to have two key changes in mind for his looming Cabinet reshuffle, sources said.
Japanese stripper bids to have her porn movies taken off internet
Plaintiff Miyuki Ariga (left) speaks at a news conference along with her lawyer, Yoshitomo Morohashi, after filing a lawsuit at the Tokyo District Court on Monday.
Kishida defends planned rule to revoke foreigners' residency
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a meeting of the Lower House Judicial Affairs Committee on Wednesday.
Human bone-like objects found at Nippon Steel plant’s molten iron pot, with one worker missing
Police believe it’s highly possible that human bones found in a molten iron pot at Nippon Steel's Oita factory belong to a missing male employee.
Was Onosato's defeat of Terunofuji an era-defining bout?
Onosato (right) defeats Terunofuji at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on May 12. While nothing in sumo is guaranteed, it seems almost inevitable that Onosato is destined for the top of the sport's pyramid.
Man suspected of using smart glasses to cheat on Waseda University exams
The Waseda University campus in Tokyo. An 18-year-old male test-taker is suspected of using smart glasses to cheat during the university's entrance exam.
Japanese rap creates its mecca in Pop Yours
Tokyo-based artist Jumadiba says he forgoes the label of simply “rap” for his music because the Japanese rap scene isn’t confined to a particular sound.
Who’s toughest on China? Biden’s tariff tactic ups ante as election looms.
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about new actions to protect American workers and businesses from China's "unfair" trade practices, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on Tuesday.
Was Onosato's defeat of Terunofuji an era-defining bout?
Onosato (right) defeats Terunofuji at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on May 12. While nothing in sumo is guaranteed, it seems almost inevitable that Onosato is destined for the top of the sport's pyramid.
Ishin struggles to set itself apart from other parties
Nippon Ishin no Kai Secretary-General Fumitake Fujita (right) speaks beside Yui Kanazawa, the party's candidate in the Tokyo 15th district by-election on April 28. Nippon Ishin lost in this by-election as well as another in Nagasaki held on the same day.
In Japan, 68,000 people over 65 projected to die alone at home this year
As Japan grapples with its population's rapid aging, supporting people who live and age alone is looming larger on the policy agenda.

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