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Japan Times
WORLD / Politics / ANALYSIS
Oct 21, 2015

Fear of migrants, economic woes fragment governments in Europe

From Portugal to Sweden, European countries are becoming harder to govern, and their economic reforms more difficult to implement, as a prolonged financial crisis brings weaker and more divided governments.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 7, 2015

Australians should follow India's presidential model

As Australia grapples with whether to become a republic, it should look to India for guidance.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Oct 3, 2015

Women of Japan unite: Examining the contemporary state of feminism

On Oct. 21, 1970, hundreds of women marched through the streets of Tokyo, an occasion that is often referred to as the birth of the women's liberation movement in Japan.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 27, 2015

VW scandal exposes cozy ties between Germany's auto industry, government

Angela Merkel learned early in her political career that taking on the German car industry carries risks.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 26, 2015

Nation's youth are attempting to establish a new political norm

"Tell me what democracy looks like!"
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Sep 26, 2015

Abe government targets the liberal arts

Over the past several weeks I have received many emails from all over the world asking me if reports about government plans to pull the plug on humanities and social sciences departments at Japanese national universities are accurate or just a bad joke. At this point it's not clear exactly what the government...
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 22, 2015

Thai military delivers oppression, not happiness

The longer Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha and his cronies rule, the less likely Thailand is going to enjoy stable democracy.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 21, 2015

Welcome back to work, now just do your job

The battle over gay marriage is just the latest round of America's culture war, and it's not over yet.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 19, 2015

Japan's defense shift is hailed, but weaknesses will remain: experts

Passage of security bills satisfies the U.S. desire for Japan to be more of a regional military player, will strengthen defense cooperation with other countries.
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 9, 2015

Beijing's display of insecurity

With its huge military parade to mark the anniversary of the end of World War II, Beijing unwittingly displayed palpable insecurities about itself and its place in the world.
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 9, 2015

Thai terror blast a symptom of deeper illness

Thailand remains the 'sick man' of Southeast Asia, and the terrorist attack in Bangkok has exacerbated its condition.
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Sep 6, 2015

Why Japan's right keeps leaving the left in the dust

The left keeps losing, and much of it is its own damned fault.
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 3, 2015

The blood-stained Indian Child Welfare Act

The Indian Child Welfare Act is trampling on the rights of children and endangering their welfare.
EDITORIALS
Sep 1, 2015

Yet another opposition shake-up

The breakup of Ishin no To opens up a new chapter in the saga of the opposition camp, which has remained splintered since the DPJ fell from power in 2012.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Society
Sep 1, 2015

Anti-Muslim Buddhist group moves toward Myanmar's mainstream

Swathed in crimson robes, 77-year-old Ashin Tilawkar Biwonsa shuffles through a crowded conference room with the help of an aide, his supporters standing in respect as he takes a seat at the head of a table under a portrait of his own image.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 31, 2015

The Republicans' misguided Beijing-bashing

While U.S. Republican presidential candidates clearly view China-bashing as a vote-getter, it's highly unlikely that they'd make good on any of their get-tough policy statements if elected.
CULTURE
Aug 29, 2015

Culture clash: Entertainers add weight to government protests

Judging from recent comments posted on Twitter and websites such as abe-no.net, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe doesn't appear to have endeared himself to a number of celebrities who hold plenty of sway over public opinion with regards to his moves to change the nation's Constitution.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Aug 29, 2015

Trump's 'yellow peril' jibes break with GOP script

In his recent Rolling Stone essay, Matt Taibbi immortalizes the race for the Republican Party presidential nomination, as a freaky spectacle that is "like watching 17 platypuses try to mount the queen of England. You can't tear your eyes away from it."
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Aug 28, 2015

Trump came in with gloves off, looks to bully Bush with withering wrath

At almost every turn lately, Donald Trump has tried to get under Jeb Bush's skin.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan / SENTAKU MAGAZINE
Aug 26, 2015

Anti-Abe feeling grows in SDF

Sentiment against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is rising in the SDF over fears that his pending security legislation will increase the risk of going to war.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / 70 YEARS AFTER THE WAR'S END
Aug 14, 2015

Abe's nationalism reflected in conservative political movement, but polls show voter dissent

The hot political season is back as the nation observes Aug. 15, which is always an emotional date as it marks Japan's surrender in World War II — and this year is the 70th anniversary of that fateful event.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Aug 4, 2015

Of kimono and cultural appropriation

Clueless identity politics activists in the U.S. are no friends of Japan's struggling kimono industry.
EDITORIALS
Jul 30, 2015

Upper House vote reform falls short

The recent changes to the Upper House districts fall far short of addressing in a meaningful way the disparity in vote values.
JAPAN / Politics / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Jul 26, 2015

Hashimoto's proposed Kansai-centric party no easy sell in region, where rivalries limit appeal

No stranger to making headlines and raising eyebrows in politics, the fiery Toru Hashimoto did it again on July 4.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jul 20, 2015

Myanmar's military chief defends political role, says he may run for president

Myanmar's commander-in-chief reiterated the need for the military to continue its powerful role in politics and said he will consider standing for president in November elections if asked to do so, according to an interview broadcast Monday.
EDITORIALS
Jul 19, 2015

Encouraging political participation

With the voting age being lowered to 18 next year, young people must be better educated about the role they should play to help keep Japan's democracy healthy.

Longform

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