Gregory Clark - The Japan Times

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Gregory Clark

Gregory Clark has been around a long time (born 1936) and has done a lot of things. As a result, he likes to comment on foreign affairs, economic policies and education plus events in China, Russia, Japan and Latin America (he speaks all four languages).

For Gregory Clark's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:

Japan Times

COMMENTARY / World

Oct 26, 2015

Russia unfairly demonized

Efforts by Russia and the West to forge a meaningful and productive relationship have been thrown away by the meaningless demonization of Moscow over the Ukraine civil war and the annexation of Crimea.

Japan Times

COMMENTARY / World

Aug 19, 2015

Russia wants to be understood

Russia's image today remains tained by the image of Soviet days, which is why its case over Ukraine, Crimea and flight MH17 still get little attention in the West, even when it is deserved.

COMMENTARY / World

Jul 31, 2015

At long last, the U.S. understands Vietnam

Finally U.S. and Australian policymakers are realizing what they should have known all along — that they can take advantage of Hanoi's traditional dislike of China to counter what they see as Beijing's expansionist threat in the East and South China Seas.

Japan Times

COMMENTARY / World

Jun 17, 2015

Beijing is getting a bad rap in South China Sea disputes

If Beijing has been behaving badly in the South China Sea, then so too have others.

COMMENTARY / World

Jan 26, 2015

'Shining lies' and distortion: how the West creates wars

Today 'theology' has taken over from morality in the efforts to construct a new world. Laws, truth and justice are readily sacrificed so that the West's version of good can prevail.

COMMENTARY / World

Dec 4, 2014

'Blackmail' economic model

Remember the 'Cry for Argentina' catch-call among rationalists decrying government intervention in the economy. Now it is 'Cry for Australia' and the dozens of other nations crucified on the cross of unrestricted free trade.

Japan Times

COMMUNITY / Voices / FOREIGN AGENDA

Dec 3, 2014

Kick out the touts who rule Roppongi

if you are touted in Roppongi, do not waste your time reporting it to the police. You will be in for a very humiliating experience, as I discovered recently.

COMMENTARY / Japan

Oct 24, 2014

Western media distorts Japan

Those two favorite targets for Western moralizing about Japanese corporate corruption — Olympus (cameras) and Recruit (information) — are back in the headlines. Both typify the shallowness of much Western reporting in Japan.

Japan Times

COMMENTARY / World

Sep 23, 2014

Irrational bias for Ukraine

The irrational bias for Ukraine in its standoff with pro-Russia rebels suggests there is something sick in the Western mentality that blocks sensible judgement where Russia is concerned.

COMMENTARY / Japan

Aug 22, 2014

How WWII could have ended

A Soviet attack on Japan proper leading to the destruction of the Emperor system and the establishment of a communist government frightened Japan's militarists even more than the atomic bombings at the end of World War II.

COMMENTARY / Japan

Aug 3, 2014

Sudden switchbacks mark Canberra's ties with Tokyo

The Japan-Australia relationship is an odd one. Both are fairly loveless in Asia, and Australia has this ability to switch suddenly from an anti-Japan to an anti-China attitude of suspicion.

COMMENTARY / World

Jun 3, 2014

What really happened at Tiananmen?

In recent years the Tiananmen Square 'massacre' story has taken something of a beating as people in the square that night, including a Spanish TV unit, have emerged to tell us that there was no massacre in the square.

COMMENTARY / World

May 5, 2014

West unable to concede Russia's point on Ukraine

It's hard to understand the rationale for Western, and Japanese, sanctions against Russia over Ukraine when a federal system that allows both sides reasonable autonomy under a central government is clearly the best answer.

COMMENTARY / Japan

Mar 24, 2014

The abduction drama game

Clearly there are people in Japan who do not want any rapprochement with Pyongyang — who are using the abduction drama to continue the image of a Japan threatened by enemies and needing strong military forces for defense.

COMMENTARY / World

Feb 28, 2014

Problems with 'Abenomics'

The economic recovery we see in Japan now is almost entirely due to the massive 30 percent depreciation of the yen. We are back to the 'structural reform' vicious circle of the Koizumi years.

COMMENTARY / World

Jan 10, 2014

Give Snowden the Nobel Peace Prize

Since the Nobel Peace Prize committee has shown a consistent bias in choosing people who feed self-righteous Western prejudices, it would have a chance to distinguish itself by going the other way if it gave the next peace award to Edward Snowden.

COMMENTARY / Japan

Nov 22, 2013

Japan's foreign policy quirks

Japan's 'honne' and 'tatamae' approach to some foreign policy issues has had poor results.

COMMENTARY / World

Nov 1, 2013

Nothing new in NSA scandal

The surprising thing about the scandal of Washington spying on its friends is that people are surprised. Reports of an Australian decoding operation against the Japanese date back to 1976.

COMMENTARY / World

Oct 25, 2013

Pro-Japan Australia vs. China

Australia's foreign policies are a puzzle. It depends on China to take 35 percent of its exports. Yet its government now wants to cooperate with Japan and U.S. in their anti-China policies.

COMMENTARY / World

Oct 25, 2013

Pro-Japan Australia vs. China

Australia's foreign policies are a puzzle. It depends on China to take 35 percent of its exports. Yet its government now wants to cooperate with Japan and U.S. in their anti-China policies.

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

When trying to trace your lineage in Japan, the "koseki" is the most important form of document you'll encounter.

Climbing the branches of a Japanese family tree

By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Vol. 35: Travel in time — and stay there

Vol. 35: Travel in time — and stay there

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