Search - politics

 
 
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 7, 2014

China gains from U.S.-Russia face-off

The clear geopolitical winner from the U.S.-Russian face-off over Ukraine will be an increasingly muscular China, which harps on historical grievances — real or imaginary — to justify its claims to territories and fishing areas long held by other Asian states.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 7, 2014

What U.S. media won't say about Russia's actions

If America's foreign correspondents only knew that millions of ethnic Russians in former Soviet Republics have suffered widespread discrimination and harassment since the 1991 Soviet collapse — beginning with laws eliminating Russian as an official language — maybe they wouldn't be falling down on the job in Ukraine.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Mar 6, 2014

'Indignados'

Tony Gatlif's movies have always been about music, rhythm, movement and the rush of travel as much as any particular story, and his latest, "Indignados," takes that to an extreme. Inspired by the best-selling screed of former French resistance fighter and concentration-camp survivor Stephane Hessel "Indignez-vous!...
COMMENTARY / Japan
Mar 4, 2014

Our beastly post-Fukushima age

We have to remember the Fukushima nuclear disaster from the perspective of how Japan's system for providing meat, vegetables, rice, fish and other foods is still suffering as a result.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 4, 2014

Protests in Ukraine, Thailand likely to backfire

The specter of secession suddenly haunts Ukraine and Thailand, two countries where demonstrators have uncompromisingly battled corrupt or unresponsive rulers. Are modern states in general strong enough to survive today's explosions of popular will?
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Mar 3, 2014

Independent NHK chained to Diet leash

NHK, which is often compared with the BBC in the U.K., has been a focus of public attention and intense criticism in recent weeks. Many people are taking a closer look at the public broadcaster, including its history and whether it has been politically influenced by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's right-leaning...
COMMENTARY / Japan
Mar 3, 2014

Why does the LDP prefer the GOP?

What is the justification for the Liberal Democratic Party's strange preference for America's Republican Party over the years? The two parties have little in common.
COMMENTARY
Mar 2, 2014

Hashimoto's costly political stunt

Osaka Mayor Toru Hoshimoto has lost his job after the city assembly declined to consent to his resignation. It's another step in a process that will culminate in his running for mayor again March 23, and likely confuse Osaka residents.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 28, 2014

Cameron, Merkel have irreconcilable differences

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has made it clear, in a friendly way, that she and U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron have incompatible views about the future of the European Union.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 28, 2014

Russia's Crimean shore?

Today's Crimea, the traditional playground of czars and Soviet comissars, does not want independence from Ukraine; it wants continued dependence on Russia.
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 28, 2014

Abe looks to instill politics in education

Conservative Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is cranking out policies to strengthen the political grip on education, turning the postwar notion on its head that instruction of the nation's young people should be free of political influence.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Feb 28, 2014

Another nail in the coffin of amateur sumo

Sumo currently exists in two forms around the world. Most famous, of course, is the Tokyo-based professional sport led by yokozuna Hakuho, et al. However, the amateur version, often termed “amasumo” in abbreviated form, is of interest to many in nations that lack direct access to Japanese broadcasts....
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 27, 2014

Smaug the dragon to get fans fired up for 'Hobbit' sequel

The middle film in a trilogy can be a risky venture. The first film? Audiences are introduced to new characters and exciting possibilities. The final film? Hollywood pulls out all the stops to send those characters off with a bang. The middle? Well, directors often save their best tricks for the finale....
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 27, 2014

The Ukrainian revolution and Russian reaction

From Ukrainians' point of view, the priority is not to throw away the revolution as they did 10 years ago. From everybody else's point of view, the priority is to avoid an irreparable breach with Russia. One Cold War was enough.
JAPAN
Feb 27, 2014

'Comfort women' statues spur debate

In the northern Los Angeles suburb of Glendale, population 192,000, sits a public park with a simple statue that has become a lightning rod in the brewing political storm among the United States, Japan and South Korea over the past few months.
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Feb 26, 2014

What do you think about NHK chief Katsuto Momii's comments on 'comfort women'?

The new head of the national broadcaster argued last month that sex-slave systems were used by 'every country' in wartime and that the practice should not be judged by 'today's morality.' Osakans offer their views on the comments that have enraged Japan's neighbors.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS / ICE TIME
Feb 24, 2014

IOC deserting duty with failure to act on skating scandal

IOC president Thomas Bach seemed to dismiss concerns about the huge controversy caused by the judging in the women’s singles at the Sochi Games at a news conference on Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Feb 23, 2014

Final season for 'Toru Hashimoto Show'?

Is the Osaka political drama revolving around “third force” failure Toru Hashimoto entering its final season?
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 23, 2014

Plans don't make the grade

Don't count on the education ministry's plan to hire more foreign teachers and students to have much effect on its goal of getting at least 10 Japanese universities to place among the world's top 100.
CULTURE / Books
Feb 22, 2014

Japanese social issues await 'new dawn'

Japan is on the way up. That much is obvious from improved business confidence, its successful bid for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the early economic successes of "Abenomics," with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe proclaiming to the world the arrival of "a new dawn."
EDITORIALS
Feb 21, 2014

Abe guts constitutional government

People should realize that Japan's prime minister has a shallow understanding of constitutional government. Shinzo Abe thinks he is the 'highest responsible person' for interpreting Japan's right to a collective self-defense, and that's dangerous.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 21, 2014

The return of 1980s rhetoric in Russia

Today's Russia may be a wealthier, more open nation than the Soviet Union in the early 1980s, but President Vladimir Putin's propaganda machine is working hard on restoring the stifling moral climate of 30 years ago.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Feb 21, 2014

Russia ponders next steps over conflict next door

A Ukrainian protester lobs a burning gasoline bomb into a doorway. A police officer writhes in agony on the ground. Smoke and flames rise from burning barricades in Kiev.
COMMENTARY
Feb 20, 2014

Seoul is central to New Delhi's 'look east' policy

South Korea as well as smaller states in South and Southeast Asia are looking to India to act as a balancer vis-a-vis China's growing influence and America's anticipated retrenchment from the region in the near future.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 20, 2014

Disaster prep to be 2020 focus: Masuzoe

To help ensure that foreign visitors can enjoy the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics without concern, Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe says he will focus on making the city safer from disasters, improve access to public transportation and even encourage residents to brush up on their English conversation skills....
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Feb 19, 2014

Singh seeks India votes with 29th state as opponents vow fight

India's lower house moved to create a new state in the south to resolve a 50-year dispute, risking unrest where Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp. have their offices as the ruling Congress party seeks votes before elections.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 17, 2014

Biased judging in award of journalism Pulitzers

The winners of this year's Pulitzer Prizes in journalism will be announced in a couple of months. Cartoonist and op-ed writer Ted Rall will not be one of them.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 17, 2014

Color-coding won't explain mess in Thailand

Recent developments in Thailand may put paid to the international media's tendency to make sense of the protests by describing the 'red shirts' as representing the poor and the 'yellow shirts' as the elite.

Longform

Bear attacks have dominated Japanese news headlines in recent months, with 13 people so far having been killed by the animals.
Japan’s bears have been on their killing spree for more than 100 years