Commentary / Japan May 13, 2013

Shift the focus, Mr. Prime Minister

An American former prisoner of war asks Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to shift his focus from arguing about who was the "aggressor" in World War II to an apology.

Reader Mail Apr 22, 2012

Keep the wrecking ball at bay

I like Tokyo Tower. I will get used to the Tokyo Sky Tree (public opening due May 22), but for now I feel more for the familiar graceful lines and the more humane proportions of the older tower. It is an architectural icon, and ...

Reader Mail Dec 8, 2011

Defense official deserves respect

Regarding the Dec. 2 editorial "Abominable remark over Futenma": Perhaps the comment of the now former Okinawa Defense Bureau chief, Satoshi Tanaka, should be taken with a translation of "screwed over" rather than "raped". In which case his comment would suggest that the Japanese ...

Editorials Oct 19, 2011

Preparing for future disasters

Following discussions in the wake of the March 11 quake and tsunami, an experts' panel of the Central Disaster Management Council submitted its final report to post-disaster reconstruction minister Tatsuo Hirano in late September. The report called on the central and local governments to ...

Reader Mail Sep 22, 2011

The case for critical thinking

The Sept. 18 editorial "Slow transparency of universities" states that Japanese universities should teach students "how to evaluate information and make difficult, reasoned decisions." However, when it comes to nonvocational, nontechnical academic programs — what we call humanities in the West — I don't think ...

Editorials Sep 2, 2011

Protection of cyberspace

Countering attacks on computer networks has become an important security issue for governments. On July 15, the U.S. Defense Department announced a strategy to harden American computer systems against cyberattacks. The Pentagon established U.S. Cyber Command in 2010 for daily operation and defense of its ...

Commentary Aug 29, 2011

Budget repair and liberal defiance

The residues of liberalism's Wisconsin Woodstock — 1960s radicalism redux: operatic lamentations, theatrical demonstrations and electoral futilities — are words of plaintive defiance painted on sidewalks around the state capitol. "Solidarity forever" was perhaps painted by a graduate student forever at the University of Wisconsin. "Repubs ...

Editorials Aug 25, 2011

Back to the rice futures trade

In Japan, futures trading for rice started in 1730 at Dojima, Osaka, with the Tokugawa shogunate's approval. Such trading ended in 1939 as the government's wartime control of the economy was strengthened. On Aug. 8, futures trading for rice resumed in Tokyo and Osaka ...

Editorials Aug 12, 2011

Mr. Kan counts the days

The ruling Democratic Party of Japan and the two main opposition parties, the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, on Tuesday struck a deal, making it certain that the Diet will pass by Aug. 26 a bill to float government bonds needed for the fiscal ...

Editorials Dec 26, 2010

New START to arms control

The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) has won ratification in the U.S. Senate, passing by a 71-26 vote. Ratification is a victory for President Barack Obama, those who seek a world with fewer nuclear threats as well as proponents of a constructive U.S.-Russia ...