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June 03, 2025
 

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EDITORIALS
Jan 9, 2009
Emperor's spirit of peace
Twenty years ago on Jan. 7, 1989, the Emperor ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne immediately after the death of his father, the Emperor Showa. This year, the 20th anniversary of the Emperor's enthronement will be followed on April 10 by the 50th anniversary of his marriage with the Empress. We pray...
EDITORIALS
Jan 5, 2009
Open book on screening
The Textbook Authorization Council has submitted to education minister Ryu Shionoya proposals designed to make the textbook screening process more transparent. The proposals are inadequate and may pose the danger of increasing the secretiveness of the process.
EDITORIALS
Jan 5, 2009
Voice of local assemblies
Local assemblies are an important part of local autonomy. But they often just rubber-stamp proposals made by governors or mayors. The local government system research committee, an advisory body to the prime minister, has been discussing how to make local assemblies responsive to the real needs and wishes...
Reader Mail
Jan 4, 2009
Learning to live with each other
A couple of months ago a letter writer stated that she agrees with a government policy under consideration to raise cigarette prices. She thinks smokers are selfish; therefore, the policy seems rational and good for smokers' health. I don't agree with her.
Reader Mail
Dec 25, 2008
Hardly a wilderness for cuisine
Regarding Robbie Swinnerton's Dec. 19 article, "Northern Tokyo's top-notch Italian": I had no problem with the review of the restaurant itself in this article, which lived up to Swinnerton's usually good standard. What I did feel aggrieved by was the patronizing tone of the article toward the area in...
Reader Mail
Dec 18, 2008
An investment in the future
Regarding the Dec. 10 op-ed article "Making quality the key to Web searches": This has long been an educational objective of school librarians. School librarians team with teachers to build research skills into the school curriculum. Librarians also help educate students to conduct relevant Web searches...
COMMENTARY / World / SENTAKU MAGAZINE
Dec 16, 2008
Japan aches for a political rescue
Time appears to be ripe for a complete overhaul of the Japanese political landscape, but it is utterly impossible to predict how political parties will line up after the next general election.
Reader Mail
Dec 14, 2008
Contradictions from Greenpeace
In the Dec. 9 Zeit Gist article, " 'Tokyo Two' fight to clear names," David McNeill describes the arrest last June of two activists of Greenpeace Japan, Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki, by Japanese police for allegedly taking a parcel of whale meat from the warehouse of delivery company Seino Transportation....
Reader Mail
Dec 11, 2008
More serious violations out there
Regarding Grant Mahood's Dec. 7 letter, "Fingerprinting law is unjust": Since the new guidelines on fingerprinting foreigners at Japanese ports of entry were issued (November 2007), we have seen discussions for and against them in various forums, including The Japan Times. Some have branded such a practice...
Reader Mail
Nov 30, 2008
Noxious fumes from ashtrays
In recent years here, smoking while walking on public streets has been outlawed in many places and smoking outside of designated smoking zones is becoming less and less acceptable. As a nonsmoker, I appreciate these efforts, but one unfortunate result of such restrictions is to concentrate smokers in...
Reader Mail
Nov 30, 2008
Fundamental law against racism
I would like to point out that a quote attributed to Debito Arudou in the Nov. 25 Zeit Gist article, "An Obama for Japan? Yes, we can?," is factually incorrect. There IS a fundamental law against racism in Japan. It is in the Japanese Constitution. neath oum
Reader Mail
Nov 30, 2008
Realistic stimulus for people
The government has proposed various stimulus packages. But how about stimulating Japan's economy with an emphasis on making people's lives better?
Reader Mail
Nov 30, 2008
Extend the lives of unwanted pets
I was surprised, as I'm sure many people were, to read that public health centers dispose of unwanted and lost animals so quickly. According to the Nov. 26 article "Was wrong bureaucracy targeted?," a pet owner can bring a pet to a public health center and the animal will be put down within a day. That's...
Reader Mail
Nov 27, 2008
Where are the checkpoints?
Regarding the Nov. 21 editorial "Drunk driving deadly serious": I have not seen alcohol-control checkpoints on roads in months. I cannot but wonder if the police are really serious about doing anything about the drunk driving problem in Japan. Driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal parking,...
Reader Mail
Nov 27, 2008
More immigration is a solution
