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COMMENTARY

Jul 15, 2003

A Japanese force for peace

By Keizo Nabeshima

The Lower House has approved a special bill that would allow Japan to aid in the reconstruction of war-ravaged Iraq. The bill is expected to be enacted late this month after the Upper House passes it. Under the new law, about 1,000 troops of the Self-Defense Forces will go to Iraq, beginning in October,...

EDITORIALS

Jul 13, 2003

Music and (some) words by Bob Dylan

Speaking of inspiration -- the creative kind -- people have long wondered where it comes from and how it works. Maybe the American composer Aaron Copland came closest to an answer when he said, "Inspiration may be a form of superconsciousness, or perhaps of subconsciousness -- I wouldn't know. But I...

COMMENTARY

Jul 13, 2003

Shabby cause to shed blood

By Gregory Clark

The bad news is that the Japanese government wants to send troops to Iraq. Tokyo's rush into overseas military involvements is far stronger than anyone would have imagined possible even a few years ago.

EDITORIALS

Jul 13, 2003

What the Bijanis died for

It was the saddest, yet most inspiring image of the week: two vibrant, intelligent 29-year-old sisters dead of uncontrollable bleeding following the surgical separation of their congenitally joined skulls. When the deaths of Ladan and Laleh Bijani were announced Tuesday, strangers in cities from Tehran...

EDITORIALS

Jul 12, 2003

Toward a viable dialogue

The latest round of ministerial talks between North and South Korea, which opened in Seoul on Wednesday, is a reminder that inter-Korean dialogue is alive. But prospects for reconciliation are clouded by the North's suspected nuclear-weapons program. As yet there is little hope for an improvement toward...

COMMENTARY / World

Jul 12, 2003

East Asian FTA? Dream on!

By David Wall

LONDON -- At their summit meeting in Beijing last week, Presidents Roh Moo Hyun of South Korea and Hu Jintao of China agreed to push for a summit declaration on the establishment of a free trade area (FTA) among South Korea, China and Japan.

COMMENTARY / World

Jul 11, 2003

Paris plays multilateral card

By Eric Teo Chu Cheow

SINGAPORE — Although one of the most notable moments at the June 1-3 Group of Eight summit in Evian, France, was the rapprochement between U.S. President George W. Bush and French President Jacques Chirac, Franco-American relations have not been completely restored. Senior Bush administration officials...

COMMENTARY / World

Jul 11, 2003

Australia takes on role as sheriff of the South Seas

By Alan Goodall

SYDNEY -- South Pacific island states, led by Australia and New Zealand, are gearing up for an historic intervention in the internal affairs of one their distressed members, Solomon Islands. An armed "invasion" should land within weeks.

EDITORIALS

Jul 11, 2003

Securing oil while keeping the alliance

Japan's oil development talks with Iran face a serious challenge from the United States. President George W. Bush's administration, which suspects Tehran of trying to develop nuclear weapons, is strongly opposed to Japan's pursuit of a development project in the Azadegan oil field of southwest Iran....

EDITORIALS

Jul 10, 2003

Wrong light at the end of the tunnel

Stock prices and long-term interest rates in Japan have climbed rapidly of late. On Monday, the Nikkei index hit a 10-month high of 9,795 points while yields on 10-year benchmark government bonds topped 1 percent, more than double the level of a month earlier. That is good news if it signals an upturn...

EDITORIALS

Jul 9, 2003

A more flexible litigation system

Japan's system of administrative litigation -- which allows citizens to file complaints against actions taken by the central and local governments -- leaves much to be desired. Statistics show that 15 percent of complainants are rejected for lack of qualifications and other reasons, and that only 13...

COMMENTARY

Jul 9, 2003

Human rights under siege worldwide

By Hugh Cortazzi

LONDON -- Terrorism is a serious threat to our societies and way of life. We must give top priority to combating it, but if we ignore or undermine the protection of human rights in the process we shall endanger the principles of humanity for which we are purportedly fighting.

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

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Japan's growing ranks of centenarians are redefining what it means to live in a super-aging society.

What comes after 100?

By Tomoko Otake

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Fujitsu crafts sustainable innovation for itself, society

Fujitsu crafts sustainable innovation for itself, society

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