Ideally Japan's think tanks should be able to help steer the best and brightest young people into government service.

The international situation may provide Tokyo with more challenges than opportunities this year.

The rules of the global games are changing and Tokyo must face this reality.

Japan should focus on major currents and not be misled by less important events or episodes in the coming year.

Don't expect any big surprises or setbacks in 2020 among the players in East Asia.

Helping Kosovo is helping Japan.

Let's hope that Washington has enough wisdom to keep Ukraine, Turkey and South Korea on our side.

This is not the end of the Japan-South Korea dispute, but rather the beginning of a new round.

Can and will Japanese bureaucrats revolt or speak out, when necessary, against the incumbent prime minister of the day the way their U.S. counterparts are in the Ukraine scandal?