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May 19, 2025
 

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EDITORIALS
Mar 20, 2010
Little in the way of a wage boost
The annual wage negotiations, held amid deflationary conditions, reached a climax Wednesday. Most major manufacturers, including automakers and electronics makers, agreed to resume "teiki shokyu," a periodic wage increase (based on age or years of service) that was frozen last year due to the recession....
EDITORIALS
Mar 19, 2010
Growing disarray in the LDP
With the approval rating of the Hatoyama administration having fallen below 40 percent, now is a good time for the opposition Liberal Democratic Party to launch into action and try to win back lost ground. But the party has so far failed to grab its chance. Its support rate has not rebounded significantly,...
EDITORIALS
Mar 19, 2010
Budding economic recovery
The government's monthly economic report for March raised its evaluation of the economy for the first time in eight months, saying it "has been picking up steadily." It appears that a second dip has been avoided, but the deflationary trend is a cause for continuing concern.
EDITORIALS
Mar 18, 2010
Israel's unproductive 'insult'
The Middle East has been the graveyard for many U.S. presidents' diplomatic ambitions. The best intentions and the dedication of considerable time and effort have done little to overcome the seemingly intractable Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
EDITORIALS
Mar 17, 2010
From hope to disenchantment
Just six months have passed since the Sept. 16 inauguration of the Hatoyama administration. In his first policy speech, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama pledged to do his utmost to build a nation truly based on the sovereignty of the people, and to "change the history" of the nation. There was a tangible...
EDITORIALS
Mar 16, 2010
First step for serious emission cuts
The Hatoyama Cabinet Friday endorsed a basic bill designed to combat global warming. Importantly, the bill specifies middle- and long-term numerical targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions: by 25 percent from 1990 levels by 2020, and by 80 percent from 1990 levels by 2050. However, the...
EDITORIALS
Mar 16, 2010
Reforming rich-friendly tax laws
At the first meeting (Feb. 24) of the government Tax Commission's expert panel to discuss tax reform, Finance Minister Naoto Kan called for a review of how the tax system has evolved since the 1980s. Apparently Mr. Kan thinks that past changes to the tax system have weakened the state's ability to collect...
EDITORIALS
Mar 15, 2010
Yubari set on reconstruction
The assembly of Yubari, a bankrupt city in central Hokkaido, on March 2 adopted a financial reconstruction plan to pay off accumulated debts of ¥32.2 billion over 17 years. The plan also features 74 new projects to resuscitate the city and improve services for residents. To persevere through a long,...
EDITORIALS
Mar 14, 2010
Don't exclude 'Chosen' schools
The Diet is deliberating on a bill to make public high school tuition free and provide ¥120,000 yearly to those attending private schools or certified educational institutions. But Mr. Hiroshi Nakai, minister in charge of the North Korean abduction issue, aired the view in February that pro-North Korean...
EDITORIALS
Mar 14, 2010
Back to the fast-breeder path
The Nuclear Safety Commission on Feb. 22 gave the go-ahead to starting the test run of the prototype fast-breeder reactor (FBR) Monju in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture. If the prefectural and municipal governments give their consent, the test run should begin by the end of March at the earliest.
EDITORIALS
Mar 13, 2010
Uphold defense principles
A private advisory panel of experts for Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has started discussions on a new defense program outline, which will serve as the basic guidelines for the nation's defense policy. The coming defense program outline will be the fourth, following those adopted in 1976, 1995 and 2004....
EDITORIALS
Mar 13, 2010
Political funding reforms
At long last, efforts have begun to resolve problems related to political donations. Despite their divergent stances on this matter, the ruling and opposition parties have in principle agreed to begin consultations on discussion of issues related to political funds.
Nissan to solicit early retirements while eyeing plant closures in Japan
Nissan's Oppama plant in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, may be closed as part of the struggling carmaker's streamlining efforts.
Australian firm produces heavy rare earth, in first outside China
The Lynas Rare Earths processing plant in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Police arrest Chinese man in Saitama hit-and-run case
Police questioned a man who turned himself in as he closely resembled the driver recorded on the dashcam of another vehicle that happened to pass by the scene of a hit-and-run incident in Saitama Prefecture.
Wholesalers may be behind elevated retail rice prices
Wholesalers added ¥7,593 on average to their selling prices for stockpiled rice, far more than the ¥2,206 to ¥4,689 added for the 2022 rice.
Success of Chinese-made fighter jets against India raises alarm in Asia
Chinese J-10 fighter jets from the People's Liberation Army Air Force August 1st Aerobatics Team perform during a media demonstration at the Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand, in November 2015.
In Nintendo’s backyard, foreign indie game devs are thriving
Kyoto's gaming landscape is dominated by Nintendo's headquarters, but a contingent of foreign-born indie developers is also working in the gaming giant's shadow.
Akazawa's dilemma: no tariff deal or a half-baked deal
Chief tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa and his delegation in the Oval Office of the White House in April. Since then, Japan's trade negotiations with the U.S. have produced no tangible results.
Nissan hoping to electrify home crowd as Formula E returns to Tokyo
Nissan's Oliver Rowland drives during qualifying for Miami E-Prix at Homestead Motor Speedway in Homestead, Florida, on April 12.
For his first feature film, director Ryuya Suzuki created a masterpiece
"Jinsei," which follows its protagonist over a century, probes themes of identity and societal issues with a dark comic touch. The director, however, says he created the story without knowing where it would lead.
Historian Rob Fitts discovers earliest ever reference to baseball in Japan
Japan's Shohei Ohtani carries the Japanese flag onto the field before the start of the World Baseball Classic final against the United States in Miami on March 21, 2023.

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