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April 25, 2024
 

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Jiro Yamaguchi
For Jiro Yamaguchi's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 27, 2017
Winners and losers in the election
Last week's Lower House election was quite different from the contests the ruling alliance won in recent years.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Aug 29, 2017
Signs of the far right in Japan's politics
The decline in popular support for the Abe administration might usher in an even worse scenario for Japan's politics.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 25, 2017
Abe is stumbling but no challenger exists
Voters are ready for a viable alternative to the LDP, but the leading opposition party is failing to deliver.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 27, 2017
The ongoing collapse of parliamentary politics
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's actions and behavior are more suited to a patrimonial state than a democracy.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
May 29, 2017
A crisis of constitutional politics
A state of barbarism incompatible with modern constitutional principles permeates Japan's politics today.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 25, 2017
A political tool called 'national security crisis'
The nation's deteriorating security environment explains why people continue to support the Abe administration even though they harbor doubts about it.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Mar 22, 2017
The self-contradictions of Japan's conservative forces
Abe advocates freedom and openness while abroad, but at home he does not hesitate to reverse the accomplishments of postwar democracy.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 21, 2017
The Japan-United States alliance of despotism
In both Japan and the U.S., the governments are retreating from the rule of law and guarantee of people's freedom under the cause of national security.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 25, 2017
Political realignment in the era of Trump
With the inauguration of new U.S. President Donald Trump, democratic politics are being confronted with changes of the magnitude that could happen only once in a century.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 28, 2016
Crisis of democratic politics
The Abe administration is also riding on the wave of anti-establishment politics that's sweeping the world.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 30, 2016
Facing a crisis in democracy
Japan is facing the same risk as the U.S. in the sense that politics of hatred and division prevail as people's lives get worse.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 28, 2016
Abe's risky game with Russia
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is going to great lengths to achieve a diplomatic breakthrough with Russia — perhaps too great.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Sep 28, 2016
Japanese society deteriorating
Tolerance of discrimination is the hallmark of a troubled society.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Aug 29, 2016
Postwar polity at crossroads
A full-scale debate on the Constitution needs to begin with a discussion on the significance of Japan's wartime defeat and the postwar reforms, and involve historical and philosophical explorations on the nation's postwar path.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 27, 2016
Japanese freedom an illusion
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has betrayed the Japanese people in his handling of his drive for constitutional revision.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 29, 2016
Much at stake in this election
If voters do not wish to give the Abe administration a carte blanche to revise the Constitution, they must express their intention in this election.
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 31, 2016
Japan heading toward failure
The Abe administration's attempt to silence critical media coverage could cause the nation's downfall.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 9, 2016
Abe's questionable handling of the Kumamoto quakes
The Abe administration is making a shameful attempt to use the Kumamoto earthquakes to further and unrelated political agenda.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 3, 2016
Sentiment's role in politics
Japan's political class is doing a poor job of harnessing public sentiment in pursuit of meaningful reform.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 23, 2016
To make a comeback, DPJ must empower supporters
The DPJ's turnaround can only be achieved by inviting broad participation of citizens in the selection of its candidates and the establishment of a policy platform, thereby creating a new energy in politics.
'Sugar Baby Riri' gets nine-year prison term over romance scam
Mai Watanabe, who went by the moniker “Sugar Baby Riri,” dated older men and swindled them out of money by telling them fictitious heartbreaking stories about herself to gain their sympathy.
Over 40% of Japan's municipalities at risk of vanishing, study finds
Of 1,729 local municipalities nationwide, 744 have been identified as being at risk of disappearing.
Tokyo issues strong warning on yen intervention as currency dips further
Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki speaks during a meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and South Korean Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok on the sidelines of IMF and G20 meetings in Washington last week.
Princess Aiko makes debut at imperial garden party
Princess Aiko attends an imperial garden party in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Japan's former PM Aso meets Trump for talks on security and economy
Former U.S. President Donald Trump and Taro Aso, vice president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, in New York on Tuesday. The Japanese government’s top spokesman on Wednesday played down the meeting as one conducted "in the capacity of one lawmaker" and “without the government’s involvement.”
For amateur sumo, a fresh start offers hope against time-wasting and gamesmanship
Wrestlers prepare for the start of a bout at the 2023 Sumo World Championships in Tokyo. Starting this month, placing one hand on the clay first is no longer allowed.
LDP veteran Nikai's youngest son expected to succeed him in Wakayama
Toshihiro Nikai, former secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party, announced in March that he would not run in the next Lower House election to take responsibility for the political funds scandal that rocked his party and his own faction.
New workers name Shohei Ohtani as 'dream boss' for two years running
Shohei Ohtani has been overwhelmingly voted as the “dream boss” for people who started working in April, according to a survey.
A craft beer crawl through Tokyo’s top bars, brewpubs and dives
If all you drink is Asahi, Sapporo and Kirin, you're depriving yourself of some of the best craft beer Tokyo has to offer — and there sure is a lot of it out there.
'Sugar Baby Riri' gets nine-year prison term over romance scam
Mai Watanabe, who went by the moniker “Sugar Baby Riri,” dated older men and swindled them out of money by telling them fictitious heartbreaking stories about herself to gain their sympathy.

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

Later this month, author Shogo Imamura will open Honmaru, a bookstore that allows other businesses to rent its shelves. It's part of a wave of ideas Japanese booksellers are trying to compete with online spaces.
The story isn't over for Japan's bookstores
By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Vol. 34: Tokyo, a vanguard city for sustainability
Vol. 34: Tokyo, a vanguard city for sustainability

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