For Mariko Yasumoto's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
NAHA, Okinawa Pref. — Even though former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama broke his promise to move U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma out of Okinawa, his involvement in the matter ended the moment he left office. But for the people of Okinawa the story is ...
WASHINGTON — When he visited the United States nearly seven months ago, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama was making his diplomatic debut as the head of a new administration launched after a historic national election. But this time out, he toured Washington when voters at home ...
NAGO, Okinawa Pref. — Base-relocation opponent Susumu Inamine was headed for victory in Sunday's mayoral race in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, making it unlikely the city will host a U.S. Marine Corps base Japan and the United States formally agreed to relocate in 2006, late ...
Behind Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's stalling on the future of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture seems to lie a long-held wish to reduce the presence of U.S. forces in Japan, as well as the determination of his former boss, Ichiro ...
PITTSBURGH — Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama may have just scored on his diplomatic debut, but now it's time for him to deliver. In little more than a week since taking office, the chief of Japan's new ruling party has won international acclaim for his ambitious ...
NEW YORK — Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama promised U.S. President Barack Obama that Tokyo will remain a close ally of Washington, but it's not yet clear how the bilateral relationship will develop under his administration, which seeks more equal ties with the United States. In ...
The Democratic Party of Japan's major election victory Sunday was what acting President Ichiro Ozawa had been aiming for, ensuring his influence on the political scene will grow further. Having been forced to resign as party president and retreat to the background because of an ...
Africa shared top billing with climate change at last year's Group of Eight summit, but the global financial crisis has since undermined developed nations' efforts to meet the financial commitments they made to the continent. Advocacy groups say assistance from the G8 is needed more ...
Kunio Hatoyama's resignation Friday as internal affairs and communications minister has fueled speculation he could join his brother Yukio, leader of the main opposition party, in a two-pronged family attack on Prime Minister Taro Aso, the grandson of their grandfather's archrival. The minister quit his ...
