I am Interviewed on the Radio about Toyota’s Hiroshi Okuda
I am interviewed on a radio show called The World about Toyota’s Hiroshi Okuda by Jeremy Siegel on the theme of “Remembering an Auto Industry Giant.” My AP Story Aug. 12, 2026, Okuda’s obituary.
MY RECENT STORIES FOR THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, WHERE I WORK AS A REPORTER AND SOMETIMES ALSO DO PHOTOS AND VIDEO
Below are my AP stories for 2019 and 2018.
Please go to this site for my AP stories for 2020.
Please CLICK on the headlines below to jump to the full stories:
My AP Story Dec. 14, 2019 with My AP Photos about how cries of abuse in the Catholic Church are starting to be heard in Japan.
My AP Story Dec. 19, 2019 on Toyota’s upgraded humanoid robot.
My AP Story Dec. 8, 2019 on historical documents showing Japan’s role in WWII sex slaves.
My AP Story Nov. 25, 2019 on Iwao Hakamada, a former boxer who spent 48 years in prison for murders he says he didn’t commit, taking part in Pope Francis’ Mass at the Tokyo Dome.
In this photo provided by Mario Marazziti, Iwao Hakamada sits in his seat at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo as he waits for Pope Frances’ Holy Mass on Monday, Nov. 25, 2019. Hakamada, a former Japanese professional boxer who spent 48 years in prison for murders he says he did not commit was among some 50,000 people greeting Pope Francis as he entered Tokyo Dome stadium to celebrate Mass on Monday. (Mario Marazziti/Giovanna Ayako via AP)
My AP Story Oct. 28, 2019 on Japanese film director Nobuhiko Obayashi, I also did AP Photos.
My AP Story Nov. 19, 2019 on Toyota worker’s suicide ruled work-related after harassment.
My AP Story Oct. 9, 2019 on a Court hearing a case on paternity leave at a Japanese brokerage.
My AP Story Sept. 9, 2019 with My AP Photo on paternity harassment lawsuits in Japan highlighting plight of dads.
My AP Story Sept. 12, 2019 on the Asics case opening.
My AP Story Oct. 12, 2019 on the typhoon that hit Tokyo and surrounding areas.
My AP Story Oct. 15, 2019 on how Japan had not been prepared for the typhoon in a new era of climate change.
My AP Story Oct. 13, 2019 the day after the typhoon on the flooding and rescue efforts.
My AP Story Oct. 14, 2019, on the continued search for missing people.
I’m a Contributor to this AP Story Dec. 5, 2019, about a Japanese doctor killed in a shooting in Afghanistan.
My Story Dec. 8, 2019, on his body coming home.
My AP Story Sept. 12, 2019 about Yahoo Japan making a tender offer for retailer Zozo at $3.7 billion.
My AP Story Aug. 5, 2019 on Japan’s NEC showing its “flying car.”
It flew substantially longer than another flying car from Japan demonstrated in 2017:
My AP Story Sept. 13, 2019 on Pope Francis’ visit to Japan and Thailand set for November.
My AP Story Aug. 19, 2019 on the history behind the worsening ties between South Korea and Japan, a collaboration with my Seoul colleague Kim Tong Hyung.
My AP Story Aug. 21, 2019 on the US Marines chief being worried about deteriorating Japan-Korea ties with My AP Photos.
My AP Story June 5, 2019 on how in #MeToo era a Japanese woman slams #KuToo heels dress code.
My AP Story Aug. 20, 2019, on documents showing Japan’s wartime emperor had deep regrets.
My AP Story July 22, 2019 on Olympic robots.
My AP Story May 25, 2019 on how trade is a big issue during President Donald Trump’s state visit, but the deficit problem is worse with neighboring China.
My AP Story July 1, 2019, co-bylined with my colleague in Seoul Hyung-jin Kim, on Japan’s restrictions on exports to South Korea.
My AP Story May 21, 2019 on how Trump’s checking out sumo during his state visit is proving a head-ache.
My AP Story April 1, 2019 on Toyota’s robot that can’t slam dunk but shoots mean 3-pointer.
