David Howell - The Japan Times

Today's print edition

Subscribe for more access

Meta

David Howell

For David Howell's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:

COMMENTARY

Jun 14, 2009

A purge of Parliament is calling

LONDON — In British politics the familiar scenario is for the opposition to press for an early general election — there being no fixed-term provision in the very flexible British constitution — and for the government of the day to reject all such demands and sit tight.

COMMENTARY

May 28, 2009

West resembles Mrs. Jellyby

There is a character in the works of Charles Dickens who is increasingly coming to symbolize the spirit of the age in which we now live.

COMMENTARY

May 19, 2009

Parliament under attack

LONDON — The Mother of Parliaments at Westminster is in deep trouble. Housed in its venerable Thames-side palace — an instantly recognized icon of democracy around the world — it is today filled with anxious legislators who feel a mixture of anger, apprehension and bewilderment.

COMMENTARY

May 2, 2009

Mideast and cheaper oil

LONDON — Back in the golden bubble days when stock markets were riding high and a barrel of crude oil sold for more than $140, there was no doubt which countries were getting richest quickest.

COMMENTARY

Apr 23, 2009

U.S. shifting Mideast policy

It is almost possible to hear the tectonic plates grinding. The whole international landscape is once again on the move, tumbling old structures and turning old assumptions upside-down.

COMMENTARY

Apr 2, 2009

Women should lead Russia

Do not underestimate Russia. That is just what many commentators are doing these days as they look at its declining population, its collapsing stock market, its dangerous reliance on oil and gas exports, the dismal style of its political leadership, its docile parliament, its aggressive foreign policy,...

COMMENTARY

Mar 18, 2009

How green can recovery be?

Loud voices can be heard urging increased investment in green technologies as the way to help world economic recovery.

COMMENTARY

Mar 5, 2009

Saving our sinking economies

At first glance the grim economic and political situation now confronting Japan sounds remarkably similar to the British scene. There is the same slump in national production, the same factory closures and rising unemployment, and the same highly unpopular prime ministers and weak governments that seem,...

COMMENTARY

Feb 14, 2009

When it's wrong to protect

LONDON — A government's first duty is to protect its citizens. So say all the authorities and experts. It sounds simple, but in practice and in real life it is a very complex and problematic matter.

COMMENTARY

Jan 30, 2009

Dreaming of a pound floor

LONDON — These are dark times, especially for Britain: The pound sterling is dropping like a stone; the huge British financial sector, a major part of the British economy, has shrunk dramatically; unemployment is rising; and the stock market is looking sicker by the day. Britain is now officially...

COMMENTARY

Jan 11, 2009

Gas warning hitting home

LONDON — As the lights of Southeast and Central Europe go out and gas supplies dwindle, leaders of these vulnerable countries must be wishing they had listened to Margaret Thatcher long ago.

COMMENTARY

Jan 6, 2009

2009 could fool the pessimists

LONDON — Deep gloom is predicted for 2009, with talk of deflation, shrinking economies and rising unemployment. Economists point to the huge drop in Japanese output, zero growth in Europe, dwindling world trade, collapsing financial institutions and the threat of worse to come.

COMMENTARY

Dec 18, 2008

Central Europe and the bear

How are the ex-communist countries of Central Europe faring during the present global economic downturn? To judge by the glittering city of Budapest, the answer is that so far the forces of recession have made little impact. The restaurants are full, the shops crowded, the streets jammed with vehicles,...

COMMENTARY

Dec 3, 2008

Moving back to socialism?

The "ism" enthusiasts are out in force again. These are the analysts and commentators who see everything in strictly ideological terms of socialism versus capitalism, more state control versus less state control. Just now they are all convinced that the pendulum is swinging toward state control, that...

COMMENTARY

Nov 24, 2008

Deciphering the oil puzzle

What happens when the demand for oil flattens out or falls and the supply of oil continues as before or actually increases? The answer is economics at its simplest — the price plummets. And that indeed is what has occurred.

COMMENTARY

Nov 6, 2008

The right kind of leadership

In these troubled times everyone is looking round for decisive and wise leadership. In particular the world is looking to America, as still the biggest and richest nation by far, despite its current financial problems, to make a better contribution to world peace and stability under its new president...

COMMENTARY

Oct 20, 2008

Now for the consequences

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been enjoying a much-needed boost to his status and popularity as he watches country after country adopt the same pattern as Britain in propping up their struggling banking sectors.

COMMENTARY

Oct 3, 2008

Adjusting to a power shift

LONDON — Just as one picture can tell more than a thousand words, so also one event can tell more, and provide a bigger shock, than a thousand written messages.

COMMENTARY

Sep 27, 2008

The world's new hot spot

BAKU, Azerbaijan — In this large Caspian city on the edge of Europe and Asia the problems of the Western world — shaky banks, financial upheavals, struggles with terrorism — seem far away.

COMMENTARY

Sep 11, 2008

Cameron eyes policy shift

David Cameron, the leader of Britain's Conservative opposition, is highly likely to be Britain's next prime minister when the general election comes in 12 to 18 months time. He is in effect the prime minister-in-waiting. His views about the international scene are therefore very important not just to...

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

Things may look perfect to the outside world, but today's mom is fine with some imperfection at home.

How 'Reiwa moms' are reshaping motherhood in Japan

By Mai Yoshikawa

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Spotlighting a Niigata castle town through sushi

Spotlighting a Niigata castle town through sushi

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS

SUPPLEMENTS BINDER

international-reports