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COMMENTARY / World

Feb 24, 2007

Telling the truth at Yasukuni

By Hisahiko Okazaki

Since last summer, I have been engaged in the process of modifying exhibits at Yasukuni Shrine's Yushukan history museum. The project is expected to be completed in July.

COMMENTARY

Feb 23, 2007

Airports foretell the future

By David Howell

LONDON -- It is at airports that one can tell that most of East Asia is merging into one gigantic business and market entity, a crisscrossed latticework flow of people, goods, ideas, lifestyles, relationships -- of such size, speed and intensity that it is beyond the power of any governments to check...

EDITORIALS

Feb 23, 2007

BOJ lifts its expectations

In a turnaround from its decision not to raise the key short-term interest rate in January, the Bank of Japan raised it to 0.5 percent from 0.25 percent Wednesday. The decision is based on the judgment that the Japanese economy is likely to continue to expand gradually. The decision should be taken as...

COMMENTARY / World

Feb 23, 2007

Iraqi survivors face health-care collapse

By Cesar Chelala

NEW YORK -- In a letter addressed to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, 100 prestigious doctors have denounced the harm to children's health and lives wrought by the war in Iraq. The signatories -- British doctors who have worked in Iraq, Iraqi doctors, leading British consultants and general practitioners...

EDITORIALS

Feb 23, 2007

Reaffirming a commitment

Nothing dramatic happened -- no new demands or agreements -- during U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney's meetings with Japanese leaders this week. His visit should be interpreted as a U.S. effort to reaffirm its close ties with Japan and thus help enhance its image as a world leader as it faces difficult...

EDITORIALS

Feb 22, 2007

'Secrets' with a public interest

The Self-Defense Forces' investigation of an SDF member in connection with a news report of an accident in a Chinese Navy submarine in 2005 raises concerns regarding people's right to know and the freedom of the press. It could lead to limits on basic rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution....

COMMENTARY / World

Feb 22, 2007

Truth and consequences of inequality

By Robert J. Shiller

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Leaders around the world seem to be convinced that inequality and lack of broad participation in economic growth, if allowed to persist, will lead to social discord and even violence. But is inequality the real problem?

COMMENTARY / World

Feb 21, 2007

Dealing with Iran's rapid rise in regional influence

By Paul Salem

BEIRUT -- America's decision to target Iranian agents in Iraq who may be involved in supporting violent militias is but another sign of the massive influence Iran is exercising in that troubled country. But the United States in fact facilitated Iran's growing influence by toppling Saddam Hussein's regime...

EDITORIALS

Feb 21, 2007

And now, on to Iran?

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. That adage is uppermost in the minds of critics of U.S. foreign policy amid warnings by the Bush administration that Iran is actively working to destabilize Iraq. U.S. credibility has been badly damaged by the mishandling of intelligence prior to...

COMMENTARY

Feb 20, 2007

Knocked back in Beijing

By Gregory Clark

Tokyo tries to keep a brave face on the agreements reached at last week's six-nation talks in Beijing aimed at putting an end to North Korea's nuclear development plans. But no amount of strong talk about refusing any direct participation in aid or other concessions to North Korea unless Pyongyang accepts...

COMMENTARY / World

Feb 20, 2007

Cotton prices wrecking Indian farmers

By Gautaman Bhaskaran

MADRAS, India -- The western Indian state of Maharashtra, whose capital is the nation's financial capital Bombay, has made great strides in lifting cotton production. Land dedicated to growing cotton increased from 92,000 hectares in 2003 to 480,000 hectares in 2004, according to government sources....

EDITORIALS

Feb 20, 2007

New hearts for dying cities

The current economic recovery in Japan has been marred by imbalances. One imbalance is between the corporate and household sectors. While the corporate sector is prospering, much of the household sector is missing out on the fruit of the nation's longest postwar economic expansion. Stagnant wage growth...

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

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.

What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji

By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Looking ahead to Yokohama’s Green × Expo 2027

Looking ahead to Yokohama’s Green × Expo 2027

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