My AP Story and My AP Photos May 13, 2019 on the U.S. Agriculture Secretary’s barbecue to sell Japan on buying American beef.
My AP Story May 17, 2019 on a court case looking at the legality of Taiji dolphin killing, made famous in the Oscar-winning film “The Cove.”
My AP Story May 29, 2019 about Japan’s aid to Bangladesh during leader’s visit.
My coverage of Carlos Ghosn
My AP Story Dec. 31, 2019 on how Ghosn says he is in Lebanon and left Japan because of “injustice.”
My AP Story Nov. 22, 2019 on a court allowing Carlos Ghosn to talk with his wife Carole, whom he has not been able to talk or meet with for eight months.
My AP Story Oct. 24, 2019 on how Carlos Ghosn’s defense team is asking charges be dismissed, alleging widespread prosecutorial misconduct will endanger his getting a fair trial.
My AP Story Aug. 6, 2019 on how Mrs. Carole Ghosn is protesting the restrictions on communicating with her husband.
My AP Story April 17, 2019, in which I interview Mrs. Carole Ghosn. She says her husband is ready for a fight but she fears he may not get a fair trial.
My AP Story June 1, 2019, in which I interview Takashi Takano, a lawyer for Carlos Ghosn who criticized the bail conditions that prevent his client from seeing his wife as violating human rights.
My AP Story Dec. 10, 2019, on Japanese regulators recommending a $22 million fine on Nissan.
My AP Story Dec. 2, 2019, on the new CEO Makoto Uchida stressing the importance of the Renault alliance.
My AP Story Sept. 9, 2019 on Nissan’s Saikawa tendering his resignation after receiving dubious payments.
My AP Story Oct. 8, 2019 on Nissan picking head of the China business as Saikawa’s replacement.
My AP Story Sept. 5, 2019 about Nissan’s chief saying he got dubious payments but didn’t know.
My AP Story Oct. 23, 2019 on the Tokyo Motor Show, which had futuristic technology galore but Ghosn was gone.
My AP Story Sept. 3, 2019 on the new Tokyo chief prosecutor defending his office’s handling of Ghosn’s case.
My AP Story July 25, 2019 on Nissan slashing 12,500 jobs as it reports dismal earnings.
My AP Story July 24 2019 on Nissan directors on governance promising reforms but say job cuts are also coming.
My AP Story June 7, 2019, about how Nissan had no say but had the technology that drove the merger talks between Renault and Fiat Chrysler.
My AP Story June 5, 2019, about how the merger talks had left Nissan out in the cold.
My AP Story Oct. 24, 2019 about Nissan, eager to put Ghosn scandal behind it, shows technology.
My AP Story June 10, 2019 about my visit to the Tokyo Detention House, where Ghosn was held for 130 days.
My AP Story June 25, 2019 on Nissan’s shareholders meeting where they approve governance steps and keep Saikawa on its board.
My AP Story June 12, 2019 on how proxy companies are advising Nissan shareholders against approving the reappointment of Hiroto Saikawa as a board director.
My AP Story May 29, 2019 on Renault talking with Nissan about the Fiat Chrysler merger proposal.
My AP Story June 20, 2019 about Mitsubishi Motors shareholders approving the ouster of Ghosn.
My AP Story May 13, 2019 A takeout on Nissan without Ghosn.
My AP Story May 14, 2019 on Nissan’s earnings results, slammed by Ghosn’s arrest.
My AP Story April 25, 2019, in which a court approves Ghosn’s release on bail for his rearrest, and Ghosn walks out of detention.
My AP Story April 9, 2019 on Carlos Ghosn’s video statement in which he says a “conspiracy” at Nissan led to his arrest.
My AP Story May 17, 2019 about Nissan proposing new board members including Renault’s Bollore.
My AP Story May 9, 2019 on court denying appeal on restrictions about Ghosn’s contact with his wife.
My AP Story April 4, 2019 about the rearrest of Carlos Ghosn on fresh allegations despite his release on bail.
My AP Story April 24, 2019 on Nissan slashing profit forecast on Ghosn fallout.
