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Emily Ashton
For Emily Ashton's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan speaks at an event in June.
WORLD / Politics
Nov 26, 2023
London’s mayor tries to unite a city divided by war in Gaza
The fighting between Israel and Hamas is shaking Muslim and Jewish people, who have lived side-by-side in London for generations.
U.K. Prime Minster Rishi Sunak, left, and his wife Akshata Murty, on the closing day of the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester on Wednesday
WORLD / Politics
Oct 6, 2023
Seeking everyman image, U.K. PM Rishi Sunak taps Indian heritage
Sunak’s rise to power in a country that until 1947 ruled India as a colony has seen little of the fanfare that accompanied the first Black U.S. president.
Japan Times
WORLD
Mar 23, 2023
U.K.’s Sunak survives day of drama as Boris Johnson grilled by MPs
The prime minister’s position at the head of the governing Conservative Party has been bolstered after months of speculation in Westminster that Johnson could return to power.
Japan Times
WORLD
Feb 13, 2023
Britain’s cherished NHS wrestles with its ‘reform or die’ moment
Programs and studies are focusing on finding ways to reduce the burden on the NHS by keeping people out of its overstretched hospitals.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Oct 21, 2022
Wannabe U.K. prime ministers face weekend of intense Tory lobbying
Liz Truss's resignation has triggered a leadership contest that, coming so soon after the bitter one that put her into No. 10 Downing Street, is likely to deepen divisions in the party.
Japan Times
WORLD
Oct 21, 2022
In U.K., Tories seek quick fix to Truss chaos as party faces wipeout
Under rules announced Thursday, a maximum of three Tory MPs will be able to run in the next leadership contest, and the winner could be decided as soon as Monday.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Oct 15, 2022
Truss’ desperate bid to save U.K. premiership lands her in more trouble
Boxed in, U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss was left with two cards to play: hitting reset on her economic plan, and firing her friend and finance minister, Kwasi Kwarteng.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Sep 6, 2022
With economy in tailspin, U.K. ruling party chooses ‘disrupter-in-chief’ as next PM
Liz Truss has likened bureaucrats to 'gremlins,” insulted domestic and foreign leaders, and said British workers need more graft.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics / FOCUS
Jun 11, 2022
Boris Johnson’s endless battle to survive
The embattled British leader is attempting a reset of his premiership — the latest in a long line of reboots — even as more trouble looks to be on the horizon.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Apr 23, 2022
Boris Johnson is causing more trouble for his Tories with yet another 'partygate' probe
Far from drawing a line under 'partygate,” Johnson now faces a third inquiry into the matter — this time on whether he lied to Parliament.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Feb 6, 2022
Boris Johnson’s brave face can’t hide his fading grip on power
Key ministers suddenly appear less willing to give Boris Johnson their full backing.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jan 24, 2022
U.K.’s Boris Johnson faces week that defines his political future
Member of Parliament Nusrat Ghani's claim on Sunday that she was fired as a minister in 2020 partly because of her 'Muslimness' have further dented trust in the prime minister.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jan 20, 2022
Boris Johnson eases COVID-19 restrictions as infections fall
People are no longer being asked to work from home, and rules forcing people to wear face masks in shops and on public transport will be dropped from Jan. 27.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Dec 14, 2021
Vaccine sites to open in U.K. stadiums as omicron cases rise
The move comes after news that the variant accounts for 20% of confirmed COVID-19 cases in England, with around 200,000 daily infections.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Nov 28, 2021
Boris Johnson courts edgy MPs who may one day end his career
Johnson has been hosting weekly drinks and canapes for Tory MPs, divided into groups according to the years they entered Parliament, to try to soothe nerves.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jun 19, 2021
Britain turns into test case for COVID-19 endgame
After inoculating a larger proportion of people than any other major economy, Britain is emerging as a test case in Europe as it attempts to draw a line under COVID-19.
Japan Times
WORLD
May 22, 2021
How the India COVID-19 variant exposed Britain’s weaknesses
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson was slow to ban travel to India, even as cases of a dangerous COVID-19 variant in the world's second most populous country surged.
Japan Times
WORLD / FOCUS
Feb 21, 2021
Britain’s next answer to COVID-19 is to prepare to live with it
The U.K. plan is a pilot for whether nations can do enough to end damaging lockdowns and essentially learn to live with the disease.

Longform

Later this month, author Shogo Imamura will open Honmaru, a bookstore that allows other businesses to rent its shelves. It's part of a wave of ideas Japanese booksellers are trying to compete with online spaces.
The story isn't over for Japan's bookstores