Hugh Cortazzi - The Japan Times

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Hugh Cortazzi

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Hugh Cortazzi

Hugh Cortazzi was posted to British Commonwealth Air Forces in Japan in 1946, and he joined the British Foreign (later diplomatic) service in 1949. After retiring, he worked in the city of London and was an adviser to a number of Japanese companies. He was chairman of the council of the Japan Society from 1985-1995. Since 1983 he has researched and written a number of books about Japanese culture and history and has edited and compiled a series of books on personalities active in Anglo-Japanese relations.

COMMENTARY / Japan

Jul 7, 2014

Let dinosaur aspirations die

British and Japanese politicians need to recognize that the power and influence of their countries are no longer what they used to be and that their governments must 'cut their cloth.'

COMMENTARY / World

Jun 12, 2014

Challenges of 1944 remain

Many of the challenges facing the world in June 1944 have still to be fully met. Occasions such as the recent memorial ceremonies at Normandy evoke sad memories as well as valuable self-reflection.

COMMENTARY / World

Jun 2, 2014

EU shock may spur reforms

The political gains made by right-wing parties in the European parliamentary election may prompt centrists to make the positive case for immigration more forcibly as well as reforms in how the EU is governed.

COMMENTARY / World

May 26, 2014

Are disasters inherent risks?

Clearly current measures worldwide to cope with disasters and threats to human life are considered inadequate, yet some people in Britain think that overbearing health and safety regulations are curbing the spirt of adventure in the young.

COMMENTARY / World

May 13, 2014

Human rights and religion

The kidnapping of more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls by the extremist Islamic sect Boko Haram, which condemns Western education for women, spotlights the question of whether religious beliefs can ever be allowed to override 'accepted norms' and human rights.

COMMENTARY / Japan

Apr 21, 2014

Is Japan a 'normal' country simply trying to stick out?

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's apparent aspirations for Japan to become a 'normal' country again are undermined by the government's attempts to impose conformity and limit freedoms.

COMMENTARY / World

Mar 18, 2014

Combating climate change

Britain's former ambassador to Japan urges public pressure on governments to stop their shilly-shalling over unresolved questions about whether human activity is contributing the most to climate change and to get on with concluding effective agreements on curbing carbon emissions.

COMMENTARY / Japan

Mar 9, 2014

Abe's right wing threatens to cause a flap for business

One danger from Japan's nationalist rhetoric of late is that it may incite extreme nationalist reactions in China and South Korea that further damage Japanese business interests.

COMMENTARY / Japan

Feb 18, 2014

NHK's neutrality is essential

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's expression of right-wing extremism has not aroused much attention in British media so far, but if the risks of a confrontation with China escalate, memories of the maltreatment of British POWs during the Pacific War are certain to be revived.

COMMENTARY / Japan

Feb 4, 2014

Abe's reactionary leadership

The Japanese government has so far failed to give meaningful reassurances about how the reactionary and potentially dangerous state secrets law, rammed through the Japanese Diet in December, will operate.

COMMENTARY / Japan

Jan 24, 2014

Playing with fire is dangerous

Any moves that Japanese leaders make at this time to start the process of amending the Constitution would arouse strong feelings in Japan and abroad, against the nation's interests.

COMMENTARY / World

Jan 13, 2014

Abe should end Yasukuni visits

Ever since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Yasukuni Shrine last month, a former British ambassador to Japan has been trying to guess what Abe's motives for such an act could have been.

COMMENTARY / World

Dec 9, 2013

Brits feel squeeze on income

Although the British economy seem at least to be showing signs of recovery, it remains difficult for young people to get on the property ladder despite low interest rates.

COMMENTARY / World

Nov 11, 2013

The refugees deserving of tolerance

The belief that 'charity begins at home' is used by many to justify their opposition to immigration and is reinforced by allegations that immigrants to Europe take jobs from locals.

COMMENTARY / World

Nov 7, 2013

Good, bad and ugly hacking

The trial of eight journalists and others accused of hacking private phones has begun in London. It is likely to last some six months and cost millions of pounds in fees to lawyers.

COMMENTARY / World

Oct 13, 2013

The freedom of belief and religion

Freedom of belief or religion is considered in democratic countries to be a fundamental human right and is enshrined in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Freedom of religion includes the right to change religion or not to have any religion. It also covers the freedom to practice...

COMMENTARY / World

Oct 1, 2013

Flaws in Britain's health care

A number of recent scandals suggest that there are weaknesses and flaws in Britain's national health care system.

COMMENTARY / World

Sep 22, 2013

Balancing freedom, security

The U.K. is not anywhere near George Orwell's 'big brother society,' but we all need to be alert to maintaining a fair balance between security and of freedom.

COMMENTARY / World

Sep 6, 2013

U.K.'s response to Syrian crisis

Prime Minister David Cameron badly mishandled the issue of whether Britain should take part in a punitive attack on the Assad government for its alleged use of chemical weapons.

COMMENTARY / Japan

Aug 7, 2013

Gaffe-prone leaders are doing Japan no favors

It is in Japan's long-term interest for its politicians to avoid remarks that could exacerbate ill will toward Japan and thus detract from its goal of economic revival.

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Traditional folk rituals like Mizudome-no-mai (dance to stop the rain) provide a sense of agency to a population that feels largely powerless in the face of the climate crisis.

As climate extremes intensify, Japan embraces ancient weather rituals

By Alex K.T. Martin

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