My AP Story April 8, 2019 on Nissan shareholders approving Ghosn’s outster from the company board.
My AP Story April 10, 2019 on Ghosn’s lawyers appealing to the Supreme Court over the latest detention.
My AP Story April 11, 2019 about his wife getting questioned in a Tokyo court.
My AP Story April 7, 2019 on his lawyer clarifying the conditions for his initial release on bail.
My AP Story April 12, 2019 about his detention being approved through April 22.
My AP Story April 5, 2019 about his detention being approved through April 14.
My AP Story April 3, 2019 about Carlos Ghosn saying he will hold a news conference April 11, noting he is ready to tell the truth about what’s happening.
My AP Story March 27, 2019, on Nissan’s governance committee that says Ghosn had too much power.
My AP Story March 12, 2019 on how Renault, Nissan, Mitsubishi, with Ghosn gone, is forming a new alliance board.
My AP Story March 11, 2019 on a Tokyo court rejecting Ghosn’s request to go to a Nissan board meeting.
My AP Story March 8, 2019 on lawyer apologizing for Ghosn’s ‘disguise’ during his release.
My AP Story March 7, 2019 on the Japan reaction to Ghosn’s release.
My AP Story March 6, 2019 on Ghosn released from detention after more than 100 days.
My AP Story March 5, 2019 on the back and forth on the bail release.
My AP Story March 4, 2019 on Ghosn’s new lawyer Junichiro Hironaka hoping to gain release on bail.
My AP Story Feb. 15, 2019 on Ghosn’s new power defense: The high-profile cases by Junichiro Hironaka. Yoichi Kitamura, the attorney for Greg Kelly, who was arrested with Ghosn, was also on the defense team of Ichiro Ozawa, one of Hironaka’s acquittal wins.
My AP Story Feb. 28, 2019 on Ghosn’s new lawyers requesting release on bail.
My reporting on Mr. Hironaka’s news conference April 2, 2019 is the bottom part of this AP Story out of Paris.
My AP Story Jan. 22, 2019 on bail being denied.
Habeas corpus? In Japan, “hostage justice” My AP Story Dec. 23, 2018.
I am a contributor to this AP Story Feb. 8, 2019, with comments from Ghosn’s lawyer and spokeswoman about his Versailles wedding: Ghosn paid for all expenses, didn’t know the rental would be charged to Renault and offers to reimburse Renault.
Nissan CEO at the news conference in Yokohama headquarters. Photo by Shuji Kajiyama.
My AP Story Jan. 18, 2019, on Mitsubishi Motors board considering new allegations against Ghosn.
My feet visible in the media huddle.
My AP Story Jan. 15, 2019, on Carlos Ghosn’s request for release on bail denied.
My AP Story Jan. 14, 2019 on how Carlos Ghosn’s wife slams detention as “draconian” in a letter.
My AP Story Jan. 11, 2019 on Carlos Ghosn coming down a fever and his wife issuing a statement.
My AP Story Dec. 31, 2018 about the court extending Ghosn’s detention by 10 days through Jan. 11.
The Tokyo Detention Center
My AP Story Dec. 3, 2018 on how Ghosn’s case highlights corporate governance failings in Japan
My AP Story Nov. 22, 2018 on Nissan’s board meeting voting unanimously to dismiss Ghosn as chairman.
My AP Story Nov. 27, 2018 on East-West auto alliances.
My AP Story Nov. 26, 2018 on Mitsubishi Motors firing Ghosn as chairman.
My AP Story Dec. 10, 2018, on Ghosn getting charged by Tokyo prosecutors.
My AP Story Dec. 12, 2018 about Greg Kelly’s lawyers protesting prolonged detention
My AP Story Dec. 11, 2018 about Ghosn’s detention being extended through Dec. 20
My AP Story Jan. 9, 2019 on Tokyo court turning down Ghosn’s appeal of long detention.
My AP Story Dec. 7, 2018, on Nissan disclosing more dubious inspections.
My AP Story Jan. 5, 2019 on a Nissan executive going on leave for tasks related to Ghosn’s arrest.
