Commentary / Japan Jun 18, 2021

Okinawa reversion agreement stands the test of time

Greater foresight by the two governments was thus necessary then, as is a more proactive approach by them today regarding the bases.

Commentary / Japan Apr 21, 2021

Okinawa’s wasted COVID-19 year

For political reasons, the economic contribution of the Okinawa bases is heavily downplayed, sometimes by five or 10 times as much, in local government publications and the media.

Commentary / Japan Apr 12, 2021

The dangerously flawed U.S. Senkakus policy

Earlier this week Kyodo News dropped a bombshell (pun intended) by introducing the contents of declassified U.S. documents that the U.S. government turned down a request in June 1978 for its military based in Japan to use its firing and bombing ranges in the ...

Commentary / Japan Mar 8, 2021

Ten years after the quake: Between recovery and remembering

It is often said that “generals fight the last battle.” The same could probably be said for disaster responders. However, each disaster presents new challenges.

Commentary / World / Japan Feb 28, 2021

Global education has permanently changed

Japan has made the shift to what was initially seen as “emergency remote teaching” but has been slower to adapt to the new education environment compared to other countries.

Commentary / Japan Feb 8, 2021

COVID-19 brings sister cities closer together

Japan and the United States share more sister city relationships with each other than with any other country.

Commentary / Japan Jan 27, 2021

Thurgood Marshall’s visit to Japan 70 years on

Marshall called his January 1951 trip to Japan “the most important mission thus far of my career.”

Commentary / World Jan 17, 2021

Trump’s whiplash diplomacy on Taiwan

Despite the advances the Trump administration made with Taiwan, it left two important actions incomplete, which makes his electoral defeat unfortunate for supporters of Taiwan.

Commentary / Japan Nov 16, 2020

Remembering the Okinawa rape incident that changed Japan-U.S. military relations

It was twenty-five years ago nearly to the day, following the tragic early September 1995 rape of an Okinawan school girl in Kin Village, Okinawa Prefecture, by three U.S. servicemen — two Marines and a Navy medic — that the Commander-in-Chief U.S. Pacific Command ...

Commentary / Japan Sep 3, 2020

The 1995 Okinawa rape that shook U.S.-Japan ties

Twenty-five years ago, on Sept. 4, 1995, a 12-year-old girl was abducted, beaten and raped in the village of Kin, Okinawa Prefecture, by three U.S. servicemen — two marines and a naval medic.