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EDITORIALS

Mar 14, 2004

Imagining a world without birds

Take a walk in a Tokyo garden -- particularly an undisturbed, crow-haunted one such as the Institute for Nature Study's park in Meguro -- and you might find this hard to believe, but the world's bird population is shrinking. According to a report released to coincide with BirdLife International's quadrennial...

EDITORIALS

Mar 13, 2004

Unrealistic claim of espionage

In 2001, a Japanese researcher was indicted in the United States on charges of industrial spying. Since he had already returned to Japan, the U.S. requested his extradition under a bilateral treaty. However, legal opinion here remains divided over whether he should be tried in a U.S court -- in other...

EDITORIALS

Mar 12, 2004

Potholes in highway privatization

At first glance, the highway privatization package approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday looks attractive indeed. The existing four operators, including the flagship Japan Highway Public Corp., will be placed in private hands, and the combined 40 trillion yen debt that has accumulated over the years --...

EDITORIALS

Mar 11, 2004

A historic day for Iraq

After a weeklong delay, Iraq's Governing Council has agreed to a new constitution for their country. The signing of the document marks a historic moment for Iraq. It establishes a framework for democratic self-government and safeguards individual rights. The transition from dictatorship to democracy...

EDITORIALS

Mar 10, 2004

Security bills merit deliberation

For all the talk about defending the country against possible armed attacks from abroad, Japan has no legal framework for protecting civilian populations in these national emergencies. Now, belatedly but necessarily, the government is seeking Diet approval of such legislation as a followup to the military...

EDITORIALS

Mar 9, 2004

Diet's plate remains full

Diet deliberations have been proceeding fairly smoothly since the 150-day regular session opened on Jan. 19. This augurs well for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who wants to avoid a legislative gridlock before July's Upper House election. He cleared a major hurdle last month when the Diet approved...

EDITORIALS

Mar 8, 2004

No end to political scandals?

Once again, a lawmaker has had to resign from the Diet after admitting to having borrowed somebody's name to misappropriate the state-paid salary of a bogus secretary. This time, the scandal involves Mr. Kanju Sato of the Democratic Party of Japan, a former minister of home affairs and chairman of the...

EDITORIALS

Mar 7, 2004

Life lessons from Mars

In all the excitement over the NASA Mars rovers' various landings, photo shoots, malfunctions, recoveries and excursions, another aspect of their mission has been neglected: what could be called their teaching, as opposed to their learning, mission. As Spirit and Opportunity keep fit and busy on the...

EDITORIALS

Mar 6, 2004

Paying inventors their due

How much should a company pay an employee for his or her invention? The question has stirred controversy in Japan since January when a lower court ruled in favor of a mind-boggling 20 billion yen payment requested by Mr. Shuji Nakamura, a former chemical company employee and now a University of California...

EDITORIALS

Mar 5, 2004

Opportunity for mutual prosperity

In the not so distant future, China probably will eclipse the United States as Japan's largest trading partner. That could happen before 2008 when Beijing hosts the Summer Olympics. Setting the pace of China's economic growth is investment in infrastructure, whose momentum is expected to increase in...

EDITORIALS

Mar 4, 2004

Mr. Kerry gets the nod

If March 2 was "Super Tuesday" in the United States, then Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry is "Superman." Mr. Kerry wrapped up the Democratic Party nomination for president Tuesday, capping a remarkable comeback and -- more remarkable still -- managed not to divide his party in the process. Mr. Kerry can...

EDITORIALS

Mar 3, 2004

Lapses in halting avian flu

The latest outbreak of avian flu in Japan, at a large chicken farm in Kyoto Prefecture, has come as a shock -- not only because of its magnitude but also because it has exposed glaring lapses in epidemic prevention. In both respects, it is far more serious than the previous two cases that hit earlier...

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Dangami House is a 180-year-old former samurai residence of the Kato clan, who ruled over Ozu, Ehime Prefecture, until the Meiji Restoration.

A house, a legacy and the quiet work of restoration in rural Japan

By Hanako Lowry

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Smile! It’s ‘Sanrio Time,’ now and ever after

Smile! It’s ‘Sanrio Time,’ now and ever after

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