More recent stories:
My AP Story June 5, 2019, about Mark Karpeles starting a blockchain business while fighting for exoneration.
My AP Story March 29, 2019 about Mark Karpeles, former head of bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox, appealing the ruling.
My AP Story March 15, 2019 about Karpeles’ getting a suspended sentence, avoiding jail time, on data manipulation but cleared of other charges.
My AP Story May 9, 2019 about Toyota and Panasonic combining their housing businesses in Japan.
My AP Story March 9, 2019 about Guinness naming Japanese woman as oldest person at 116.
My story about architect Arata Isozaki awarded the Pritzker
My AP Story March 6, 2019 on Isozaki being honored with architecture’s highest award.
My coverage of Shinya Tsukamoto, a legendary filmmaker
My AP Story on Shinya Tsukamoto’s new film “Killing,” inspired by the masters, horror of violence
And My AP Interview with the director Shinya Tsukamoto from last year.
My coverage of Okinawa and Gov. Denny Tamaki
My AP Story March 1, 2019 when Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki talks about his meeting with the prime minister on the referendum that rejected the Henoko relocation plan.
My AP Interview with Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki Oct. 31, 2018.
My AP Story Feb. 25, 2019 on the referendum on the U.S. base plan.
My AP Story Feb. 24, 2019 on the referendum on the U.S. base plan.
My AP Story Oct. 1, 2018 when Denny Tamaki, critic of U.S. bases on Okinawa, won the election
My AP Story Oct. 2, 2018 on how the new Okinawa chief embodies the complexity of Japan’s U.S. bases
My reporting on the Mayweather exhibition fight in Japan
My AP Story Dec. 29, 2018 when Mayweather arrives at last for the fight.
My AP Story Dec. 18, 2018 on how opponent Tenshin Nasukawa is looking for a real fight.
My AP Story on how the fight is on again Nov. 18, 2018.
My AP Stories on Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka headed for big money with Japan, global appeal
The latest in my Godzilla coverage
My AP Story and My AP Photo on Godzilla Oct. 31, 2018.
More recent stories:
Japan’s minister of cybersecurity has never used computer. My AP Story Nov. 15, 2018.
My AP Story July 26, 2019 on SoftBank announcing $108 billion Vision Fund 2.
Japan’s SoftBank invests in US office space-sharing WeWork. My AP Story Nov. 15, 2018.
SoftBank mobile unit to go for IPO raising some $20 billion, My AP Story Nov. 12, 2018.
Japanese Actor Koji Yakusho says his is a solitary craft in My AP Story Sept. 29, 2018.
SoftBank decries journalist’s death, defends Saudi fund
My AP Story Oct. 29, 2018 about a princess marrying a “salaryman”
My AP Story Oct. 28, 2018 about India’s prime minister visiting Japan
My AP Story Oct. 23, 2018 about Philip Morris in Japan
My coverage of the move from Tsukiji to Toyosu
My AP Story Oct. 11, 2018
New fish market opens with tradition: the tuna auction
A related AP story Oct. 5, 2018
Famed Tsukiji fish market uneasy over move to new site
My AP Story and My AP Photo Oct. 16, 2018.
Official: Move of Japan fish market could have been better
My coverage of the Zozo CEO and his trip to the moon on Elon Musk’s rocket
My AP Story Oct. 9, 2018
Japanese tycoon going on SpaceX rocket says he trusts Elon Musk
And My AP Story with more background on MZ when he first announced the moon trip Sept. 19, 2018
SpaceX’s first traveler is moonstruck Japanese fashion tycoon
My visit to a nursery school that uses digital technology in their program
My Story Sept. 26, 2018
Japan preschool using tablets to prep tots for digital age
OTHER RECENT STORIES
My AP Story Feb. 1, 2019, on Nintendo seeking growth outside games.
My AP Story Jan. 22, 2019.
Toyota, Panasonic announce venture for green car batteries.
My AP Story March 28, 2019 on Honda and Hino joining the mobility service venture.
