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Isabel Reynolds
For Isabel Reynolds's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Former Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera
JAPAN
Dec 25, 2023
Japan must further ease arms export rules, ex-defense chief says
Itsunori Onodera said he would press ahead with ruling coalition discussions on broadening the scope of allowable exports.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida prepares to speak at a COP28 session in Dubai on Friday.
JAPAN
Dec 2, 2023
Japan pledges to end construction of new unabated coal plants
The pledge comes after some nations called on attendees at COP28 to agree to immediately end new unabated coal-fired power generation.
A Self-Defense Forces officer talks to participants in an information session at Camp Nerima in Tokyo on Aug. 7. The SDF raised the maximum age for new recruits to 32 from 26 in 2018 but has still struggled to attract them.
WORLD
Nov 23, 2023
Asia’s aging soldiers force U.S. allies to widen recruitment drive
In some branches of Japan's Self-Defense Forces, more positions are now being opened up to retirees.
A group of Chinese tourists arrive at Haneda Airport in Tokyo in August.
JAPAN / Society
Oct 11, 2023
Japan public opinion turns most negative on China in nine years
More than 92% of respondents to the Japanese section of the poll said their impression of China was "not good,” up from 87% last year.
Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi in Tokyo on Tuesday
JAPAN
Sep 27, 2023
Coalition party leader seeks China visit this year to mend ties
Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of Komeito, abandoned a planned trip last month as friction worsened with Japan’s biggest trading partner.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks at a news conference in New York on Wednesday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 21, 2023
Kishida to outline economic support measures next week
Speaking in New York, Kishida warned that Japan’s economic situation remains unstable.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 3, 2023
Japan set to release Fukushima water into Pacific, angering China
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s Director-General Rafael Grossi will visit Japan from Tuesday to deliver a final report on the safety of the process.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 27, 2023
Japan reinstates South Korea as a preferred trading partner
The return to Japan’s so-called white list of trading partners will smooth out export procedures to South Korea and comes about three months after Seoul made a similar move.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
May 23, 2023
Kishida more likely to call election as Zelenskyy’s G7 visit boosts support
Two polls carried out by newspapers during the two days the Ukrainian leader was in Japan both showed Kishida"s support rate surging upward by 9 percentage points.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 16, 2023
G7 working on deterring China economic coercion, U.S. envoy says
China has repeatedly hit back at allegations of coercion, saying the U.S. is guilty of using such methods itself.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
May 16, 2023
Struggling hot spring resorts get boost from Chinese investors
Many Chinese buyers of inns and hotels are willing to pay twice the market price to take them over, according to sellers and industry sources.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 16, 2023
Delays won’t hurt Japan’s first casino, Osaka governor says
The Osaka plan for a so-called integrated resort featuring hotels, entertainment and conference centers as well as a casino, gained government approval in April.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 15, 2023
ChatGPT misidentifies digital minister pushing AI use in Japan
ChatGPT failed to correctly identify digital minister Taro Kono, even as he advocates for more use of artificial intelligence to help overcome labor shortages caused by a population decline.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 1, 2023
Support for Kishida tops 50% amid speculation of early election
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Cabinet saw its support rate rise to more than 50% in a Nikkei newspaper poll for the first time in eight months.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 4, 2023
Japan weighs bomb-shelter bill with eye on China and North Korea
While there are vast networks of subways in major Japanese cities that could be used for civil defense, the majority of homes in the country don’t have basements.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 31, 2023
Japan and China connect military hotline to reduce tensions
The move comes as Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi gets set to meet his Chinese counterpart, Qin Gang, during a two-day visit from Saturday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 28, 2023
Fears of societal collapse prompt new push for babies in Japan
Ideas like compulsory paternity leave, canceling student debt for people who have a baby, and ¥10 million ($76,445) payouts for a third child have been thrown around in recent weeks.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 27, 2023
Ukraine visit buoys Kishida ahead of next month's local elections
A weekend survey found that 48% of respondents said they supported the prime minister"s Cabinet, up five percentage points from the previous month.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 18, 2023
Germany and Japan vow to deepen ties on defense and raw materials
Amid global supply chain tensions, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida kicked off a "government consultation" involving Cabinet members from both countries.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Mar 14, 2023
Japan weighs defense exports as it shows off fighter jet plans
The Global Combat Air Program is the country’s first major military development plan with partners other than the U.S. since World War II.

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A statue of "Dragon Ball" character Goku stands outside the offices of Bandai Namco in Tokyo. The figure is now as recognizable as such characters as Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man.
Akira Toriyama's gift to the world