More Editorials Articles - The Japan Times

Today's print edition

Subscribe for more access

EDITORIALS

Mar 8, 2007

Lack of transparency spells trouble

China plans to increase its defense budget by 17.8 percent to $44.94 billion in fiscal 2007 from the previous year's actual level. The boost, announced a day before the start of an annual session of the National People's Congress, is the largest since a 19.4 percent jump in fiscal 2002. China's defense...

EDITORIALS

Mar 7, 2007

Thailand's troubles continue

It was expected that any instability that followed last September's coup in Thailand would be short-lived. Supporters even hoped that the military-led government would lessen uncertainty, end corruption and soothe the tensions that fuel a Muslim insurgency in the country's southern provinces. Those hopes...

EDITORIALS

Mar 6, 2007

Political pledges at the local level

Under a recent revision of the Public Offices Election Law, candidates running for leadership posts in local government can print their election "manifestos" with public money and distribute copies during the campaign period. For Diet elections, the distribution of printed manifestos has been allowed...

EDITORIALS

Mar 6, 2007

Taking gas heaters for granted

The Japan Industrial Association of Gas and Kerosene Appliances announced mid-February that since 1986, there have been a total of 314 cases of carbon monoxide poisoning involving the use of gas water heaters, room heaters and other gas appliances. Of these cases, 129 resulted in 199 deaths. This announcement...

EDITORIALS

Mar 5, 2007

Russia flexes its muscles

Recent statements by Russian officials have taken an ominous tone. In one speech, President Vladimir Putin accused the United States of trying to impose its will on the world, while other leaders warn that American plans to install missile defenses in Europe will force Russia to target the host countries...

EDITORIALS

Mar 4, 2007

Hardship born of an anachronism

An outmoded provision in the Civil Code is causing many remarried women and their children hardship concerning the children's family registry. Article 772 of the Civil Code, which took effect in 1898, stipulates that a baby born to a woman within 300 days of her divorce must be regarded as having been...

EDITORIALS

Mar 3, 2007

Streamlining strategic decisions

A government panel has proposed creating a Japanese version of the U.S. National Security Council. The main task of the new entity would be to work out long-range diplomatic and defense strategies as well as cope with emergencies not limited to defense. The success of the new body would depend on whether...

EDITORIALS

Mar 3, 2007

Risk of interconnectedness

Plummeting stock markets this week marked the first time that a plunge in the Shanghai market has triggered a chain reaction worldwide. It underscores the weight China carries in the world's economy and financial markets as well as the interconnectedness between the Chinese economy and the economies...

EDITORIALS

Mar 2, 2007

Less than music to the ear

The Supreme Court, in a 4-1 decision, has ruled that it is constitutional for a principal to order a music teacher to play the piano accompaniment to the "Kimigayo" national anthem during a public school ceremony. The top court took the position that the principal's order does not constitute a denial...

EDITORIALS

Mar 1, 2007

Beating the Yamato drum

With health minister Hakuo Yanagisawa's gaffe remark that women are "childbearing machines" still fresh in people's memory, yet another Cabinet member has put his foot in his mouth. This time, education minister Bunmei Ibuki has voiced objectionable ideas on the general character of the Japanese state...

EDITORIALS

Mar 1, 2007

Warning to the power industry

Two and a half years after an accident in a nuclear power plant killed five workers and injured six others, police have sent up papers to public prosecutors on five employees of Kansai Electric Power Co. and an employee of the utility's subsidiary. It is rare for police to pursue criminal responsibility...

EDITORIALS

Feb 28, 2007

Media must strive for accuracy

The blow-back continues from an incident involving the broadcast of falsified information on a variety show aired by Kansai Telecasting Corp. (known popularly as Kansai TV). The communications ministry plans to include a measure targeting the broadcast media in a bill to revise the Radio Law. Under the...

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

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS

SUPPLEMENTS BINDER

international-reports