My AP Story Oct. 4, 2018
Toyota, SoftBank setting up mobility services joint venture
My AP Story Sept. 19, 2018
Will flying cars take off? Japan’s government hopes so
My AP Story Aug. 24, 2018
AP Interview: Japan official says Trump misunderstands trade
My AP Story June 14, 2018
Japan banks on 3D mapping deemed crucial for driverless cars
My AP Story June 8
As trade fears grow, US states reach out to companies
My AP Story June 7, 2018
Dad takes Japan Inc. to court alleging paternity harassment
My AP Story April 26, 2018
Nintendo taps new president; profit improves on Switch sales
My AP Story April 20, 2018
Woman’s win of nursing home money a rarity in aging Japan
My AP Story April 12, 2018
Takata acquired by Key Safety Systems, president resigns
My AP Story April 6, 2018
Studio Ghibli co-founder, director Isao Takahata dies at 82
My AP Story March 28, 2018
Japan embracing cryptocurrencies despite big theft cases
My AP Story March 23, 2018
Nissan not changing autonomous drive tests over Uber crash
My AP Story March 3, 2018
Kobe Steel chief steps down over massive fake data scandal
My AP Story Feb. 11, 2018
Esports officially arrives in Japan, home of game giants
My AP Story Feb. 2, 2018
An interesting story I did today is about how Toyota will start paying workers for what had previously been free overtime.
Called QC Circle, they are meetings that Toyota auto workers attend to talk about how they can improve production methods.
The issue is significant because “kaizen,” efficiency ideas from workers on the line and empowering workers, are all part of the Toyota Way.
Kaizen is crucial to the legendary manufacturing philosophy that make up the automaker’s sterling image.
But the story of the individual worker sometimes can be far more tragic.
Last year, the Nagoya District Court ruled in a lawsuit filed by the widow that the death of a 30-year-old Toyota employee was work-related, or karoshi _ death from overwork.
I looked at the court documents, and the glimpse they offered into this man’s life _ and death _ was heart-breaking.
He was doing more than 100 hours of overtime, sometimes working weekdays and holidays.
He was stressed out because his job was checking the car body for any defects, and pressures were high to catch them all.
This man had two young children, and in the beginning he was trying to also be the good father, and was giving them baths and playing with them.
Toward the end of his life, he no longer had the energy to do that, the court documents say, quoting his wife.
He was the team leader of one of these QC Circles, and the court ruled that such so-called voluntary work was part of the work (yes, real work) that contributed to his death.
One day, as he was filling in the records for defects, he collapsed from his chair.
He was rushed to the hospital but later died of heart failure.
Did Toyota’s Prius get Japanese government money?
That question has stirred up some talk.
It started with a Business Week report, which quotes a former Toyota executive as saying that it did.
That comment was just one line at the end of a long article.
But a person I got to know through blogging pointed it out.
So naturally I had to at least try and ask Toyota.
That produced this article.
Reaction was instantaneous:
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Just some above and there’s a lot more, including the response from Toyota U.S. on its official blog, and a response from Business Week.
And another.
For me, it was this reaction that got me thinking I should get busy and find out, producing this story.
Also on Prius online.
The account with updates on this blog, and this one.
Topping it all, perhaps, in potential controversy is this.
Talk about desperately seeking buyers.
Toyota is opening a giant shopping mall in Yokohama with 220 stores and restaurants, including Uniqlo, Wolfgang Puck’s and pastry stores, to be there where people hang out _ not wait for people to come to dealerships.
The scenario is that you introduce the idea of buying a car to people who are shopping.
Japan auto sales are falling lately to 27 year lows.
Analysts say people _ especially young people _ don’t want a car, even if they get one for free!
Kids who grew up in a more affluent Japan don’t covet the same status-symbol items their parents did.
Manufacturers have been struggling in recent years with the challenge of developing models that meet young people’s lifestyle needs.
Maybe one day there’ll be a hit car every Japanese is going to want _ like an iPod or a cell phone.
All along, the 2007 Car Wars was running close.
Toyota told us 9.37 million vehicles in 2007 worldwide sales.
