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EDITORIALS

Apr 22, 2007

Japan as number-one blogger

Japanese, a recent survey found, is the most common language for blogging. With 70-some million blogs now in all languages, Japan edged out even English and Chinese for the top spot of blog language. A third of all blogs in the world, or virtual world, are written in Japanese. Japan is now number one...

EDITORIALS

Apr 21, 2007

Time to go, Mr. Wolfowitz

World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz is embroiled in scandal. A controversy surrounding the treatment given his girlfriend, another World Bank employee, has damaged Mr. Wolfowitz's credibility and that of the institution he heads. Mr. Wolfowitz may gain approval to stay on, but continuing in his post...

EDITORIALS

Apr 20, 2007

Tragedy in Nagasaki

A nightmare has descended upon the city of Nagasaki again. On Tuesday evening, a gangster shot and mortally wounded Nagasaki Mayor Itcho Ito. The mayor was campaigning for a fourth term in a Sunday election. Seventeen years ago, Mr. Ito's predecessor Hitoshi Motojima was seriously injured after being...

EDITORIALS

Apr 19, 2007

A stark warning from the IPCC

The evidence of global climate change is impossible to dismiss or ignore. Growing in tandem are the consequences of continued indifference to this phenomenon. Governments and individuals must abandon their short-term thinking and start taking action now to head off the devastating effects that human...

EDITORIALS

Apr 18, 2007

Medical care for the terminal stage

The health ministry has formulated a guideline on terminal care stipulating that respect for patients' wishes is "the most important principle" when carrying out medical treatment for those in the terminal stage. The guideline, aimed at preventing single-handed decisions by doctors, is the first government...

EDITORIALS

Apr 17, 2007

Constitution bill lacks consensus

The coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito has passed a bill through the Lower House to set procedures for a national referendum to revise the Constitution, and sent it to the Upper House. This bill, however, is flawed since it does not mandate a minimum-turnout rate for referendums to...

EDITORIALS

Apr 17, 2007

Minamata disease still an issue

Niigata's municipal government has recently recognized two men as victims of Minamata disease, the mercury-poisoning disease symbolizing postwar industrial pollution, for the first time since March 1985. The Kumamoto prefectural government has also recognized a man as a Minamata disease victim; its first...

EDITORIALS

Apr 16, 2007

Ten years later, East Asia is back

East Asia's emerging economies have come roaring back since the 1997 financial crisis. They have recouped losses caused by that trauma, but regional governments now face new challenges that require still more creative policies and deeper reform. In fact, the difficulties will intensify as China continues...

EDITORIALS

Apr 15, 2007

North Korea's getting its money

The United States and Macau authorities announced Wednesday that $25 million of North Korea-linked funds that had been frozen at Banco Delta Asia would be released. When the U.S. first announced in March, during the six-party talks in Beijing, that the funds would be released, it was considering a scheme...

EDITORIALS

Apr 15, 2007

To encourage kidney donations

Four medical science societies that studied diseased kidney transplants performed by Dr. Makoto Mannami of Uwajima Tokushukai Hospital in Ehime Prefecture have issued a report stating that, at present, such transplants have "no medical validity." Citing lack of informed consent and deliberation by an...

EDITORIALS

Apr 14, 2007

Rocky road to integration

South Asian leaders last week concluded their summit by adopting a declaration that emphasized trade liberalization, economic integration and the fight against poverty and terrorism. But the way to real achievement does not appear to be smooth, especially because of the rivalry between India and Pakistan...

EDITORIALS

Apr 13, 2007

Working with China

Building upon the achievement of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Hu Jintao during their Beijing summit in October 2006, Mr. Abe and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao have agreed on concrete measures for promoting a "mutually beneficial strategic relationship" in such fields as economic cooperation...

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

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Japan's growing ranks of centenarians are redefining what it means to live in a super-aging society.

What comes after 100?

By Tomoko Otake

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Tsukuba massif granite, one of the world’s few heritage stones

Tsukuba massif granite, one of the world’s few heritage stones

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