"Akitoshi Muraoka" site:http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/

1. POLITICAL PULSE / 3 pitfalls await govt in Dec. : Commentary ...

   26 Nov 2009 - Akitoshi Muraoka. The government will have to grapple with three knotty problems in December. The first is the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' ...
   www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/columns/commentary/20091126dy02.htm - Cached

2. POLITICAL PULSE / DPJ to put power in MPs' hands / Huge change ...

   - 1:56am
   18 Sep 2009 - Akitoshi Muraoka. The administration to be led by Democratic Party of Japan President Yukio Hatoyama is about to drastically change the relationship between ...
   www.yomiuri.co.jp › Home › Columns › Commentary - Cached

3. POLITICAL PULSE / Content before slogans / LDP, DPJ must present ...

   24 Jul 2009 - Akitoshi Muraoka. After months of wavering, Prime Minister Taro Aso at last has dissolved the House of Representatives to call a general election as fiery ...
   www.yomiuri.co.jp › Home › Columns › Commentary - Cached

4. POLITICAL PULSE / 'Moxa revolution' in the making : Commentary ...

   30 Sep 2009 - Akitoshi Muraoka. "Before long, there will be a 'moxa revolution' in Japan. Voters who thought they had punished [politicians] with a round of moxibustion, ...
   www.yomiuri.co.jp › Home › Columns › Commentary - Cached

5. POLITICAL PULSE / Ozawa must continue walking thorny path ...

   10 Feb 2010 - Akitoshi Muraoka. Though Democratic Party of Japan kingpin Ichiro Ozawa narrowly escaped the clutches of the nation's strongest investigative organization, ...
   www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/columns/commentary/20100210dy01.htm - Cached

6. Political pulse / 'Heisei Reformation' gets under way : Commentary ...

   30 Oct 2009 - Akitoshi Muraoka Yomiuri Shimbun Political News Editor. The administration led by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, president of the Democratic Party of Japan, ...
   www.yomiuri.co.jp › Home › Columns › Commentary - Cached

7. POLITICAL PULSE / Aso's fate could rest on results of Tokyo ...

   24 Jun 2009 - Akitoshi Muraoka. It is increasingly likely that the results of the upcoming Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election on July 12 will play a large part in the ...
   www.yomiuri.co.jp › Home › Columns › Commentary - Cached

8. POLITICAL PULSE / Can Ozawa reshape politics? : Commentary ...

   17 Oct 2009 - Akitoshi Muraoka. No true democracy can develop without reform of the conventional Japanese political culture in which everything is decided at collusive ...
   www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/columns/commentary/20091017dy01.htm - Cached

9. POLITICAL PULSE / Will Suga speed LDP's fall / Ambitious aide's ...

   10 Jul 2009 - Akitoshi Muraoka. From 49.5 percent to 19.7 percent. These are Cabinet approval ratings in The Yomiuri Shimbun's nationwide opinion surveys conducted in ...
   www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/columns/commentary/20090710dy04.htm - Cached

10. POLITICAL PULSE / Hatoyama's leadership like soft ice cream ...

    24 Dec 2009 - Akitoshi Muraoka. People in this country have begun asking themselves a serious question: Is Yukio Hatoyama really qualified to be prime minister? ...
    www.yomiuri.co.jp › Home › Columns › Commentary - Cached

11. POLITICAL PULSE / Aso aides lack political smarts / Dearth of ...

    12 Jun 2009 - Akitoshi Muraoka. Dearth of talent compared with past administrations hampering PM. The lack of tactical nous or political wisdom among Liberal Democratic ...
    www.yomiuri.co.jp › Home › Columns › Commentary - Cached

12. POLITICAL PULSE / Reading between prime ministers' tears ...

    7 Jan 2010 - Akitoshi Muraoka. At the beginning of this new year, I turned my thoughts to the qualifications needed to be prime minister. My musings took me back nearly ...
    www.yomiuri.co.jp › Home › Columns › Commentary - Cached

