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July 12, 2026
 

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Alex K.T. Martin

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Alex K.T. Martin
Alex K.T. Martin is a Tokyo-based journalist and senior writer at The Japan Times. He was previously a reporter at The Wall Street Journal’s Tokyo bureau. He has earned honors from the Society of Publishers in Asia and the World Association of News Publishers for stories on the Japanese wolf and the impact of the Fukushima nuclear disaster on wildlife.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Oct 13, 2010
No easy way out of ‘twisted’ Diet
The Democratic Party of Japan has faced a divided Diet since its ruling coalition lost its Upper House majority in July’s election. While the DPJ-led coalition retains a majority of seats in the more powerful Lower House, the opposition now controls the other chamber, giving it the power to veto the...
JAPAN
Oct 2, 2010
Kan vows measures to protect economy
Prime Minister Naoto Kan vowed Friday to fix the suffering economy with a stream of measures aimed at putting the brakes on deflation and coping with the strong yen.
JAPAN
Oct 1, 2010
Rocky road ahead for Kan as DPJ addresses economy
The top priority for Prime Minister Naoto Kan and the Democratic Party of Japan during the extraordinary Diet session Friday will be to clear a supplementary budget to kick start the feeble economy.
JAPAN
Sep 25, 2010
Friction cited in move to free Chinese skipper
Japan was set to release a Chinese fishing boat captain as early as late Friday because his detention over a territorial dispute has strained bilateral relations, the transport ministry said.
JAPAN
Sep 23, 2010
DPJ bumps up extraordinary Diet session to Oct. 1
The government and the ruling Democratic Party of Japan decided Wednesday to convene an extraordinary Diet session on Oct. 1 instead of Oct. 6.
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Sep 18, 2010
Prime minister makes bold move in shutting out Ozawa’s influence
Taking the podium following the announcement of his victory against Ichiro Ozawa in the Democratic Party of Japan presidential election Tuesday, Prime Minister Naoto Kan called for party unity and promised that now the battle is over, “there were no sides.”
JAPAN
Sep 16, 2010
Kan shifts focus to Cabinet picks
A day after his re-election as president of the Democratic Party of Japan, Prime Minister Naoto Kan got busy Wednesday choosing new lineups for his Cabinet and the DPJ leadership.
JAPAN
Sep 11, 2010
Kan, Ozawa draw flak for fiddling while Rome burns
As Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Democratic Party of Japan kingpin Ichiro Ozawa battle toward their showdown Tuesday, observers are criticizing them for creating a political void in the ruling party at a time when Japan is struggling to rekindle the economy and address other pressing issues.
JAPAN
Sep 10, 2010
LDP’s Koike, Ishihara get top posts
The Liberal Democratic Party installed new executives Thursday, introducing a fresh lineup to help LDP President Sadakazu Tanigaki prepare for the fall Diet session.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 8, 2010
Kan confident of Ozawa’s cooperation after DPJ election
Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Tuesday he and his rival hope to continue working together regardless of who wins the Democratic Party of Japan presidential election.
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Sep 4, 2010
Ozawa milks challenger role
The battle between Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Democratic Party of Japan kingpin Ichiro Ozawa comes at a time when Japan is struggling with a slumping economy, strong yen and numerous other issues requiring prompt attention.
JAPAN
Sep 2, 2010
Kan, Ozawa kick off DPJ poll race
Campaigning officially kicked off Wednesday for the Sept. 14 Democratic Party of Japan presidential election, with Prime Minister Naoto Kan trying to keep the helm and DPJ kingpin Ichiro Ozawa seeking to wrest it from him.
JAPAN
Sep 1, 2010
Race is on: Ozawa to challenge Kan
Democratic Party of Japan heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa confirmed Tuesday he will run for DPJ president and thus prime minister, dashing party hopes that an internal power struggle can be avoided before the Sept. 14 election.
JAPAN
Aug 27, 2010
Foreigners can vote for DPJ leader
As the Democratic Party of Japan’s presidential election nears, an interesting fact has surfaced regarding internal regulations on who gets to vote for the ruling party’s leader — and effectively the prime minister.
JAPAN
Aug 24, 2010
Kan chats up Ozawa’s DPJ rookie ranks
Prime Minister Naoto Kan made a bold gesture Monday by reaching out to junior Democratic Party of Japan ranks considered faithful to DPJ kingpin Ichiro Ozawa, who rumor has it may run against Kan for the party presidency next month and hence seek the prime ministership.
JAPAN
Aug 18, 2010
Mihara’s fight for women’s health is personal
The turning point in Junko Mihara’s life came two years ago when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer and had to have her uterus removed.
JAPAN
Aug 16, 2010
Kan expresses remorse for casualties of war
Commemorating 65 years since the end of World War II, Prime Minister Naoto Kan delivered a speech Sunday expressing deep remorse for the damage Japan inflicted on its neighbors and its own people during the war, vowing to work toward global peace.
JAPAN
Aug 8, 2010
Gemba: DPJ open to cross-party talks
Koichiro Gemba, the ruling Democratic Party of Japan’s Policy Research Committee chairman, expressed willingness to undergo tough negotiations with the opposition camp to pass critical bills, now that his party faces a divided Diet.
JAPAN
Aug 3, 2010
Kan offers opposition budget input
Prime Minister Naoto Kan took a defensive stance Monday, offering to reflect the opinions of the opposition camp in drawing up the fiscal 2011 budget.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Aug 3, 2010
Ubiquitous Tokyo subways moving the daily masses
With nearly 300 stations, Tokyo has one of the world’s busiest and most sprawling subway networks at work today — not to mention globally notorious rush hours.
China’s demand for Soviet-style apartments shows limits to revival
Apartments built during a Soviet Union-inspired construction drive in the 1970s and 1980s tend to suffer from poor insulation and outdated plumbing, but they are seeing a revival in interest due to their attractive locations.
Japanese scientists identify neural mechanism that may explain why we dislike people
The aggressive mouse (left) used in the experiment and a mouse defending itself
Japanese payment processor’s collapse hits banks and restaurants
Zentoshin served around 200,000 shops, many of which rely on early payments to maintain cash flow, raising concerns over their financial stability following the disruption.
Over 70% of accommodations in Japan say they are understaffed amid tourism influx
The number of foreign visitors to Japan reached a high of 42.68 million in 2025.
Lenders seek $700 million after Japanese payments firm’s collapse
The financial failure of Osaka-based Zentoshin has left 63 creditors with claims totaling ¥115.16 billion, according to Tokyo Shoko Research.
Japan’s largest exhibition of women photographers rights a wrong in cultural history
Miwa Yanagi’s “Elevator Girl House” series skewers the superficiality of gender roles through staged images.
Over 70% of accommodations in Japan say they are understaffed amid tourism influx
The number of foreign visitors to Japan reached a high of 42.68 million in 2025.
‘Princess Mononoke’ comes alive in Super Kabuki staging
The “Princess Mononoke” adaptation was created under Shochiku’s Super Kabuki initiative, a modern form of kabuki with more technology in staging and open to pop culture collaborations.
The beating heart inside ‘Human Vapor’
Different forms of love and connection form the emotional backbone of Netflix’s “Human Vapor,” says actor Shun Oguri, who plays troubled detective Kenji Okamoto.
Japan bets on character IP to drive global growth
Born on social media platforms in 2022, Opanchu Usagi has become a major hit, especially among Generation Z.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

The Terasaka Rice Terraces are seen with Mount Buko in the background.
What Yokoze can teach Japan about rural revival
By Alex K.T. Martin

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