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August 21, 2025

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COMMENTARY

Sep 22, 2003

Can 'Special K' save Japan?

By Tom Plate

For all the attention given to the rise of China, it is still not the most important nation in Asia. Japan, with the world's No. 2 economy and a growing list of problems, is.

EDITORIALS

Sep 21, 2003

Sweden sends a message to Europe

Sweden has voted to reject the euro. European governments may be inclined to see the results as an expression of Swedish exceptionalism. That would be a mistake. Despite an emotionally charged campaign, the outcome reflects a careful consideration of the country's national interests. European leaders...

COMMENTARY / World

Sep 21, 2003

Trade-environment debate deserves a judicial solution

By W. Bradnee Chambers

The Cancun World Trade Organization Ministerial meeting concluded last weekend with little progress on a swath of issues it must try and complete by Jan. 1, 2005. Agriculture subsidies were the main stumbling block, but the talks really failed on a number of other fronts including trade and environment....

EDITORIALS

Sep 20, 2003

The crash in Cancun

The gap between rich and poor nations proved too wide to bridge, and negotiations broke off amid finger-pointing and concern that the failure to reach agreement could unravel the global trade order. In place of one system, it is feared that governments will embrace bilateral and regional deals.

COMMENTARY

Sep 20, 2003

Liberal ideals gain ground in the Asia-Pacific region

By Ronald Meinardus

MANILA -- In past decades, liberal democracy and economic freedom have made great advances in all parts of the world. This general trend also applies to Asia, as is documented in the annual "Freedom in the World" surveys published by the Washington-based Heritage Foundation and the "Economic Freedom...

COMMENTARY

Sep 20, 2003

Japan's work cut out in six-party talks

By Kenzo Uchida

The two main flash points in the world in the past year have been the Middle East, especially Iraq, and North Korea in East Asia.

COMMENTARY

Sep 20, 2003

Economic policies confused

By Gregory Clark

In his campaign for re-election as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, has made much of the current mild economic revival. He sees it as vindicating his economic policies.

COMMENTARY

Sep 19, 2003

Old political drum beats on

By Hugh Cortazzi

LONDON -- "Seen it all before" and "the more it changes the more it remains the same" are phrases that immediately spring to the mind of the foreign observer of Japanese politics in the runup to Saturday's election of the president of the Liberal Democratic Party.

EDITORIALS

Sep 19, 2003

Quartet skirts tough questions

As the campaign for the Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election draws to a close, all four candidates, including Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, continue to avoid tough questions about economic policy issues. In offering "carrots" but no "sticks," they are projecting, wittingly or not, a populist...

EDITORIALS

Sep 18, 2003

One year after the Pyongyang summit

Wednesday marked the first anniversary of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's historic visit to North Korea, during which he met face to face with General Secretary Kim Jong Il. The meeting produced a joint declaration calling for, among other things, an early normalization of relations between the two...

COMMENTARY / World

Sep 18, 2003

India, Israel ally against Islamic terror

By Gautaman Bhaskaran

MADRAS, India -- India has now realized that it needs a new strategy for fighting terror on its soil. More importantly, it now understands that it requires new allies as well. When Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon flew into New Delhi recently, his visit signaled a turning point in India's foreign...

COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE

Sep 18, 2003

Iraq, bad economy drag Bush down

By Bob Keefe

WASHINGTON -- It cannot be easy these days to be selling the White House story line. Chickens are coming home to roost from every direction. Ever since President George W. Bush went on his working vacation to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, his carefully constructed houses of cards in economic and world...

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

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Members of the nonprofit group Japan Youth Memorial Association search for the remains of dead soldiers in a cave in Okinawa Prefecture in February.

The long search for Japan’s lost soldiers

By Tomoko Otake

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Ishii Iron Works remakes self for workers, new energy

Ishii Iron Works remakes self for workers, new energy

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