Sep 18, 2013

Filling up time to fend off evil

Regarding the Sept. 15 article “Japanese media declare ‘dark times’ are on us“: Whenever there is a murder in Japan, especially of a young girl, there is always some kind of fear-mongering and citation of whatever other kinds of crimes and skewing of whatever ...

Sep 18, 2013

U.S. makes world more dangerous

Regarding the Sept. 15 article “U.S. arsenal offers lesson in chemical arms disposal“: I’ve been waiting a long time to see a story like this because it reminds us that America has its own chemical weapons, too. I already knew it, but it is ...

Sep 18, 2013

Japanese men hard to change

Regarding the article titled “Seeking to change men’s mind-sets to spur on prosperity for all Japanese” in the Sept. 11 “Summer Davos” Special supplement: Changing men’s mind-sets, in Japan? What sort of quixotic nonsense is this? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it and ...

Sep 18, 2013

Lack of good information

A good portion of the over-65 age group comprising 1-in-4 shoplifting offenses no doubt has some root in the fact that the over-65 age group is rapidly growing, which cannot be said for that of juveniles. Seems a bit shady to leave that very ...

Sep 14, 2013

Olympics to hurt reconstruction

I quite agree with the Sept. 11 front-page article “Abe’s nuke assurance to IOC questioned.” I am afraid to say that the leaked contaminated water can’t be stopped by simply freezing because the Earth is getting warmer little by little. As a resident of ...

Sep 14, 2013

Make use of chemical conventions

Regarding the Sept. 12 article “Obama gives Syria diplomatic option to avoid U.S. strike“: In a plan jointly developed just over a week ago with Dr. Gordon Thompson, who directs the Institute for Resource and Security Studies in Cambridge, Massachusetts (before U.S. Secretary of ...

Sep 14, 2013

Net addicts need proper treatment

Regarding the Sept. 3 editorial “Net addiction a growing problem“: I get a strong anxiety about this problem and its ramifications. In my opinion, Japanese society is likely to dismiss such addiction as a trivial matter and make light of it, to be sure, ...

Sep 14, 2013

No 'correct' view of history

Regarding the Sept. 5 article “South Korean text lauds Japan colonial rule“: The call for Japan to accept the “correct” view of history is routinely heard from South Korean politicians and most alarmingly, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. This is the rhetoric of the ...

Sep 11, 2013

Silence does not equal complicity

So just since Pope Francis did not vocally speak out against the regime, he is complicit: That’s a non-sequitur! Since speaking out would result in crackdowns and misery all around, the church tended toward discreet and secret acts to try and alleviate suffering. It ...

Sep 11, 2013

The rise and fall of Naoto Kan

Regarding the Aug. 31 interview “Naoto Kan speaks out“: I have mixed feelings. During the time that the Liberal Democratic Party was dominating the politics of Japan until it lost power in 2009 and “the traditional triangular network” — or extremely strong ties with ...

Sep 11, 2013

America's love of war

Regarding the Sept. 5 commentary by Henry Allen titled “Tragedy of America’s ‘good and virtuous wars’ “: All wars are tragic, perhaps none more so than those fought in the name of civic virtue. The U.S. Navy’s new recruiting slogan boasts that it’s a ...

Sep 11, 2013

Hashimoto's typical perception

Regarding the Sept. 10 article “City of Glendale readies another resolution against Hashimoto“: If Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto is taking the position that the enslavement of “comfort women” for the needs of the Imperial Army is justified as much as the use of thousands ...