13. POLITICAL PULSE / Masuzoe--asset or albatross? : Commentary ...

    25 Feb 2010 - Akitoshi Muraoka. Of late, the largest opposition Liberal Democratic Party has been wallowing in the political doldrums. Although the party's archrivals, ...
    www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/columns/commentary/20100225dy01.htm - Cached

14. POLITICAL PULSE / Ozawa faces damaging fight to survive ...

    27 Jan 2010 - Akitoshi Muraoka. Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa is facing a situation that threatens his political life. ...
    www.yomiuri.co.jp › Home › Columns › Commentary - Cached

15. POLITICAL PULSE / David pushing Goliath around : Commentary ...

    10 Dec 2009 - Akitoshi Muraoka. A bizzare scene is unfolding in the Nagatacho political arena in which the tail appears to be wagging the dog. ...
    www.yomiuri.co.jp › Home › Columns › Commentary - Cached

16. POLITICAL PULSE / Women hold key to DPJ success / Ozawa figures ...

    7 Aug 2009 - Akitoshi Muraoka. With the official start on Aug. 18 of campaigning for the upcoming House of Representatives election less than two weeks away, ...
    www.yomiuri.co.jp › Home › Columns › Commentary - Cached

Wednesday, September 1 - Current Articles

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Tuesday, August 31 - Kyodo Articles

Opposition lawmakers slam DPJ power struggle

Aug 31 09:36 AM US/Eastern

(Kyodo) _ Opposition lawmakers on Tuesday criticized the ruling Democratic Party of Japan following failed attempts to avoid a showdown between Prime Minister Naoto Kan and DPJ heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa in the party's Sept. 14 presidential election. ...

Japan, U.S. to give due consideration to dugongs in base talks+

Aug 31 09:32 AM US/Eastern

(Kyodo) _ Japan and the United States said Tuesday they will consider the possible impact of the planned construction of a facility to accommodate the heliport functions of a U.S. Marine base in Okinawa on the dugong, an endangered marine mammal spotted in the area. ...

LEAD: Nago mayor criticizes Japan-U.S. report on Futenma relocation+

Aug 31 09:29 AM US/Eastern

(Kyodo) _ (EDS: CLARIFYING BACKGROUND INFO ON FLIGHT ROUTES IN LAST 2 GRAF) Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine strongly criticized a report unveiled Tuesday by Japan and the United States on on the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan to Henoko in the city of Nago in Okinawa. ...

3RD LD: Japan, U.S. eye 2 base shape options, continue flight route talks+

Aug 31 09:04 AM US/Eastern

TOKYO, Aug. 31 (Kyodo) _ (EDS: ADDING NAGO MAYOR'S COMMENT IN 9TH-10TH GRAFS, OKADA'S COMMENTS IN PENULTIMATE GRAF) Japan and the United States unveiled Tuesday a report on the technical details of the planned replacement facility for a key U.S. Marine base in Okinawa that presents two options for its design -- either two runways in a V-shaped formation or a single runway. ...

Defense Ministry to seek U.S. bases costs under special framework+

Aug 31 08:02 AM US/Eastern

(Kyodo) _ The Defense Ministry said Tuesday it will request 4.71 trillion yen in fiscal 2011 budget appropriations, up 0.6 percent over its fiscal 2010 initial budget, including 185.9...

LEAD: Kan regrets DPJ will hold leadership election+

Aug 31 07:36 AM US/Eastern

(Kyodo) _ (EDS: RECASTING WITH MORE INFO) Prime Minister Naoto Kan expressed regret Tuesday that his Democratic Party of Japan will hold a presidential election, saying he had wanted ...

Nago mayor criticizes Japan-U.S. report on Futenma relocation+

Aug 31 07:13 AM US/Eastern

(Kyodo) _ Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine strongly criticized a report unveiled Tuesday by Japan and the United States on the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in

30-month prison term finalized for former top defense bureaucrat

August 31 2010 19:55 JST

TOKYO, Aug. 31 KYODO_ A ruling of 30 months in prison has become final for former Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya who was convicted on bribery and perjury charges in a lower court, as last Friday he withdrew his appeal to the Supreme Court, court officials said Tuesday. ...

