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EDITORIALS

Apr 9, 2005

Politicized student textbooks

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has announced the results of its screening textbooks scheduled for use in junior high schools beginning in April 2006. Two things are particularly notable with regard to neighboring Asian nations such as South Korea and China. First,...

EDITORIALS

Apr 8, 2005

Mr. Koizumi's privatization battle

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's administration, which has just completed a skeleton draft bill to privatize postal services, is trying hard to iron out the remaining differences with the Liberal Democratic Party -- a crucial process that will largely determine the nature and direction of postal privatization....

EDITORIALS

Apr 7, 2005

Australia's leader 'discovers' Asia

The hallmark of Australian Prime Minister John Howard's eight years in office has been an unblinking orientation toward the United States. At one point, there was even talk of Australia acting as the U.S. "deputy sheriff" in East Asia. That outlook appears to be changing.

EDITORIALS

Apr 6, 2005

Dying in peace with dignity

The death of Terri Schiavo has focused attention on euthanasia. With her feeding tube removed, the 41-year-old American woman died in Florida last week after 15 years of living in a "vegetative state." The long and bitter dispute, in and out of court, that continued through her last days suggest the...

EDITORIALS

Apr 5, 2005

Bitter medicine to build trust

Political parties are bracing for a new round of joint parliamentary panel talks on social security reform. The biggest issue is how to integrate disparate and unequal parts of the public pension system. Prospects for final agreement look uncertain at best, given the wide differences that exist between...

EDITORIALS

Apr 4, 2005

The passing of a giant

The death of Pope John Paul II closes a remarkable chapter in the history of the Roman Catholic Church. John Paul was more than just the spiritual leader of the 1.1-billion-member church; he was a world historical figure who played a key role in ending the Cold War and re-establishing the Catholic Church...

EDITORIALS

Apr 3, 2005

The shock of the old

I t's odd, isn't it, how time takes the edge off the edgy, making the outrageous respectable and turning yesterday's enfant terrible into today's eminence grise. Socialists are not the only ones who've had trouble putting permanent revolution into practice.

EDITORIALS

Apr 2, 2005

Palestinian 'red lines'

A rampage by Palestinian gunmen earlier this week underscores the challenges faced by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Mr. Abbas will be judged by Israel and the world on his ability to bring peace to the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Only if he succeeds will peace negotiations and the steps toward the...

EDITORIALS

Apr 1, 2005

New era for depositors

Beginning Friday, in a sure sign of the renewed strength at Japanese banks, the government will reimpose the legal cap on deposit-insurance coverage. Nine years ago, in 1996, that ceiling -- 10 million yen in principal plus interest -- was removed amid widespread concern about banks' ballooning bad debt....

EDITORIALS

Mar 31, 2005

Rules to survive by

The Cabinet has approved a set of ground rules for protecting the people in the event of a military, terrorist or missile attack on Japan. The rules, officially called "Guidelines Concerning the Protection of the People," state what protective measures the government will take in such an emergency.

EDITORIALS

Mar 30, 2005

Ready or not, a revolution it is

Fourteen years after the fall of the Soviet Union, democracy is showing fresh signs of life in yet another former Soviet republic: Kyrgyzstan. Last week, in a dramatic display of "people power," popular protests against disputed elections toppled President Askar Akayev, who had ruled the Central Asian...

EDITORIALS

Mar 29, 2005

Mr. Bush's troubling nominations

Two controversial nominations have raised questions about U.S. President George W. Bush's intentions in his second term. Mr. Bush had pledged to put a renewed emphasis on diplomacy and to rebuild damaged relations with friends and allied nations. Yet the naming of Mr. Paul Wolfowitz to head the World...

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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