By Mari Yamaguchi Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — An American sailor’s arrest in an alleged rape on Okinawa was “extremely regrettable,” Japan’s top government spokesman said March 14 about a case that renewed ill feelings on the southern island that sees the U.S. military presence there as a heavy and unfair burden. Chief Cabinet Secretary […]
Japanese lawmaker criticized for linking Obama to slaves
By Mari Yamaguchi Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese lawmaker is being criticized for saying President Barack Obama was a descendant of Black slaves and so would have been an unthinkable presidential choice in America’s early history. Kazuya Maruyama, a lawyer-turned-lawmaker in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling party, apologized hours after making the remark […]
Opponents to fight new U.S. military base on Okinawa
By Ken Moritsugu Associated Press TOKYO (AP) – Threatening lawsuits and protests, opponents are gearing up to fight a decision by Okinawa’s governor that could pave the way for a new U.S. military base on the southern Japanese island.
Japan’s ruling bloc wins upper house elections
By Malcolm Foster The Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition won a comfortable majority in the upper house of parliament in elections July 21, giving it control of both chambers and a mandate to press ahead with difficult economic reforms. The win is an endorsement of the Liberal Democratic […]
Japan pulls back on denials of WWII sex slavery
By Mari Yamaguchi The Associated Press TOKYO, Japan (AP) — Japan has acknowledged that it conducted only a limited investigation before claiming there was no official evidence that its imperial troops coerced Asian women into sexual slavery before and during World War II.