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Ramesh Ponnuru
For Ramesh Ponnuru's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 20, 2016
The case against apologizing for the A-bombs
U.S. President Barack Obama can't apologize for the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki because large numbers of Americans believe they were justified.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 19, 2016
How Trump, Cruz or Kasich can win
The Republican nomination race has three stages left, and any of the remaining candidates could emerge the winner.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 10, 2016
What's the best anti-Trump strategy now?
The scale of Donald Trump's victory in New Hampshire should settle both his rivals and the pundits.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 26, 2016
Cruz-hating Republicans need a reality check
The Republican Party would be better of with Ted Cruz as their candidate in the 2016 presidential election.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 24, 2016
Immigration a hot-button issue for U.S. right
A constellation of causes is pushing conservatives' restrictive approach to immigration, and it's only likely to grow stronger.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 4, 2016
GOP can stop obsessing over Hispanic voters
Republicans could win the White House in 2016 if they take 3.3 percent more of the white vote than Mitt Romney won in 2012.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 9, 2015
The upside to Donald Trump's latest bad idea
Donald Trump's proposal to ban all Muslims from immigrating to the U.S. is a lousy idea, but it's worth thinking through what's wrong with it.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 24, 2015
It's time to call Islamic terrorism what it is
The U.S. is at war with people who believe that Islam justifies mass murder. It's time for Democratic politicians and U.S. government officials to stop pretending otherwise.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 21, 2015
Who's to blame for America's PC culture?
Barack Obama deserves real credit for speaking up for freedom of expression on college campuses, but he should direct his Education Department to follow suit.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 14, 2015
Does Hillary know what's best for Americans?
Hillary Clinton is convinced that she could do a better job of running companies than their owners can.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 7, 2015
Why the euro experiment is destined to fail
The euro is destined to fail because it imposes a common monetary policy on economies that requires different ones.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 12, 2015
How outrage became a U.S. growth industry
Intolerance is making the U.S. less free, and less fun.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
May 1, 2015
Obama's absurd response to Baltimore's riots
U.S. President Barack Obama's comments on the riots in Baltimore are not only partisan — they're absurd.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 8, 2015
Rand Paul can't change the Republican Party
Republicans have been the party of social conservatism, nationalism and free-markets, and that isn't going to change — no matter how well Rand Paul does next year.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 28, 2015
Starbucks urges baristas to talk about race
The initiative by Starbucks Chief Exercutive Howard Schultz urging baristas in the U.S. to engage customers in conversation about racial inequality hasn't gone over well.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 23, 2015
Democrats fine-tune gaffes with homemakers
American Democrats have a knack for saying stupid things about full-time homemakers. And two of President Barack Obama's recent proposals with regard to tax credits reflect this weakness.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 16, 2014
Polarization in U.S. keeps getting exaggerated
A new study on political polarization in the U.S., conducted by the Pew Research Center for People and the Press, uses large sample sizes and impressive graphics, but its interpretation is exaggerated.
COMMENTARY / World
May 24, 2014
Is the tea party dead or just misunderstood?
Much of American political journalism last week consisted of people who have not understood the tea party since its birth in 2009 saying that it's now dead.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 14, 2014
Rand Paul is Republicans' isolated isolationist
As Republicans start to debate foreign policy in advance of the 2016 election, it's shaping up to be a fight between Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul and everyone else. Until recently, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas was on Paul's side, but that close relationship is fraying.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 3, 2014
Limiting emissions could hurt more than help
Arguments over global warming often have a moralistic or even religious cast. But a cold assessment of risks and how to ensure against them would doom the anti-carbon campaign.

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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