Jun 24, 2012

Law school enrollment blues

Recruitment failed to meet enrollment goals at 63 of Japan’s 73 law schools in 2011. The number of students enrolled was less than half the quota at 35 law schools, compared with only 14 under-filled schools last year. Twenty law schools had fewer than ...

Jun 16, 2012

A champion of independent media

Cancer took the life of lawyer and journalist Mr. Kazuo Hizumi on June 12 at the age of 49. Although he died young, he has left behind a persuasive analysis of contemporary Japanese society from the viewpoint of protecting and promoting freedom of expression ...

Apr 30, 2012

Smell of a power struggle in China

On March 15, it was announced that Mr. Bo Xilai was dismissed as Communist Party chief of the thriving southwestern Chinese metropolis of Chongqing. On April 10, it was reported that he was suspended from the Chinese Communist Party’s 25-member Politburo as well as ...

Apr 27, 2012

Mr. Ozawa's bittersweet court victory

The Tokyo District Court on Thursday acquitted former Democratic Party of Japan leader Ichiro Ozawa of charges he violated the Political Funds Control Law. But the ruling shows that it is a bittersweet victory for Ozawa. He needs to pay careful attention to his ...

Mar 24, 2012

Time to review judicial panels

The Naha District Court on March 14 acquitted a stock investment firm president of fraud charges. The ruling was the first one on a case in which a person was indicted on the basis of a vote by a prosecution inquest committee — an ...

Mar 1, 2012

Labor showdown in Canberra

by Gregory Clark

It was a battle of the opposites. On one side we had ex-Australian prime minister, Kevin Rudd, 54, a former diplomat with baby-face looks, devoted wife and family, carefully cultivated religious persona and impeccable CV. Opposed was current Prime Minister Julia Gillard, 51, ex-lawyer, ...