Miya Tanaka - The Japan Times

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Miya Tanaka

For Miya Tanaka's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:

JAPAN

Feb 20, 2011

Young farmers brace for impact of trade liberalization

As Japan weighs the possibility of joining negotiations for a Pacific free-trade pact that could force it to drastically open up its agricultural market, it is not only pessimism that is hanging over the domestic farming industry.

Japan Times

JAPAN

Dec 25, 2010

Temple turns to 'anime' to lure the young

Ryohoji in Tokyo's western suburb of Hachioji was just another temple that few passersby bothered to enter until it came up with the novel idea of using "anime" characters to attract visitors.

Japan Times

JAPAN

Nov 15, 2010

APEC representatives vow to pursue free trade area based on regional framework

YOKOHAMA — Pacific Rim leaders agreed Sunday in Yokohama to play a key role in forging a vast free trade agreement encompassing the thriving region based on a U.S.-backed free trade initiative and other existing regional undertakings, while adopting their first-ever common growth strategy to seek better quality of growth.

BUSINESS / ANALYSIS

Nov 8, 2010

Japan fudges stance on Pacific FTA plan

YOKOHAMA — With only a week left before the summit for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Yokohama, Japan has shown its eagerness to test the waters of a U.S.-backed multilateral Pacific free-trade agreement.

Japan Times

BUSINESS / ANALYSIS

Oct 26, 2010

Japan-India pact may help exports

Japan and India struck a bilateral economic partnership agreement Monday, taking a big step toward deepening economic ties.

Japan Times

JAPAN / ANALYSIS

Sep 27, 2010

Regional trade pacts take Pacific spotlight ahead of APEC summit

SENDAI — In less than two months, Pacific Rim countries are expected to present a clear picture on how they will pursue their long-term vision of creating a regionwide free-trade zone.

BUSINESS

Jun 8, 2010

APEC chair Japan may toil to lead free-trade-zone talks

SAPPORO — Discussions by Pacific Rim economies about creating a regionwide free-trade zone are expected to accelerate this year after APEC trade ministers reaffirmed Sunday, the last day of a two-day meeting, the need for such action.

JAPAN

May 17, 2010

Japan supports Seoul's patience in ship's sinking

GYEONGJU, South Korea — Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada offered support Sunday to his South Korean counterpart over the March sinking of the warship Cheonan and urged him to show "restraint" in dealing with Japan over a set of Korean-controlled islets that both sides claim.

JAPAN

Jan 1, 2010

Year to see U.S. ties tested, Tokyo trying to woo Asia

Japan's ties with the United States are expected to be put to the test in 2010 as Tokyo struggles to settle a row over the Futenma military airfield in Okinawa, possibly as a step toward reshaping the decades-old bilateral alliance.

Japan Times

JAPAN

Dec 7, 2009

Okada's inconclusive visit irks Okinawans

NAHA, Okinawa Pref. — Following a weekend visit to Okinawa by Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada that succeeded in upsetting local residents, it remains far from clear how the central government will settle the thorny issue of where to relocate Futenma air base.

JAPAN

Nov 18, 2009

Okada's Futenma-Kadena merger gambit fizzles

NAHA, Okinawa Pref. — Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada may have wanted a breakthrough on the thorny issue of where to relocate the Futenma airfield in Okinawa when he revived in late October the previously rejected idea of incorporating it into the nearby Kadena air base.

JAPAN

Oct 16, 2009

Helping Afghanistan easier said than done

Following Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada's surprise visit to Kabul on Sunday, the government is stepping up efforts to work out measures that can benefit Afghan people on the ground.

JAPAN

Sep 1, 2009

No big shift seen in foreign policy

A dramatic shift in foreign policy is unlikely under a new administration led by the Democratic Party of Japan because it hopes to ensure continuity despite vowing greater independence from the United States.

JAPAN

Feb 4, 2009

Statute of limitations in slayings hit

With less than three years left before the statute of limitations runs out on the 1996 murder of his daughter, Kenji Kobayashi knew he would regret it if he allowed the clock to tick away without taking action.

Japan Times

JAPAN

Jan 21, 2009

Multilingual Koyasan wins over foreigners

KOYA, Wakayama Pref. (Kyodo) In a dimly lit hall in the sacred Koyasan temple complex, a Swiss-born Buddhist priest joins other monks in reciting sutras in the early morning as foreign tourists watch the solemn 90-minute ceremony with intense interest.

JAPAN

Apr 7, 2008

Domestic woes endanger Fukuda's hopes for big G8 splash

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda over the weekend restated his resolve to demonstrate leadership on environmental and other issues at the Group of Eight summit in July, as he made his first visit to the main venue in Hokkaido. But the 71-year-old prime minister must first address various tasks stemming from the political gridlock in the Diet, where the opposition bloc controls the House of Councilors, to clear up uncertainties about his administration, which has seen its support rating plunge in recent weeks.

JAPAN

Feb 28, 2008

Seoul ties thawing but can always get cold

Despite an agreement here Monday between Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and new South Korean President Lee Myung Bak to build a "new era" — indicating bilateral ties could get steadily back on track and even be raised to a higher level — the two leaders did not engage in candid discussions over their differences in key policy issues. Apparently focusing on producing an amicable atmosphere during their meeting, which marked the start of Lee's diplomacy following his inauguration the same day, Fukuda and Lee left unclear how far they can coordinate policies in dealing with Pyongyang and work together in overcoming historical and territorial rows.

Japan Times

JAPAN / UPPER HOUSE SHOWDOWN

Jul 19, 2007

LDP facing crisis in conservative Ehime

Meeting earlier this month with mostly silver-haired voters in the rural town of Kumakogen, veteran lawmaker Katsutsugu Sekiya of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party was fighting for his political life.

Japan Times

JAPAN

Jun 20, 2007

Japan pop fads get Bahrainis' attention

Bahrain is not a country where it is common to encounter Japanese, but even here interest in "anime" has been encouraging young people to learn more about Japan, as well as to study the language.

Japan Times

BUSINESS

Jun 9, 2007

Daiso 100-yen-style shops start to blossom in Mideast

MANAMA (Kyodo) Ever since Bahrain resident Nader Mohammad heard from a friend about a "very good" shop that opened in the tiny Mideast state in 2005, he has become a fan of the Japanese variety store where almost every product is the same price.

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

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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