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September 09, 2025

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COMMENTARY / World / GUEST FORUM

Aug 7, 1999

For the Japanese, the future is now

By Shin-ichi Terashima

There has been much soul-searching among the Japanese in recent years, following the collapse of the bubble economy and the recession it triggered. Economic woes aside, a crisis of confidence exists at the most fundamental level. People have come to doubt not only the ability of society as a whole, but...

COMMENTARY / World

Aug 7, 1999

Nationalism to the rescue

By David Howell

LONDON -- A French philosopher remarked some years ago that national politics had become "a secondary activity." What he meant was that, with the globalization of finance and economic forces, and with the citizens of the world linking up across borders (700 million people will be linked to the Internet...

COMMENTARY / World

Aug 7, 1999

Afghanistan's miserable war continues

By Farhan Bokhari

ISLAMABAD -- The fresh military victories scored by Afghanistan's Taliban militia in the past few weeks have once again thrown into doubt the prospects for a stable government in the war-torn central Asian country. Despite controlling more than 90 percent of Afghan territory, the Taliban is no closer...

EDITORIALS

Aug 7, 1999

A summer of new health threats

During what is proving to be one of Japan's hottest summers in recent memory, most people are concentrating on ways to beat the heat. Heat-related ailments pose a great health risk, especially among the very young and very old. It appears, however, that this summer the public should be paying even more...

EDITORIALS

Aug 6, 1999

First a tally, now the trading

Almost two months after voting for the national assembly took place, Indonesia has its election results. Wednesday, President B.J. Habibie endorsed the final tally of the national election commission over the objections of several small parties who claimed ballot fraud. The holdouts represented less...

EDITORIALS

Aug 5, 1999

China's East Wind blows ill

Earlier this week, China test-fired a ballistic missile. The practical significance of the test is minimal; it does little, if anything, to change the regional balance of power. Its timing, on the other hand, could not be worse. The launch sends the wrong message to every government with interests in...

EDITORIALS

Aug 4, 1999

A last push by the Taliban

The Taliban, the Islamic fundamentalist movement that controls 80 to 90 percent of Afghanistan, has launched a long-anticipated summer offensive to recapture the rest of the country. The fighting has been fierce, involving more than 100,000 men on five fronts. Civilian casualties have been high, since...

COMMENTARY / World

Aug 4, 1999

Facing the reality of Taiwan

By Hisahiko Okazaki

Later this week, government officials I have never used the words "one China." In fact, I have never learned the usage of "one China," and today I have found that this is not my singular experience. One of the distinguished participants from the United States told us that he did not remember having used...

EDITORIALS

Aug 3, 1999

Mending relations with Russia

NATO's bombing campaign may have won the war in Kosovo but damaged relations between Russia and the West were part of the price of victory. The decision by Moscow and Washington to open new talks on arms control and renew efforts to integrate Russia into the world economy is a welcome sign that the breach...

COMMENTARY / THE VIEW FROM MOSCOW

Aug 1, 1999

Russia's Navy lists in port

By Constantine Pleshakov

There is only one place where modern submarines dock in Venetian canals, the replica of Aya Sofya is home to a naval theater company, and young people date in the ruins of old Scandinavian forts. Few small towns have such a special destiny, but Kronshtadt, situated on barren Kotlin Island, a mere 29...

COMMENTARY

Aug 1, 1999

Congress squanders another opportunity

By Doug Bandow

Although Republicans retain the control of the U.S. Congress that they won in in 1994, they have done little good with their power. U.S. President Bill Clinton, despite his endless scandals, continues to aggressively expand government. His administration has enacted 10,866 new regulations since 1997...

EDITORIALS

Jul 31, 1999

Renewed hope for the ARF

This year's meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum could not have been more timely. China and Taiwan were engaged in a vicious exchange as Beijing threatened war against the island it regards as a renegade province. Tensions in Indonesia were high as political parties rejected the results of the June national...

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

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Figure skater Akiko Suzuki was once told her ideal weight should be 47 kilograms, a number she now admits she “naively believed.” This led to her have a relationship with food that resulted in her suffering from anorexia.

The silent battle Japanese athletes fight with weight

By Mai Yoshikawa

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Tokyo Gas lights the way to carbon neutrality

Tokyo Gas lights the way to carbon neutrality

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