LEAD: Japanese GSDF helicopters begin flood relief work in Pakistan+

1 minute ago

(Kyodo) _ (EDS: FIXING LOCATION OF PAKISTAN MILITARY DEPOT, 2ND GRAF) The Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force kicked off its flood relief work in Pakistan on Tuesday, using two...

3RD LD: Ozawa to challenge Kan in DPJ leadership election+

8 minutes ago

(Kyodo) _ (EDS: ADDING DETAILS, 4TH LEAD TO FOLLOW) Democratic Party of Japan heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa said Tuesday he will go ahead with his plan to challenge Prime Minister Naoto Kan...

Okada calls for party unity after DPJ leadership race+

18 minutes ago

(Kyodo) _ Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, who backs Prime Minister and President of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan Naoto Kan in the upcoming party leadership election, called...

Gist of Japan-U.S. officials' report on transfer of U.S. Futenma base+

Aug 31 06:10 AM US/Eastern

(Kyodo) _ The following is the gist of a report on the technical details of the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture unveiled by Japan ...

URGENT: Kan formally declares candidacy for DPJ presidential election+

49 minutes ago

(Kyodo) _ Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Tuesday formally announced his candidacy for the Democratic Party of Japan's presidential election next month. Kan, current DPJ president, said...

2ND LD: Kan-Ozawa set to battle in DPJ leadership election+

1 hour ago

(Kyodo) _ (EDS: UPDATING) Democratic Party of Japan heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa reiterated Tuesday that he will challenge Prime Minister Naoto Kan by running in the upcoming ruling...

URGENT: Ozawa to run in DPJ's presidential election+

1 hour ago

(Kyodo) _ Democratic Party of Japan heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa reiterated Tuesday he will run in the upcoming ruling party's presidential election to challenge Prime Minister Naoto Kan. ...

REFILLING: 2ND LD: Japan, U.S. eye 2 base shape options, keep flight route talks+

Aug 31 04:49 AM US/Eastern

TOKYO, Aug. 31 (Kyodo) _ (EDS: ADDING BYLINE) Japan and the United States unveiled Tuesday a report on technical details of the planned replacement facility for a key U.S. Marine base

2ND LD: Japan, U.S. eye 2 base shape options, keep flight route talks+

Aug 31 04:44 AM US/Eastern

(Kyodo) _ (EDS: ADDING DETAILS) Japan and the United States unveiled Tuesday a report on technical details of the planned replacement facility for a key U.S. Marine base in Okinawa ...

LEAD: Kan, Ozawa hold talks to ease DPJ's internal power struggle+

2 hours ago

(Kyodo) _ (EDS: UPDATING WITH START OF KAN-OZAWA TALKS) Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Tuesday held talks with ruling party heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa in an attempt to avoid a destabilizing...

LEAD: Japan, U.S. eye 2 base shape options, keep flight route talks+

Aug 31 02:15 AM US/Eastern

(Kyodo) _ (EDS: UPDATING WITH MORE INFORMATION) Japan and the United States unveiled Tuesday a report on technical details of the planned replacement facility for a key U.S. Marine base

Kan, Ozawa to hold talks to ease DPJ's internal power struggle+

Aug 31 01:10 AM US/Eastern

(Kyodo) _ Prime Minister Naoto Kan and ruling party heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa are scheduled to hold talks later Tuesday aimed at avoiding a destabilizing power struggle in the upcoming party leadership ballot at a time when Japan faces economic uncertainty. ...

Chronology of key events related to U.S. Futenma base in Okinawa+

Aug 31 12:48 AM US/Eastern

(Kyodo) _ The following is a chronology of major events related to the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture. Sept. 1995 -- 3 U.S....

Japan, U.S. eye 2 base shape options, forgo flight route decision+

Aug 31 12:30 AM US/Eastern

(Kyodo) _ Japan and the United States unveiled Tuesday an experts' report on technical details of the planned replacement facility for a key U.S. Marine base in Okinawa that presents two options for its design -- either two runways in a V-shaped formation or a single runway. ...

