Instead of making education and research more efficient, the conversion of national universities into university corporations has increased inefficiency.

Consumers have begun to behave more rationally, and that is reducing economic growth.

Japanese gyms are almost totally monopolized by people of middle and advanced ages, especially those over 65, and have become indispensable arenas for their socializing.

The government is putting the cart before the horse by testing students' ability to think critically without first changing how they are taught.

By reducing marginal costs of goods and services to nearly zero, the internet and renewable energy are revolutionizing society.

In 2013, the government's council on resuscitation of education called for having at least 10 Japanese universities among global top 100 within a decade. But the target now seems out of reach.

Japan needs a two-party system, sooner rather than later.

The widespread use of electric vehicles would be good for the environment, but could be bad news for millions of workers in the automotive industry.

School operator Kake Gakuen's application to open a new veterinary medicine department strayed from well established procedures.

Even if Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike creates a new political party, it's inconceivable that it will become a major player in national politics.