Eric Johnston Journalist Profile

Articles

30th anniversary of Hanshin quake marked with desire to pass on lessons

Jan 17, 2025 | japantimes.co.jp | Eric Johnston

Hyogo Prefecture marked the 30th anniversary of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake on Friday with memories of what happened, a desire to pass on the lessons learned to future generations, and calls on the central government to use the Kansai region (where it is located) as the base of a new disaster relief agency. The day began with a candlelight vigil in the city of Kobe and a moment of silence at 5:46 a.m., the time when the magnitude 7.3 quake struck on Jan. 17, 1995, killing 6,343 people.
Hanshin quake sparked changes to Japan's disaster response policies

Jan 16, 2025 | japantimes.co.jp | Eric Johnston

Three decades after the Great Hanshin Earthquake leveled Kobe and its surrounding areas, Japan has made significant changes to its disaster response policies and plans to create a new central government agency in 2026 to better respond when disaster strikes. The magnitude 7.3 quake struck the Hanshin region of Kobe and Osaka, as well as the Awaji Island area, at 5:46 a.m. on Jan. 17, 1995, killing 6,434 people, severely injuring 10,683 and damaging or destroying 639,686 homes.
New Nippon Ishin leader vows to keep distance from other parties

Dec 2, 2024 | japantimes.co.jp | Eric Johnston

Nippon Ishin no Kai members on Sunday overwhelmingly chose Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura to lead Japan's second-largest opposition party, as it looks ahead to a busy 2025 that includes an Upper House election in the summer. Despite longstanding concerns that Nippon Ishin is seen by voters as being too Osaka-centric, Yoshimura won easily, racking up 8,547 of the 10,740 votes from party members, including lawmakers. His closest competitor, Upper House member and former Kanagawa Gov.
How Reiwa Shinsengumi managed to overtake JCP in the Lower House

Nov 25, 2024 | japantimes.co.jp | Eric Johnston

The centenarian Japanese Communist Party (JCP) has long led left-wing calls for peace-based diplomacy and been a prominent critic of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party over its slush fund scandal. But more left-leaning voters appear to prefer the five-year-old Reiwa Shinsengumi. The younger party came into the spotlight during campaigning for the Oct.
CDP’s gains in Hokkaido raise political questions about Rapidus

Nov 24, 2024 | japantimes.co.jp | Eric Johnston

The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP), which swept a total of 148 seats in the Oct. 27 Lower House election, did particularly well in Hokkaido, winning nine of its 12 districts and picking up three proportional seats. But the victories have raised questions about what they might mean for the future of the Rapidus 2-nanometer semiconductor plant, which had long been backed by the Liberal Democratic Party, including Hokkaido-based members defeated by CDP candidates.
DPP leader clashes with governors over tax-free income limit

Nov 15, 2024 | japantimes.co.jp | Eric Johnston

A political quarrel has broken out between Democratic Party for the People head Yuichiro Tamaki, who favors raising the tax-free income threshold, and his opponents, especially prefectural governors, who fear the move would means less central government tax money for local services. The disagreement has led to sharp words between Tamaki and the head of the National Governors' Association.
Osaka governor announces candidacy for Nippon Ishin leadership

Nov 12, 2024 | japantimes.co.jp | Eric Johnston

Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura announced Tuesday that he will run for leader of Nippon Ishin no Kai, the Kansai-centered national political party. Yoshimura's decision comes after the current leader, Lower House member Nobuyuki Baba, decided to resign following the Oct. 27 election, which saw Nippon Ishin finish with 38 seats, down from 43. At a news conference to announce his candidacy Tuesday, Yoshimura said he decided to run due to a sense that the party was now in crisis.
Head of key opposition DPP admits affair ahead of parliament vote for PM

Nov 10, 2024 | japantimes.co.jp | Eric Johnston |Himari Semans

In a stunning development, Democratic Party for the People (DPP) leader Yuichiro Tamaki admitted to an extramarital affair Monday morning after a tabloid magazine published photos of him and the woman he was allegedly seeing. “The contents of the report are largely true.
Nippon Ishin's Nobuyuki Baba to resign as party chief over election shortcomings

Nov 7, 2024 | japantimes.co.jp | Eric Johnston

Over two years after being chosen as head of Nippon Ishin no Kai by announcing the party would hop, skip and jump its way to being Japan’s largest opposition party, Nobuyuki Baba will step down to take responsibility for Nippon Ishin’s lackluster performance in the Oct. 27 election. “In light of the results of the recent Lower House election, I’ve decided not to run in the (upcoming leadership) election.
Horse-trading continues ahead of next week's prime minister vote

Nov 4, 2024 | japantimes.co.jp | Eric Johnston

A week after a general election that saw the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito lose their majority — and seven days before parliament opens and selects a new prime minister — Japan’s political situation remains unsettled, its future uncertain.