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August 27, 2025

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EDITORIALS

Apr 10, 2002

Another casualty of money politics

The resignation from the Diet of Mr. Koichi Kato, former secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party, is yet another reminder that corruption is deeply embedded in the nation's political system. He made the decision, rightly, to take "social, political and moral responsibility" for the tax evasion...

EDITORIALS

Apr 9, 2002

The OIC's blind eye to terror

Defining terrorism should be easy. Innocent people should not be made targets for political purposes. Otherwise, none of us are safe. Yet some individuals -- and sadly, some governments -- continue to accept that "one person's terrorist is another's freedom fighter." That makes them complicit in the...

EDITORIALS

Apr 8, 2002

New hard line against Pyongyang

I t has always been difficult to understand the thinking of the leadership in North Korea. The rhetorical blasts that Pyongyang unleashes against the United States, Japan and South Korea are usually balanced by sotto voce assurances that dialogue will continue. The schizophrenia has been especially pronounced...

EDITORIALS

Apr 7, 2002

Incorporation of state universities

The proposed incorporation of Japan's government-run universities aims at relaxing state regulations on matters such as budget use, personnel management and research organization, and to substantially expand the decision-making discretion of the universities. The system envisioned would be much more...

EDITORIALS

Apr 6, 2002

Law for Okinawa's prosperity

Thirty years after its return to Japanese control in May 1972, Okinawa continues to struggle with its twin problems: the heavy presence of U.S. military bases and the relatively low level of industrial development. While the base problem is likely to persist for a long time to come, the drive for economic...

EDITORIALS

Apr 5, 2002

Secure food safety

Never before, perhaps, has a government advisory panel made such a scathing attack on public policy. The final report on bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE, popularly known as mad cow disease, submitted Tuesday by a 10-member investigative committee, points out that the government made a "grave...

EDITORIALS

Apr 4, 2002

Hope fades in the Middle East

If there is a difference between the situation in the Middle East and all-out war, it is difficult to imagine. Palestinians' suicide bombings have introduced an element of savagery and fear that Israelis have never known before. In response, the Israeli government has attacked the Palestinian Authority...

EDITORIALS

Apr 3, 2002

Not an enduring recovery

A ray of sunlight is breaking through the clouds. That may be one way to describe the state of Japan's economy, judging from the latest "tankan" quarterly survey of business sentiment. The March report from the Bank of Japan, released Monday, says the confidence index for major manufacturers has stopped...

EDITORIALS

Apr 2, 2002

A completed life

Last Saturday saw the death of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, mother of the present monarch, Elizabeth II. The queen mother, or "queen mum," as she was affectionately known, was 101 years old and had been in poor health for several months. Although her role in public life -- like that of most members of...

EDITORIALS

Apr 1, 2002

Banks must disclose more information

Banks in Japan enter a new era today when full deposit protection is abolished for time deposits and other similar savings accounts. In the event of a bank failure, the maximum refund per capita will be limited, in principle, to 10 million yen plus interest. And beginning April 1, 2003, the same limit...

EDITORIALS

Mar 31, 2002

Wal-Mart, Sprawl-Mart

Two weeks ago, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced a deal with local supermarket chain Seiyu that would give the U.S. cut-price retail colossus a foothold in the Japanese market: a 6.1 percent share in Seiyu now, with an option to increase its stake to two-thirds by the end of 2007. The announcement has been...

EDITORIALS

Mar 30, 2002

Reading the tea leaves in Myanmar

The venerable science of Kremlinology is flourishing in Myanmar. The country's ruling elite is a clubby and secretive group, and the exercise of power and influence is shrouded in mystery; reliable information is hard to come by. No wonder then that the last few weeks have been busy ones for Myanmar...

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

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Tetsuzo Shiraishi, speaking at The Center of the Tokyo Raids and War Damage, uses a thermos to explain how he experienced the U.S. firebombing of March 1945, when he was just 7 years old.

From ashes to high-rises: A survivor’s account of Tokyo’s postwar past

By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

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

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

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