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 Hugh Cortazzi

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Hugh Cortazzi
Hugh Cortazzi was posted to British Commonwealth Air Forces in Japan in 1946, and he joined the British Foreign (later diplomatic) service in 1949. After retiring, he worked in the city of London and was an adviser to a number of Japanese companies. He was chairman of the council of the Japan Society from 1985-1995. Since 1983 he has researched and written a number of books about Japanese culture and history and has edited and compiled a series of books on personalities active in Anglo-Japanese relations.
For Hugh Cortazzi's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Aug 25, 2017
Intersection of U.K. and Japan interests
A former British ambassador to Japan offers his personal views on the bilateral relationship.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 18, 2017
American democracy under assault
U.S. President Donald Trump's disastrous mishandling of the Charlottesville white supremacist rally raises questions yet again about his political beliefs and values.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 3, 2017
Lessons in losing international influence
What's happening now in the U.S. and U.K. shows how poor leadership can be devastating to a country's international standing.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 24, 2017
British pragmatism now on trial
Britain faces a bumpy ride in the wake of Prime Minister Theresa May's failed election gambit.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 10, 2017
May's 'red lines' pose a threat to British interests
It's in the interest of both the EU and U.K. that terms acceptable to both parties should be agreed smoothly and quickly.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 21, 2017
Tower inferno shames Britain
The Grenfell Tower tragedy has not yet been played out and the political fallout should not be discounted.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 12, 2017
Theresa May pays dearly for her hubris
The British prime minister will have her hands full trying to hold onto her job following the Conservative Party's disastrous performance in Thursday's election.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 2, 2017
Coming to grips with the terrorist mind
Responses to terrorism must not undermine the rule of law and democratic principles of tolerance that lie at the heart of Western traditions.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
May 16, 2017
Threats to liberal democracy
Benjamin Franklin's declaration "the price of liberty is eternal vigilance" matters now more than ever in the age of Donald Trump.
COMMENTARY / World
May 9, 2017
The personality cult lives on
Despite the horrific legacies of the 20th century's ruthless and criminal despots, the cult of personality shows no signs of decline.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 28, 2017
This is life in Trump world
The world looks much less safe now than it did before U.S. President Donald Trump was inaugurated, but the threats are not quite what doomsters feared.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 24, 2017
The 'Brenda factor' and the British election
Prime Minister Theresa May's decision to call a snap election after repeatedly saying she would not do so has dented her reputation for honesty.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 30, 2017
Let reason rule the day
Negotiators on both sides of the Brexit table need to exercise restraint and be willing to search for mutually acceptable compromises.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Mar 9, 2017
What path will Japan take?
Japan's continuing importance should not need restating, but its future prospects are not so clear.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 28, 2017
Migration: a threat or a necessity?
By targeting immigration control as one of the prime aims of Brexit, the British government may find that it has kicked an own goal.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 26, 2017
No welcome for refugees
The milk of human kindness toward refugees has soured across the world.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 16, 2017
U.S. rule of law under threat
The press needs to stand up to political bullying from overly sensitive politicians such as Donald Trump.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 1, 2017
Theresa May got Trumped
However distasteful and dangerous Trump's policies may be, Britain has to find a way of getting on with him without too much damage to its interests and values.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 23, 2017
U.K. illusions of grandeur
The May government must not allow nostalgia for Great Britain's past glories to cloud its vision.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 11, 2017
Speaking truth to power
The resignation of Sir Ivan Rogers, the British ambassador to the European Union in Brussels, has raised serious issues not only about Britain's strategy for Brexit but also about relations between officials and politicians and their political advisers.

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A statue of "Dragon Ball" character Goku stands outside the offices of Bandai Namco in Tokyo. The figure is now as recognizable as such characters as Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man.
Akira Toriyama's gift to the world