Robert Dujarric - The Japan Times

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Robert Dujarric

For Robert Dujarric's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:

Japan Times

COMMENTARY / World

Feb 24, 2023

Taiwan and lessons that can be learned from the Ukraine conflict

The events unfolding in the Ukraine war demonstrate that the response by Taiwan and the United States to Chinese aggression will be a very important factor in determining the end result.

Japan Times

COMMENTARY / World

Nov 3, 2017

America's Asian allies in the age of Donald Trump

America's allies must take proactive steps to steer the U.S. back to the right path.

COMMENTARY / Japan

Jan 16, 2017

How Trump could push China and Japan together

Both China and Japan should work together to map out how to survive the Trump era.

COMMENTARY / Japan

Nov 16, 2016

What Abe should tell Trump

Abe must convince Trump that the U.S. global role is not some expensive alimony but an investment that generates a higher rate of return than any building in New York City.

COMMENTARY / Japan

Jan 25, 2016

Japan without ambition

The parochialism of Japan's ruling caste blinds it from seeing how the rest of the world is adapting. Therefore, unless a great leader shows up, Japan will require a massive shock to awake from its slumber.

COMMENTARY / Japan

Nov 17, 2015

Behind Japanese parochialism

Japan's parochialism is embedded in history and the economic, educational and social structure. We should not expect to see more than a slow change — and it might be toward more rather than less isolation.

Japan Times

COMMENTARY / Japan

Mar 17, 2015

Taxpayers shouldn't fund war on Asahi Shimbun

The Abe administration's 'kulturekampf' against Asahi Shimbun makes it look like the Chinese Communist Party in its hostility to a free press.

COMMENTARY / Japan

Mar 3, 2014

Why does the LDP prefer the GOP?

What is the justification for the Liberal Democratic Party's strange preference for America's Republican Party over the years? The two parties have little in common.

COMMENTARY / Japan

Nov 8, 2013

Costly challenge of globalizing Japan's labor force

Japan is way behind in the race to foster professionals who can operate across national, cultural and linguistic barriers. Solutions are not cheap, but the cost of not doing anything is higher.

COMMENTARY / World

May 3, 2013

China's rift with Japan is open challenge to U.S.

As Chinese maritime vessels continue to enter the Senkaku Islands' waters, there is continued focus on the tense state of Sino-Japanese relations.

COMMENTARY / World

Nov 4, 2010

Why can't Japan be more like South Korea?

Countless commentators both here in Japan and abroad have deplored the insularity of Japanese society. They lament the paucity of Japanese venturing abroad to study, teach or work. Japan's multinational corporations are regularly criticized for failing to internationalize their corporate management.

COMMENTARY / World

Jun 19, 2010

U.S. and India must move beyond symbolism

LONDON — The United States held its first ever strategic dialogue with India early June. It covered a whole gamut of issues including high technology trade, science and technology cooperation, civil nuclear cooperation, human resource development and security issues.

COMMENTARY / World

May 20, 2010

Immigrants can buoy Japan

It is not possible to spend more than a few minutes with a Japanese diplomat or scholar without hearing the "C," namely China. Most of them are convinced that the People's Republic is expanding its global influence while Japan's is shrinking. The entire world, and most worryingly Asia, which used to look toward Japan when Harvard scholar Ezra Vogel crowned it "No. 1" now sees China not only as the country of the future but already as today's only Asian giant.

COMMENTARY / World

Apr 14, 2010

For Japan to thrive, the wall must come down

More than 20 years have passed since the Berlin Wall fell, yet Japan remains shut out from the rest of humanity by its own wall. Though it is a shapeless partition that we cannot touch, it nevertheless cuts off the country from the world beyond its shores. What are the characteristics of this invisible barrier?

COMMENTARY / World

Oct 27, 2009

Tokyo needs to get over the G8

The financial meltdown of 2008 has accelerated the decay of the Group of Eight. One of the ideas circulating is to discontinue the group and replace it with the G20. Within the G20, there would be a G4 made up of the biggest players — Japan, the United States, China and the European Union.

COMMENTARY / World

Aug 3, 2009

Angst over opposition rule

There is a palpable sense of anxiety in some quarters in Japan at the prospects of a Democratic Party of Japan-led majority emerging from the Aug. 30 Lower House elections.

COMMENTARY / World

Jul 29, 2009

All stimulus roads lead to China

BEIJING — Now that the "green shoots" of recovery have withered, the debate over fiscal stimulus is back with a vengeance. In the United States, those who argue for another stimulus package observe that it was always wishful thinking to believe that a $787 billion package could offset a $3 trillion fall in private spending. But unemployment has risen even faster and further than expected. Combine this with the continued fall in housing prices, and it is understandable that consumer spending remains depressed.

COMMENTARY / World

Jun 17, 2009

Incoming ambassador Roos is right for the job

After months of speculation, U.S. President Barack Obama recently nominated John V. Roos to represent the United States in Tokyo. Roos, like several American ambassadors, earned his position as a top Democratic fundraiser during the U.S. presidential campaign. As the head of a major Silicon Valley law firm, and with a long history of involvement in politics, Roos has an impressive resume of accomplishments.

COMMENTARY / World

May 16, 2009

Hurdles to a Japanese F-22

North Korea's return to saber-rattling has brought military affairs back to the top of the Japan-U.S. agenda. As many Japanese continue to have — unfounded — doubts about the commitment of the Obama administration to the bilateral alliance, they are pushing for Washington to allow Japan to purchase America's most advanced fighter aircraft, the F-22 Raptor.

COMMENTARY / World

Mar 5, 2009

Lessons from history for abduction policy

To the delight of the Aso administration, Hillary Clinton not only first made Japan her first foreign visit as U.S. secretary of state, but she met with families of Japanese abducted by North Korea. Unfortunately, by giving the impression that she agrees with Japan, her gesture may prevent a much-needed recalibrating of Tokyo's North Korea policy. Looking at a few similar cases will demonstrate why a focus on abductions is detrimental to Japan's national interest.

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.

[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Historically, kabuki was considered the entertainment of the merchant and peasant classes, a far cry from how it is regarded today.

For Japan's oldest kabuki theater, the show must go on

By Lance Henderstein

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Students ‘study abroad’ on island of Suo Oshima

Students ‘study abroad’ on island of Suo Oshima

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