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JAPAN
Nov 25, 2004

Faction treasurer fingers Muraoka

A former treasurer of the Liberal Democratic Party's largest faction pleaded guilty Wednesday to failing to report a 100 million yen political donation in 2001 but said former Chief Cabinet Secretary Kanezo Muraoka played a key role in the coverup.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 18, 2004

New Komeito torn between two masters

A two-party political system involving the now ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the Democratic Party of Japan might not be far off, given the DPJ's strong gains in recent elections.
EDITORIALS
Nov 12, 2004

Challenges to the just-opened Diet

A n extraordinary Diet session that opened Tuesday looks set for lively debates on a host of contentious issues, including the perennial problem of "politics and money." Adding to that is last month's reshuffle of the Cabinet and of top executive posts in both the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and...
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 6, 2004

Don't expect mudslinging to fade away

HONOLULU -- Defeated vice presidential candidates in America usually don't rate much attention, but Democratic Sen. John Edwards signaled, perhaps inadvertently, what lies immediately ahead in U.S. politics when he said Wednesday: "This fight has just begun."
COMMENTARY
Oct 21, 2004

Exacerbating Pakistan's democratic predicament

ISLAMABAD -- A decision by Pakistan's ruling party to push a bill through Parliament that would extend President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's tenure as head of the influential military establishment as well as give him wide-ranging powers marks a new setback for the nuclear-armed South Asian country's troubled...
EDITORIALS
Oct 13, 2004

Challenges to just-opened Diet

A n extraordinary Diet session that opened Tuesday looks set for lively debates on a host of contentious issues, including the perennial problem of "politics and money." Adding to that is last month's reshuffle of the Cabinet and of top executive posts in both the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and...
COMMENTARY
Oct 6, 2004

International hubris may throttle Labour

LONDON -- There has been more money at the Labour Party conference the past few years than the delegates' parents might ever have dreamed of, let alone the impoverished founders of the workers' party. There has been, and is, more money because the power is with the parliamentary leaders of this party....
EDITORIALS
Sep 9, 2004

Mr. Anwar returns

I n a surprise move, Malaysia's Supreme Court has reversed a conviction of former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and set him free. The decision is yet another indication of the differences between Prime Minister Abdullah Bedawi and his predecessor, Mr. Mahathir Mohamad. It is too early to say whether...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 14, 2004

Top parodist serves anti-Koizumi camp

People not in positions of authority might feel they can do little to change a political situation they disagree with, but for one of the nation's leading parodists, the answer is simple: ape those in positions of power in an unflattering way.
JAPAN
Aug 14, 2004

Top parodist serves anti-Koizumi camp

People not in positions of authority might feel they can do little to change a political situation they disagree with, but for one of the nation's leading parodists, the answer is simple: ape those in positions of power in an unflattering way.
COMMENTARY
Jul 27, 2004

DPJ's fortunes are rising

In the July 11 Upper House election, the opposition Democratic Party of Japan made dramatic gains, winning more seats than the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (50-49). The DPJ also surpassed the LDP in the proportional representation bloc of November's general election. With the two parties dominating...
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 24, 2004

Labor threatens golden FTA

SYDNEY -- Ah, such dilemmas in power politics. At last, after years of both sides giving concessions, Australia has gotten America to agree to a free trade agreement. And what does the Australian Labor Party do? Threaten to kill it before birth.
JAPAN
Jul 4, 2004

Independent voters growing in power

Former Tokyo Gov. Yukio Aoshima still believes in the power of independent voters.
JAPAN / ELECTION '04
Jul 3, 2004

Pension issue strikes chord with voters

It's always tough to draw the attention of apathetic voters when stumping.
COMMENTARY
Jun 13, 2004

Freedom to end up different

MANILA -- Ideological fuzziness has become a hallmark of politics. Instead of accentuating ideological positions, politicians deliberately demonstrate vagueness. This, their advisers argue, prevents the politicians from alienating strategic interest groups crucial for victory in elections.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / PERSONALITY PROFILE
Jun 5, 2004

Roger McDonald

A man of many parts, Roger McDonald wove the different threads of his life together when he became a freelance curator. He said: "One of the triggers for me was helping organize an exhibition as part of UK98 at Kiyosato. I brought over some fiery young artists from England, and that experience showed...
COMMENTARY / World
May 20, 2004

India: a defeat for the government, a victory for democracy

In his concession speech on May 13, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) thanked the people of India for having given him their support for five years; promised full cooperation with Sonia Gandhi, leader of the largest victorious party, Congress; and noted that,...
COMMENTARY
May 9, 2004

Democratic model for developing nations

NEW DELHI -- At a time when international terrorism has intensified debate on the potential role of democracy in moderating extremist trends, the world's largest-ever election in India is a reminder that democracy and freedom are not luxuries but central to the building of stable, pluralistic and prospering...
COMMENTARY
Apr 20, 2004

Campaigns fail education role

MANILA -- Ideally, an electoral campaign in a democracy offers the voter the chance to study the available alternatives before deciding which options are most compatible with his or her individual preferences. In this sense, electoral campaigns should be exercises in political education.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Apr 18, 2004

Media favors Al-Jazeera over government

In his new book, "The Unconquerable World," Jonathan Schell explains how "people's war" came to be the dominant form of international conflict in the nuclear age. People's war subordinates all aspects of warfare to politics, because only through politics can the strength of the people be harnessed to...
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 11, 2004

India girds for world's biggest tamasha

Between April 20 and May 10, staggered over five rounds, Indians will vote in the 14th general election since inde- pendence in 1947. When Florida caused such a fuss in the last U.S. presidential election four years ago, Indians were bemused and amused in equal measure. They suggested that Americans...
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Apr 6, 2004

Otaku proud of it

I wouldn't be offended if someone called me an otaku," says Koichi Nakayasu, ". . . because I am."
COMMENTARY
Mar 31, 2004

Madrid attack redefines EU

LONDON -- The bomb outrage and mass slaughter of train commuters in Madrid on March 11 has changed the face of European politics in more ways than one.
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Feb 16, 2004

Judging our parties by policy is the best policy

In the United States, it is the routine work of think tanks and business organizations to examine the voting behavior of each legislator.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 11, 2004

Back to Futurists and fascists

Max Rating: * * * * 1/2 (out of 5) Japanese title: Adolf no Gashu Director: Menno Meyjes Running time: 108 minutes Language: English Currently showing [See Japan Times movie listings] With his debut feature, "Max," director Menno Meyjes takes us back to the Germany of 1918, in the immediate...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 3, 2004

Kato back -- but he's not his old self

Two months after his Diet comeback in November, Koichi Kato seems to be in two minds over whether to keep a low profile until he is no longer dogged by scandal -- or else reclaim his outspoken political identity.
COMMENTARY
Dec 14, 2003

Getting Asia's youth behind their party

MANILA -- As elections approach, politicians remember the importance of being on good terms with the youth. Young people are easily motivated and are inexpensive workers in political campaigns. The young generation also constitutes a sizable electoral constituency.
COMMENTARY
Nov 17, 2003

Japan's milestone election

Japan took a major step toward a two-party system when the opposition Democratic Party of Japan made big gains in the Nov. 9 Lower House election. The poll will be remembered as a milestone in Japanese political history for this reason and because it was the first Japanese election to be fought over...
COMMENTARY
Nov 10, 2003

Britain needs political center

LONDON -- The British Conservative Party has once again kicked out its leader. Ian Duncan Smith had shown himself unable to control his party and capitalize on the mistakes and failings of the current British Government led by Prime Minister Tony Blair. He lacked charisma and displayed a sad lack of...

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