Commentary / Japan Aug 26, 2017
Returning from Taiwan after Japan's defeat
August is a time for remembering much about Japan both before and after World War II.
Hiroaki Sato
A Japan Times columnist since 2000, Hiroaki Sato has won prizes for his translation of poetry (PEN American Center, Japan-US Friendship Commission). A paperback edition of his “Legends of the Samurai” has recently appeared. He is now working on a second collection of samurai tales with their origins.
For Hiroaki Sato's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Books Aug 20, 2017
Tracing James Lee Byars' time in Japan
I first met James Lee Byars in Kyoto in early 1967 and, at his invitation, participated in his "performance." At the time I didn't know that he'd been back and forth between Japan and the U.S. for nearly a decade already. I was also ...
Commentary / World Jul 1, 2017
The foulest crime, finally brought down?
Idealized notions of America's past are coming into question.
Commentary / Japan Jun 17, 2017
Rand Castile, distinguished Asian art curator
Rand Castile, who passed away last month, was a noted curator of Japanese art.
Commentary / Japan May 27, 2017
Burton Watson, noted translator, remembered
Burton Watson, the foremost translator of Chinese classics and poetry into English, chose to live much of his long life in Japan.
Commentary / World | THE VIEW FROM NEW YORK Apr 21, 2017
Terrorism brouhaha, then and now
A person's definition of terrorism usually depends on what side of the fence they're on.
Commentary / Japan | THE VIEW FROM NEW YORK Apr 3, 2017
Military justice, revenge and an albatross
Japan has produced a great many martyrs, not least in the wake of its defeat in World War II.
Commentary / Japan | THE VIEW FROM NEW YORK Feb 27, 2017
Indiscriminate bombing and legal judgment
Indiscriminate or otherwise, aerial bombing remains the preferred choice of warfare for the United States, which dropped 26,171 bombs in 2016 alone.
Commentary / Japan | THE VIEW FROM NEW YORK Jan 22, 2017
Reversing Japanese names for Western use?
When did the Japanese start reversing the family-personal name order for Western consumption?
Commentary / Japan | THE VIEW FROM NEW YORK Dec 28, 2016
What's in a surname? It depends on who you ask
Some women want to keep their maiden names after marriage, yet many others choose not to.