Regarding the Nov. 22 article "Workers urged to knock off early, make babies": Declining birthrates are a good thing. They have been dropping in other developed countries for many years, but those countries have rising populations that are more balanced by age because those countries encourage immigration....
Reader Mail
Nov 23, 2008
Tough work finding a guarantor
Regarding the Nov. 18 Zeit Gist article "Prejudice among obstacles facing non-Japanese tenants": I have heard of many foreigners who have complained of this situation. But then again, I have known non-Japanese who would rack up thousands of dollars in unpaid bills and just leave the country.
Reader Mail
Nov 23, 2008
Rediscovery of American yams
When one moves to a foreign country, it is quite natural to change eating habits and adapt to the new culture's cuisine. It is also natural to long for the familiar taste from childhood. Among American ex-pats, there are numerous stories of substitutes for the Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts. Some...
Reader Mail
Nov 20, 2008
How to treat a wounded ASDF
According to the Nov. 16 editorial "Deviant thinking on defense," the thinking of the recently dismissed Air Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff Toshio Tamogami "permeates the ASDF." If this is true, it is a dangerous state of affairs. A major cause of such thinking is wounded national pride. Many Japanese...
Reader Mail
Nov 16, 2008
Fake gesture to help economy
Regarding the Nov. 13 front-page article "Ruling bloc OKs ¥2 trillion boost": Although the ruling bloc has apparently approved giving every Japanese citizen a token handout to stimulate the economy, major figures within the Liberal Democratic Party vehemently oppose it, viewing it only as an attempt...
Reader Mail
Nov 13, 2008
U.S. demonstrated forbearance
Regarding Roger Pulvers' Nov. 9 article, "What a world of difference that one momentous day could make": The derogatory comments regarding America's use of force is humorous given Japan's history of "shock and awe" to begin the Pacific War. What other country, having been attacked as the United States...
How Japan's youth are slowly changing the country's work ethic
After the asset-price bubble crash of the early 1990s, employment at a Japanese company was no longer necessarily for life. As a result, a new generation is less willing to endure a toxic work culture —life’s too short, after all.
Western businesses will not return to Russia
A McDonald's restaurant sits shuttered in Moscow in May 2022 as a result of Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine.
China is challenging Japan's LNG dominance. What does that mean for Japanese buyers?
Tugboats assist a liquified natural gas tanker as it docks at a port in Yantai, China, in February. In 2021, China became the largest importer of LNG, and as of this year, China now has the most long-term LNG contracts.
Ukraine drone strikes hit nuclear bombers deep inside Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and head of the country's Security Service, Vasyl Maliuk, attend a meeting in Kyiv in this image released Sunday.
Lessons from India-Pakistan war: Were China's arms overrated?
A Chinese J-10B fighter jet is put on display at the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, China, in October 2016. The short May conflict between India and Pakistan became a live trial for Chinese arms, exposing vulnerabilities in its fighter aircraft and air defense systems.
‘A garden is a grand teacher’: The Kamakura Gardener nurtures and soothes via YouTube
American Robert Jefferson runs a YouTube channel called The Kamakura Gardener that invites viewers to enjoy the pleasures of gardening, cooking and slow living.
Waves of umami: Awaji Island's culinary trove
Silversea Cruises' culinary program takes guests on a rich gourmet experience at wellness retreat Zenbo Seinei, where the local produce is presented in an eight-course meal.
Hegseth to prioritize China and more allied spending in Asia — but questions remain
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrives for a trilateral meeting between Japan, the U.S. and Australia at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore on Saturday.
'Godzilla The Art Exhibition' reimagines film icon as monstrous muse for modern art
Artists offer their own interpretations of Japan's most famous monster at "Godzilla The Art Exhibition."
Atsuko Okatsuka brings big 'dad' energy to new special
Atsuko Okatsuka tries out some of the jokes from her new special, “Father,” at the Tokyo Comedy Bar in Shibuya in January.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

After the asset-price bubble crash of the early 1990s, employment at a Japanese company was no longer necessarily for life. As a result, a new generation is less willing to endure a toxic work culture —life’s too short, after all.
How Japan's youth are slowly changing the country's work ethic
By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Looking ahead to Yokohama’s Green × Expo 2027
Looking ahead to Yokohama’s Green × Expo 2027

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