The company said it wasn’t going to release numbers beyond that.
Then GM gave their number admirably down to the last car: 9,369,524.
Too close call.
It was only then Toyota gave us another digit _ 9.366 million, about 3,000 vehicles fewer than GM’s.
I asked Toyota officials if they had waited for GM to release numbers.
Maybe they even wanted to release numbers that were smaller to avert a backlash from Americans upset that an industrial icon had been dethroned as the world’s top automaker _ a title GM has held for 77 years.
This is the way Toyota sources tell it:
They thought another digit wouldn’t be necessary because they had expected GM’s sales numbers to be far above the rounded off 9.37 million.
They had gone on past differences between the numbers GM had given for global production vs. global sales. (Global sales tend to be bigger than global production for GM.)
Toyota was surprised to see how close GM’s global sales tally was to their own, and so they felt they had to release the extra digit since reporters wouldn’t stop asking.
By the way, Toyota is No. 1 in global vehicle production.
Production tends to be easier to keep track for manufacturers than sales, which must add up the count from dealers.
With the race virtually a tie, this means we’ll keep watching the GM vs. Toyota numbers game all this year.
A closed off Tokyo tunnel for that underground (literally) look was where Nissan chose to show off its sportscar GT-R. We stood around for an hour crammed behind a railing with a bunch of reporters and photographers. And finally we got to watch a couple of GT-Rs zip past us. Then actress Ryoko Yonekawa came out of the car.
Easier to get intrigued was Toyota’s violinist robot. Here’s the story, and the video. When the rolling Robina, which looks like a woman in a skirt, signed its name with a fat marker and said in its smooth feminine voice that she (I mean, it) wanted to help people and be a companion, it was almost moving. Toyota says it’s serious about robots. People were skeptical when Toyota showed the hybrid 10 years ago. Now everybody is scrambling to catchup. Maybe Toyota will pull off a repeat scenario with robots?
Yesterday, I was in Yokohama to cover a film festival _ except all the works were shot on cell phone cameras (see photo above).
There is definitely something unique about the art form just because the cell phone is:
_ portable
_ always around
_ interactive
_ personal
The whole thing was more interesting as an idea/concept than as works as such things tend to be. But art getting democratic and immediate is pretty exciting.
It’s also an eye-opener about how disappointingly staid and predictable such attempts can get despite the potential freedom in self-expression.
After watching the works on DVD ahead of my interviews, I was awake late at night and Ingmar Bergman’s “Cries and Whispers” happened to be on cable.
It was astonishing how I remembered so much of this movie, the scenes, the colors, the moods. I watched it to the end. Everything Bergman wanted us to feel still felt new and intimate _ and absolute.
One of the people I interviewed said it’s easy to forget who is taking an image, and cell phone films can counter that.
There’s no such forgetting with Bergman.
This gives you more of an idea of the dome’s size. Toyota says the purpose of the machine is to see how people respond in driving when they are tired, sleepy, etc.
But it’d be a good machine to simply test people’s driving skills and see if they’re fit to drive.
Toyota says that’s not the purpose of the machine.
This is the view from inside Toyota’s new driving simulator: The Lexus is real, but the landscape is all computer graphics.
The simulator is a giant ball that tilts and cocks, and swooshes on a rail in a huge warehouse-like building (See the other photo above to get an idea of its size).
NHTSA has a similar machine.
Toyota refuses to say how much it spent on the simulator.
People ask Toyota Executive Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada for his autograph as though he is a rock star because he is the “father” of the Prius.
Recently, I did a story about how he worked on Toyota’s Prius, the first gas-electric hybrid to go into commercial mass-production.
The Prius celebrates its 10th anniversary in December.
I did another story about Toyota: How American executives are being wooed away by rivals Chrysler and Ford.
That’s a new challenge for Toyota.
Toyota is very Japanese in valuing lifetime employment and employee loyalty.
To get ahead in Toyota (Japanese-style,) a worker must be loyal and stay with Toyota for years and years.
I wrote about Jim Press after a group interview when he became the first foreigner to join the board of Toyota.
And then again when he left.