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August 22, 2025
 

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COMMENTARY / World
Apr 22, 2008
New Delhi's dilemma with the Dalai Lama
By Shashi Tharoor
PRAGUE — As the world reacts to China's crackdown in Tibet, one country is conspicuous by both its centrality to the drama and its reticence over it. India, the land of asylum for the Dalai Lama and the angry young hotheads of the Tibetan Youth Congress, finds itself on the horns of a dilemma.
EDITORIALS
Apr 22, 2008
Preparing for lay judge system
The government has announced that the lay judge system will take effect on May 21, 2009. The new system will be used in criminal cases in which suspects are indicted on and after that day. Trials using lay judges are expected to begin in late July or early August 2009.
EDITORIALS
Apr 22, 2008
Rough road for tax discussions
The ruling and opposition blocs have launched a consultative body to discuss issues related to tax revenue for road-related projects. But, strangely, the body will not discuss revisions to bills that will maintain the surcharges for the gasoline and other road-related taxes, and keep using the revenue...
COMMENTARY / World / SENTAKU MAGAZINE
Apr 21, 2008
Is Japan's bureaucracy still living in the 17th century?
The roots of both the Japanese and French bureaucratic systems can be traced to Jean-Baptiste Colbert, who as controller general under "the sun king" Louis XIV was instrumental in ushering in mercantilism to Europe and exerted great influence over the government control of the private sector.
EDITORIALS
Apr 21, 2008
Torch relay lights up many issues
The most controversial Olympic torch relay in history will arrive in Japan this week. The relay route has been changed and another event canceled in Nagano amid worries over the many protesters who have followed the route as persistently as any athlete. This Olympic torch has turned out to be symbolic...
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Apr 20, 2008
'Bone Man' bears lifelong witness to the ugly brute of war
By Roger Pulvers
Tell me, where is the glory in war?
EDITORIALS
Apr 20, 2008
Major ruling on SDF's Iraq mission
The Nagoya High Court Thursday ruled that the Air Self-Defense Force's mission in Iraq includes activities that violate the war-renouncing Constitution. It rejects the government's explanations concerning the dispatch of an ASDF unit to Iraq. Although the government says that the ruling does not bind...
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 19, 2008
What shape is America's recession?
By Nouriel Roubini
NEW YORK — Now that it is clear that the United States is in recession, the debate has moved on to whether it will be short and shallow or long and deep — a question that is as important for the rest of the world as it is for the U.S.
EDITORIALS
Apr 19, 2008
All eyes on Yamaguchi
Campaigning has kicked off for the April 27 Lower House by-election in the Yamaguchi No. 2 constituency. The poll will have a great impact on the Diet struggle between the ruling and opposition forces over such issues as the gasoline and other road-related taxes, medical services and pensions. It will...
EDITORIALS
Apr 19, 2008
Health insurance chaos
The new health insurance scheme for people aged 75 or over that began April 1 has been thrown into confusion due to the central and local governments' failure to adequately prepare. New health insurance cards failed to reach some 63,000 people in time, and chaos continues even though the health ministry...
COMMENTARY
Apr 18, 2008
A passport to peace in the Middle East?
By Cesar Chelala
TUCUMAN, Argentina — Daniel Barenboim, the noted Israeli musician, is no stranger to controversy. By recently accepting Palestinian nationality, although in itself only a symbolic act, he will only fuel the controversy about his role in the Middle East process.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 18, 2008
Agricultural neglect leaves millions trapped in poverty
By Noeleen Heyzer
BANGKOK — In the last decade, developing economies in Asia and the Pacific doubled in size, growing over seven percent on average. This growth has garnered much attention and plaudits. Yet, 641 million of the world's poorest — nearly two-thirds of the global total — live in the Asia-Pacific region....
Demystifying the manufacturing success of China
China’s massive scale, strong education system and competitive local governance have enabled it to reach the technological frontier and dominate high-tech manufacturing despite its low per capita gross domestic product.
Japan to revise romanization rules for first time in 70 years
The Agency for Cultural Affairs is recommending replacing the government’s long-standing Kunrei system with more widely used Hepburn-style spellings.
Japanese manufacturers moving headquarters out of central Tokyo
A building in Kawasaki housing Toshiba's new headquarters
Is sumo becoming a victim of its own popularity?
A training session at Shikoroyama stable in June 2016. Sumo training sessions are increasingly simulated or the preserve of group tours.
Japanese man suspected of ordering double murder in Manila
Two suspects arrested over the killing of two Japanese last week are held in restraints in Manila on Tuesday.
Tokyo crowned No.1 'workation' spot
Workations were a burgeoning trend in the corporate world for years before the COVID-19 pandemic turbocharged it.
Atsushi Kitagawara’s exhibition finds poetry in architecture
The inverted cone, one of Atsushi Kitagawara’s six signature elements in architecture, is a key feature of the Nakamura Keith Haring Collection museum building.
Candidates preparing to make final pitches for Sawamura Award
Hawks pitcher Livan Moinelo has a 1.13 ERA in 19 starts this season.
Winning warship bid gives Japan confidence boost as Tokyo eyes more exports
Australia’s decision to select Japan's upgraded Mogami-class warship, seen in this computer-generated image, has been “well received across Japanese industry," a Defense Ministry official said.
In Paris, chefs Chizuko Kimura and Kei Kobayashi make their mark
Chef Kei Kobayashi is France's only Japanese chef with three Michelin stars.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Tetsuzo Shiraishi, speaking at The Center of the Tokyo Raids and War Damage, uses a thermos to explain how he experienced the U.S. firebombing of March 1945, when he was just 7 years old.
From ashes to high-rises: A survivor’s account of Tokyo’s postwar past
By Alex K.T. Martin

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