Tag - collective-self-defense

 
 

COLLECTIVE SELF DEFENSE

EDITORIALS
Jul 24, 2015
Upper House has its work cut out
The Upper House must address the questions and doubts raised in the Lower House's deliberations on the government's security legislation.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 20, 2015
The tragedy of Shinzo Abe
If Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's concern is with strengthening the position of Japan, why he has made so little progress on economics reforms?
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 20, 2015
It's alright for Japan to fudge the Constitution
A constitution must be interpreted pragmatically, to serve the nation's interests and help it avoid existential threats.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 17, 2015
Top SDF officer says bills not meant to expand military power
The top officer in the Self-Defense Forces, currently visiting Washington, disagrees with China's portrayal of the controversial security bills that passed the Lower House as expanding Japan's military power.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 16, 2015
The Abe administration's arrogance of power moment
Before Prime Minister Shinzo Abe flexes his military muscles, indulges himself in historical revisionism and preaches to China about the rule of law, he should observe the principle of rule of law at home.
EDITORIALS
Jul 16, 2015
Wrong way to pass security bills
The security legislation proposed by the Abe administration should not be enacted solely on the basis of the ruling coalition's majority strength.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 14, 2015
Debate over security bills masks clash of views on pacifist Constitution
Is Japan's Constitution a symbol of peace and respect for universal values or a reminder of humiliating defeat?
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 2, 2015
Ishin no To adopts counterproposal to security bills
The second largest opposition party has adopted counterproposals to the Abe administration's contentious security bills that include tougher conditions on Self-Defense Forces' operations.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jun 28, 2015
LDP media bashers put security bills in doubt
The damage caused by the LDP's media-bashing session has thrown the conservative party into a crisis and thrown its highly unpopular security bills into doubt.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 22, 2015
Diet session extended through September as Abe aims to pass contentious security bills
Abe and Komeito's leader decide to extend the Diet session by the most days in postwar history in a bid to enact the controversial security bills.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Jun 20, 2015
In search of Japanese and American shared values
There is a good deal of blather about the shared values that are ostensibly the foundation of the alliance between Japan and the United States. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Barack Obama invoked this mantra when they met in Washington to finalize new Japan-U.S. defense guidelines that hardly any Japanese support. Perhaps the public has the wrong values?
EDITORIALS
Jun 17, 2015
Stop dodging key security questions
The government and the ruling bloc should reflect on why public understanding of its security bills remain elusive.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 15, 2015
Speculation swirls over result of Abe-Hashimoto meeting
Speculation is swirling among the politically well-connected that Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto may have agreed to help Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pass contentious security legislation when the two met in Tokyo on Sunday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 12, 2015
Political veterans warn of crisis in security revamp
In a rare show of unity, four veteran politicians from rival parties hold court at the Japan Press Club to speak out against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's security bills.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 12, 2015
Media should stop legitimizing Abe's Article 9 'reinterpretation'
The media should stop giving the Abe administration's 'reinterpretation' of Article 9 a legitimacy and validity that it does not enjoy under Japan's constitutional system.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 11, 2015
Security bills' credibility hobbled by suspicious explanations and reporting: scholars
As the Diet continues debate over a raft of contentious bills that would upend Japan's postwar security regime, some scholars and experts are noting the need for at least some changes to the nation's defense posture considering the security climate in the region — and a more transparent approach to these changes.
EDITORIALS
Jun 9, 2015
Legal doubts over security bills
The Abe administration must address key questions if it's serious about winning the public's support and understanding of its security legislation.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 8, 2015
Defense chief opposed 'deceiving' people with constitutional 'interpretation techniques'
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani voiced opposition just two years ago to reinterpreting the Constitution in order to end Japan's ban on helping an allied nation defend itself, contradicting the Abe administration's position.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 5, 2015
Experts' tongue-lashing rekindles Diet debate on reinterpreted Constitution
The surprise tongue-lashing in the Diet meted out by three noted constitutional scholars has reignited debate on whether the Cabinet's reinterpretation of Article 9 last year was legitimate.
EDITORIALS
Jun 3, 2015
Stop ducking security bill questions
The Abe administration is doing everything it can to avoid getting pinned down on the details of its security legislation — to the detriment of public understanding.

Longform

Historically, kabuki was considered the entertainment of the merchant and peasant classes, a far cry from how it is regarded today.
For Japan's oldest kabuki theater, the show must go on