World | ANALYSIS Jan 21, 2013

Militants' aim: massacre or money?

As Algerian security forces on Sunday tallied up the bodies at a sprawling natural gas facility in the aftermath of a bloody international hostage crisis, debate was emerging about whether the militant group linked to al-Qaida that seized the plant had been intent on ...

National | ANALYSIS Jan 20, 2013

Abe bolsters Southeast Asia ties in bid to counter China's rising threat

by Maya Kaneko

In his first overseas visit as prime minister, Shinzo Abe enhanced Japan’s relations with three Southeast Asian countries in an apparent bid to counter China’s growing assertiveness in the region. During his whirlwind four-day tour of Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, which was cut short ...

National | ANALYSIS Jan 11, 2013

Physical punishment at elite school shows limits of ban

Although corporal punishment is banned by the education ministry, the suicide of a 17-year-old student at an elite sports school in Osaka Prefecture shows the practice of allowing teachers to hit students remains widespread in the school system. “We are truly sorry but the ...

Business | ANALYSIS Jan 5, 2013

Myanmar trip launches Abe drive

Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso’s trip to Myanmar marked the start of an economic diplomacy drive by the newly inaugurated administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. “Myanmar was chosen for the first overseas trip by a member of the Abe Cabinet,” Aso, who concurrently ...

National | ANALYSIS Dec 27, 2012

Nationalism takes back seat to the economy

by Reiji Yoshida

The lineup of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Cabinet seems to underline his determination to learn from his mistakes. During his first run as prime minister from 2006 to 2007, Abe concentrated mainly on diplomacy and patriotism, even though the public was clearly focused on ...

Politics & Diplomacy | ANALYSIS Dec 27, 2012

Partisan feuds leave judicial posts unfilled

It takes a calculator and perhaps the rigor of Sherlock Holmes to cut through the partisan rhetoric about President Barack Obama’s first-term record on judicial nominations. But the bottom line is clear enough. There are more vacancies on the federal courts now than when ...

Tech | ANALYSIS Dec 20, 2012

'Fiscal cliff' deal could carry long-term risks for economy

by Neil Irwin

Now that’s what a negotiation looks like. Up to this point, the talks between the White House and Congressional Republicans over resolving the “fiscal cliff” have been — as far as the public could see, anyway — exercises in strategic bluster. But now there ...

National | ANALYSIS Dec 17, 2012

Job one for Inose: stepping out from Ishihara's shadow

by Mizuho Aoki

The Tokyo gubernatorial race ended Sunday with Vice Gov. Naoki Inose winning the top job, drawing the curtain on a lackluster campaign for the capital that was overshadowed by the Lower House election. Anointed by former Gov. Shintaro Ishihara as his successor, Inose, 66, ...

National | ANALYSIS Dec 13, 2012

Significant leap for Pyongyang missile tech

by Ayako Mie

North Korea’s successful launch of a long-range rocket, in the face of international opposition, indicates Pyongyang has taken a major step in its effort to develop a missile capable of reaching the U.S. West Coast, which would give the hermit nation a significant bargaining ...

Politics & Diplomacy | ANALYSIS Dec 7, 2012

Xi attempts communist makeover to repair image

Just three weeks after taking over as his country’s top leader, Xi Jinping is trying to give Chinese communism a more common touch. Out are the tedious discourses laden with Marxist-Leninist cliches and clunky references to “Deng Xiaoping thought” and “the Three Represents.” In ...