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April 30, 2024
 

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Jochen Legewie
For Jochen Legewie's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Aug 30, 2010
Japan, Germany face less size and clout as anniversary nears
Japan and Germany will celebrate the 150th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2011. The first commemorative events will kick-off this October, with the grande finale planned to take place in October 2011 in Yokohama.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Jun 28, 2010
Japan not competing hard enough to reap big rewards in Africa
These days the world's eyes are on Africa. However, of the 32 soccer teams competing in the FIFA World Cup, one main stakeholder is missing: the Chinese team.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Apr 5, 2010
Japan-EU Summit a chance to chart new decade of change
On April 28, Japanese and European leaders will meet for the 19th bilateral Japan-EU Summit in Tokyo. At first sight, the summit is just another in a long series of annual events that began back in 1991 with the European-Japan Joint Declaration of The Hague. It will, however, be one of the most important summits to date.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Feb 1, 2010
A German lesson for Japan's climate chiefs
The Copenhagen Climate Summit in December 2009 produced few tangible results and was widely regarded a failure. No consensus was reached on multilateral agreements, returning unilateral and national initiatives to the spotlight once again.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Dec 21, 2009
Press club system a domestic dilemma begging for change
In January, the European Business Council in Japan will launch a new magazine called eurobiz japan. This magazine will address topics of special interest to European firms here, including the press club system — an issue that continues to rankle foreign business circles.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Nov 2, 2009
Japan, EU jockey for position in effort to ink India trade pact
Japanese policymakers do look to India. Last month, both countries' trade delegations met for the 12th time to explore the possibility of a free-trade deal. They have good reasons to do so.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Oct 5, 2009
New Japan in sight as mind-sets, economy approach crossroads
There is little doubt that the Democratic Party of Japan's Lower House victory and the election of Yukio Hatoyama as prime minister are the most significant political events Japan has experienced in the past 20 years. After decades of behind-closed-doors policymaking and stagnant growth under the conservative Liberal Democratic Party, the public, acting out of character, finally opted to take a risk on a newcomer.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Aug 24, 2009
Iconic bullet train has yet to find its place in global rail industry
Without a doubt, one of Japan's most iconic technological achievements of the last century was the bullet train. Ushering in a new era of prosperity and propelling the entire nation to the forefront of modernity, the shinkansen was an unqualified success.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Jul 13, 2009
Japanese choices in aviation market reveal overreliance on U.S.
For decades, Japan's military partner of choice has been the United States. The reasons are well known: The influence of the Occupation after World War II and the adoption of an American-style Constitution that put strong restrictions on Japan's ability to maintain any kind of martial force.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Jun 1, 2009
Will Europeans pass Japan in a post-GM global auto market?
As GM's government-imposed deadline approaches Monday, it is highly likely the automaker that once dominated the global market will file for bankruptcy protection just like Chrysler did a few weeks ago.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Apr 27, 2009
Blunders with North show Japan still child at handling media
Earlier this month, when many in Japan were enjoying the arrival of spring and the accompanying cherry blossoms, something else was in the sky, something much more dangerous than a warm breeze: a three-stage missile, launched from North Korea.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Mar 23, 2009
Crisis forces rethink: What makes name brands valuable?
Forbes recently published its annual list of the world's billionaires for 2008. The list has shrunk considerably since 2007, when 1,125 people were deemed to have a net worth above $1 billion. This time only around 793 made the cut.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Feb 16, 2009
Germans, Japanese have good reasons for shunning equities
S tock markets around the world are really beginning to feel the effects of the financial crisis of 2008, with some industry watchers estimating that as much as $30 trillion of total market capitalization has been lost worldwide since 2007. This is hurting investors everywhere, big and small.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Dec 8, 2008
Japan, Germany set to pounce on seismic shifts in auto industry
