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EDITORIALS
Jun 25, 2011

Greece at a crossroads — again

Greece teeters on the brink of a crisis as its government navigates between demands for austerity by European bankers and politicians and popular outrage prompted by the social costs of those same austerity measures. Although Prime Minister George Papandreou has survived in a vote of confidence, a difficult...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 23, 2011

DPJ tacks on 70 days to avert Diet recess

The Diet session was extended by 70 days Wednesday, giving Prime Minister Naoto Kan and his Democratic Party of Japan some breathing room as they try to enact several key bills by the end of August.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 22, 2011

JBIC may aid overseas asset selloff

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation may help fund Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s proposed sale of overseas energy assets as the beleaguered company seeks to shore up its finances.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jun 21, 2011

Time to give nuke watchdog teeth

A government report about the Fukushima No. 1 power plant crisis released June 7 mentions the need to review the way the nuclear power industry is regulated.
JAPAN
Jun 21, 2011

Justice Ministry plans to ditch refugee role

The parliamentary secretary of the Justice Ministry said Monday that the Democratic Party of Japan-led government will aim to establish a new organization to deal specifically with refugee issues and eliminate that function from the ministry.
JAPAN
Jun 17, 2011

Panel evaluates Tepco assets to assure redress footing

The government launched a panel Thursday to streamline the operations of beleaguered Tokyo Electric Power Co. and evaluate its financial assets as it prepares to pay massive compensation for the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.
JAPAN
Jun 17, 2011

Don't count Ozawa out until he is

Over the decades he's been dubbed the "shadow shogun," "the destroyer" and "the backroom fixer" for his powerful influence in the political arena and penchant for shaking up governments with his "strong hand."
JAPAN
Jun 17, 2011

Evacuation urged for radioactive hot spots

The government said Thursday it will recommend the evacuation of residents living in radioactive hot spots outside the no-entry zone around the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.
JAPAN
Jun 16, 2011

DPJ to seek 'substantial' Diet extension

The Democratic Party of Japan will seek to "substantially extend" the Diet session and pass key legislation dealing with the aftermath of the March 11 calamity, DPJ Secretary General Katsuya Okada said Wednesday.
COMMENTARY / World / SENTAKU MAGAZINE
Jun 15, 2011

Yakuza eye cleanup profits

The government and law enforcement authorities appear to be fighting an uphill battle to prevent gangsters and other "antisocial" groups from cashing in on disposing of huge amounts of debris generated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, which played havoc with large areas along the Pacific coast...
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 15, 2011

Economy hits political faults

Naoto Kan's departure as Japan's prime minister looks to be as messy and wretched as his uncomfortable time in the job.
JAPAN / Q&A
Jun 12, 2011

Track record of coalition plans not always grand

Amid the chaos breaking out in Nagata-cho since Prime Minister Naoto Kan announced his intention to resign, the ruling Democratic Party of Japan is once again seeking to form a grand coalition with its long-time conservative foe, the Liberal Democratic Party.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 8, 2011

Thailand Inc. versus Thaksin

Thailand is preparing to go to the polls on July 3 in an election that is supposed to mark the restoration of full democracy to the country, one of the liveliest, best-endowed and most promising countries in Asia. But the way the campaign is going, the chances are that Thailand will face another coup...
JAPAN
Jun 8, 2011

Official probe begins into nuclear disaster

An independent panel of experts launched a probe Tuesday into the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant amid strong domestic and international criticism that the government and Tepco have bungled their response.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jun 7, 2011

Hague treaty seeks to balance rights of kids, parents

Prime Minister Naoto Kan's administration said in May it would establish legislation as part of preparations for Japan joining an international convention to prevent cross-border abductions of children by their parents.

Longform

Tetsuzo Shiraishi, speaking at The Center of the Tokyo Raids and War Damage, uses a thermos to explain how he experienced the U.S. firebombing of March 1945, when he was just 7 years old.
From ashes to high-rises: A survivor’s account of Tokyo’s postwar past