S. Korea, U.S. to start 5 days of naval drills from Sun.+

Aug 30 11:50 PM US/Eastern

(Kyodo) _ South Korea and the United States will begin five days of naval exercises Sunday off the Korean Peninsula's west coast, aimed at sending a message of deterrence to North Korea, a military source told Yonhap News Agency on Tuesday. ...

Ozawa should not be Japan's prime minister: Financial Times+

56 minutes ago

(Kyodo) _ The Financial Times on Monday signified a sense of caution against the challenge by Ichiro Ozawa, a powerful figure in Japan's ruling party, for the leadership of the Democratic

Futenma relocation policy may reflect Okinawa's views+

Aug 30 01:06 PM US/Eastern

(Kyodo) _ Japan and the United States have agreed to state in a written policy that they will bear in mind the Okinawa people's views on the exact relocation and construction method of a key U.S. base within the prefecture, provided this does not result in a significant delay in building the facility, bilateral diplomatic sources said Monday. ...

US welcomes Futenma report

August 31, 2010

The United States has welcomed the release of the report.

The US government has yet to issue an official statement, but officials say they are relieved that the 2 countries reached an agreement by the August 31st deadline they set in May.

The US is expected to pressure Japan to steadily implement the relocation plan and put the process on track by the time of President Barack Obama's visit to Japan scheduled for November.

2010/08/31 17:27(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)

Futenma relocation experts suggest 1 or 2 runways

August 31, 2010
Click for Video

A report by experts on relocating the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa includes 2 options for runway construction off US Camp Schwab on the same island.

On Tuesday, Japanese and US officials disclosed the contents of the report on moving functions of Futenma to the area off Camp Schwab in Nago city.

The report proposes building two runways in a V-shaped formation or a single runway as recently requested by Japan.

The report says both ideas meet safety standards, but that building only 1 runway would require aircraft to fly near mountains, possibly interfering with the planes' instruments.

It says 1 runway would require 40 hectares less in reclaimed land and would thus have a smaller effect on marine life.

Construction work for 1 runway would take 6 months less than building twin runways but would require new designs and further environmental assessments, making the single-runway process 9 months longer.

The report did not refer to changes in helicopter flight routes as requested by the US, and the two sides are expected to continue discussions on this issue.

Japan's Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa told reporters that both proposals have pros and cons that he hopes to discuss with local people. Kitazawa said he hopes to consider a new framework between the two countries so that the new facility can be used jointly by the US military and Japan's Self-Defense Forces.

Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada told reporters that the report is based only on technical aspects, and that the government will officially decide on a proposal after factoring in political judgments.

Okada said what's important is gaining the understanding of the people of Okinawa, and that progress on the issue is impossible if a decision is reached without such understanding.

He added solid efforts and communication with Okinawa are necessary.

2010/08/31 17:02(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)

Nago City refuses government briefing

August 31, 2010

Nago has refused to be briefed by the Defense Ministry on the report.

The ministry's Okinawa bureau offered such a briefing to the city by phone on Tuesday, before the Japanese and US governments released the report that day.

But Nago said it won't accept a government briefing premised on relocating the base in the city.

Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima told NHK that as the prefecture has not yet started formal negotiations on the matter with the central government, he's not interested in a briefing on a technical report.

Nakaima urged the government to explain to the people in Okinawa its about-face on its policy concerning the relocation, and said that without a convincing explanation, he won't start talks with the government.

2010/08/31 17:02(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)

Japan Cites 2 Futenma Replacement Runway Options

August 31, 2010

Tokyo, Aug. 31 (Jiji Press) -- The Japanese government released a report on Tuesday that includes two runway options for a replacement facility for a U.S. Marine airbase in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan.

One of the two options calls for building two runways aligned in a V shape in the Henoko coastal area in Nago, also in Okinawa, as agreed by the Japanese and U.S. governments in 2006.

The other option is to construct a single I-shaped runway at the same location in order to reduce the size of the area to be reclaimed.

The report said the I-shaped runway will reduce the reclaimed area by 40 hectares and cut construction costs by 3 pct.

But the Japanese government is finding it difficult to introduce either option because the Okinawan public is increasingly opposed to the transfer of the Futenma base in Ginowan to the Henoko area.

(2010/08/31-16:21)