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CARTOONS / ZERO GRAVITY

Feb 14, 2010

COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT

Feb 14, 2010

Today's complex society in Japan spawns a new 'foreigner complex'

By Roger Pulvers

Among the many Japanese words and phrases that have fallen by the wayside of late and become shigo (obsolete), gaijin komupurekkusu (foreigner complex) is certainly among the least missed.

COMMENTARY / World

Feb 13, 2010

Treason of the magistrates

By Guy Sorman

PARIS — In democracies, justice is supposed to be independent. Some prosecutors and investigating magistrates, however, conveniently forget this. Indeed many among them are deeply enmeshed in politics, pursuing agendas — and vendettas — of their own.

EDITORIALS

Feb 13, 2010

New hope for Afghanistan?

It is increasingly clear that a purely military victory in Afghanistan is impossible. The resurgence of the Taliban and the weakness of the government in Kabul have forced a rethink of strategies to help stabilize the war-torn country. The results were evident at the recent London conference on Afghanistan,...

COMMENTARY / World

Feb 12, 2010

Many in denial over China's quest for bases

By Harsh V. Pant

LONDON — For a long time, Chinese foreign-policy thinkers and the political establishment have been trying to convince the world that China's rise is peaceful, that China has no expansionist intentions and that China will be a different kind of great power.

EDITORIALS

Feb 12, 2010

Mr. Hatoyama's bold move

In a bold and surprising move, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama Wednesday appointed Mr. Yukio Edano, a 45-year-old Democratic Party of Japan Lower House member, as administrative reform minister. Mr. Edano, well-versed in policy matters, is highly qualified as a government waste-cutter. His joining the...

EDITORIALS

Feb 12, 2010

The thrills of Vancouver

The 21st Olympic Winter Games begin on Saturday (Japan time) in Vancouver. Athletes from a record 82 countries and regions will participate, competing in 86 disciplines in seven sports. This is the third time that Canada has hosted the Olympics, after the 1976 Summer Games in Montreal and the 1988 Winter...

COMMENTARY / World

Feb 11, 2010

The best way to rebuild Haiti

By Robert B. Zoellick

WASHINGTON — In the wake of the devastating earthquake, there has been an outpouring of international support for Haiti. The first priority has been saving lives. That means getting water, food, shelter, medicine and other basic supplies to victims. The first rush must be backed up by an ongoing logistics...

EDITORIALS

Feb 11, 2010

Ukraine comes full circle

Five and half years ago, Mr. Viktor Yanukovych was the villain in Ukraine. After "winning" presidential elections in 2004, disaffected voters took to the streets claiming fraud and hoping to reverse the results. One month of protests gave the world its first "color revolution" — the Orange Revolution,...

COMMENTARY / World

Feb 11, 2010

Critical role for bureaucrats

By Kevin Rafferty

HONG KONG — Some political commentators are suggesting that Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama is preparing to make Britain his model for reforming Japan's government system so that ministers — and not bureaucrats — make the important policy decisions.

CARTOONS / DAHL'S JAPAN

Feb 11, 2010

COMMENTARY / World

Feb 10, 2010

Iran's revolutionary echoes

By Said Amir Arjomand

STONY BROOK, N.Y. — Iran's continued unrest, now extending through the 30th anniversary of the revolution that toppled the shah, raises the question of whether the Islamic Republic is about to fall. As in 1979, millions of Iranians have taken to the streets, this time to protest electoral fraud in...

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

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

In 2020, 38% of all households were single-person. That figure is projected to rise to 44.3% by 2050.

The rise of AI companionship in a lonely Japan

By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Smile! It’s ‘Sanrio Time,’ now and ever after

Smile! It’s ‘Sanrio Time,’ now and ever after

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