Last week, the heads of America's Big Three automakers were sitting again before a government panel, begging for money to save their companies. This time, the companies were asking for a total injection of some $34 billion — $9 billion more than just two weeks ago.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Nov 17, 2008
Unlike blue chips, services firms' Japan quirks thwart global reach
Japan's firms are on an unprecedented shopping tour overseas. The value of January-October M&As hit a record ¥6.7 trillion, nearly four times more than a year earlier. The largest was Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group's $9 billion investment in Morgan Stanley.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Oct 13, 2008
Will Japan emerge from crisis as a real financial center?
The events of the past weeks and days have dominated headlines and are threatening the world economy. Like so many dominoes, share prices and banks, big and small, have fallen in the United States and Europe, wiping out massive amounts of capital — about $21 trillion as of the end of September.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Sep 8, 2008
Japan's electronics giants acquire yen for European assets
While the just completed Beijing Olympics will have meant different things to different people, one thing is certain: A lot of TVs were tuned into the games. And now that the intense viewing of judo, swimming and softball is over, it is quite possible a number of Japanese TV owners are wishing they could have seen more of their favorite athletes in even better detail.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Aug 11, 2008
Beijing squeezed by Olympic ideals, populist distortions
When the Olympic games were awarded to Beijing in 2001, more than a few questions were raised about the host country. It was clear from the start that China was not just making a bid to host a sporting event — it was claiming a place in the developed world.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Jul 7, 2008
As Europe's barriers rise, Japan's decline
The eyes of the world will be focused on Japan this week as the Group of Eight Summit finally kicks off at Toyako, Hokkaido. The agenda is long and topped by how to deal with climate change. But there is one item that will not be highlighted, although it is of crucial importance to every G8 member — immigration.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Jun 2, 2008
Europe poised to take chance on reducing farm subsidies
I f If there is one topic that has been catching a lot of attention lately, it is the global rise in prices for resources, especially the most precious resource of all: food.
When will Japan intervene to support the yen?
Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki has reiterated the government's readiness to take an appropriate action as the yen continues to slide against the U.S. dollar.
'So hot you can't breathe': Extreme heat hits the Philippines
A pedestrian cools himself with a folding hand fan as he waits for a ride along a road in Manila on Wednesday, as extreme heat hit the Philippines.
Raising kids in Japan as a single parent? It takes a village.
Making things work as a foreign, single mother in Japan isn't easy, but these tips and tricks can help you through the hardest parts.
Yen rebounds strongly after first slide past ¥160 since 1990
The yen dropped to ¥160.245 per dollar on Monday before heading into the other direction to ¥155.01 amid speculation of an intervention by Japanese currency authorities.
Man, 28, arrested in Okinawa over burned bodies found in Tochigi
Hikaru Sasaki enters the Metropolitan Police Department's Osaki police station in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward on Monday after being arrested on suspicion of disposing of two bodies found in Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture, earlier this month.
Climate change, chalky grains and the risks for Japan’s rice farmers
A farmer plants seedlings in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima Prefecture. Japan’s self sufficiency rate for rice is nearly 100%, compared with 38% for food overall, on a calorie basis.
Japan wants you to spend more with ‘luxury tourism’
Performers play a traditional drum unique to Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, in the prefectural capital of Kanazawa on March 16 to mark the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line to Tsuruga Station in Fukui Prefecture.
Theaster Gates’ ambitious ‘Afro-Mingei’ brings Black Chicago to Tokyo
Theaster Gates' “A Heavenly Chord” lines up church pews before seven speakers and a Hammond B3 organ, a type of electric organ prevalent in Black American churches.
Casa del Cibo: A thriving jewel born from Tohoku’s harsh past
When chef Ryohei Ikemi moved to Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, and opened Casa del Cibo in 2011, it was the first proper Italian restaurant in the city.
Town to block view of Mount Fuji in response to overtourism
The town government of Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, decided to set up a 2.5-meter-high screen to prevent tourists from taking pictures of Mount Fuji looming behind a convenience store.

Podcast

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

Longform

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

Students ‘study abroad’ on island of Suo Oshima
Students ‘study abroad’ on island of Suo Oshima

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