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November 22, 2024
 

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William Pfaff
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 14, 2014
America's money politics
The success of big money was even greater than widely expected in America's mid-term election.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 7, 2014
U.S. government up for sale
The dominating significance of the midterm American legislative elections just finished has been the occasion's dramatic confirmation of the corruption of the American electoral system.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 31, 2014
Western nations' mastery
A British scholar and former wartime army intelligence officer will tell you that there's nothing new about Islamic State, that it is in no way integral to the Islamic religion, and that it is a phenomenon that will pass.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 24, 2014
The U.S. has done enough damage in the Middle East
The notion that Iraq will 'destroy' the Islamic State at American behest is an illusion, and so is the notion that the U.S.-formed coalition can do it. Only Muslims themselves can resolve the Islamic crisis overtaking the Middle East.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 10, 2014
The war against Islamic State
History says an asymmetric war has never been won by air power alone. So who does U.S. President Barack Obama think is going to fight Islamic State?
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 3, 2014
Problem with President Xi
Chinese President Xi JInping has insisted he won't tolerate any concessions to the calls for electoral and governmental reform now being made in mass demonstrations in Hong Kong. The analogy with the Tiananmen tragedy is now widely made.
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 19, 2014
Alliance invites a hollow laugh
A U.S. senator has gone on record touting Syria and Iran as having, together, the means, ability and motivation to wipe out the Islamic State. But President Barack Obama and State Secretary John Kerry — as well as both parties in the U.S. Congress — are not interested.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 12, 2014
U.S. foreign policy train wreck
If the cease-fire and negotiation terms Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko has signed with the country's pro-Russian insurgents in the southeast of his country and their friends in Moscow hold, U.S. President Barack Obama should thank him for an invaluable gift of peace to Americans and NATO.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 29, 2014
Is Berlin driving Paris to the brink?
President Franu00e7ois Hollande has instructed his prime minister to form a new government — without those troublemakers who want to stop the economic austerity in Europe, or at least apply some flexibility, before it is too late.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 22, 2014
U.S.-Israeli affair almost over
Today the endorsement of Israel and financial support from the American Jewish community remain important but diminishing factors in American politics. Sympathies, especially among younger Jews, have moved leftward.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 15, 2014
Obama needs to choose his words more carefully
Although U.S. President Barack Obama has made it clear that he does not intend to take the U.S. more deeply into the Mideast again, the U.S. is allied with and presumably counseling Ukrainian government forces that seem set on vanquishing what remains of the pro-Russian separatists near the Russian border.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 8, 2014
A war is not inconceivable
Washington's demonization of Vladimir Putin has been so successful in the press, and it has been so secret about the American role in Kiev, that it has left the U.S. and EU public convinced that the Ukraine crisis has been the result of Russia's desire to expand.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 1, 2014
Israel, Gaza and the U.S. perception
The Israeli military is neither incompetent nor accident-prone where hospitals or U.N. schools are concerned. So, does a theory live in its ranks that terrorization works in Gaza?
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 18, 2014
World needs to right Israel's wrongs
The Israeli bombardment of the Palestinians has proven a policy failure, demonstrated by the Israeli government's resumption of bombing. The Israelis tried to give up, but failed.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 11, 2014
Cost of 'making' democracy
For most of the American electorate, the U.S. perseveres as the messenger of democracy to a world that usually hasn't earned it and probably doesn't deserve it. But consider what this proud effort in the Mideast, Afghanistan, Ukraine and elsewhere has done to U.S. civil liberties and to U.S. democracy.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 2, 2014
History moves, but not always ahead
Victors of World War II find themselves unable to win the wars they wage against peasant societies. They combine self-righteousness with the perception of failure and decline.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 27, 2014
U.S. Mideast policy crumbles
The Middle East has been torn apart by American invasions and attacks, and careless ideas about how to remake other peoples' lives. Iraq and Syria, as they exist today, may never recover from it.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 19, 2014
Imagine a U.S.-Iran alliance
A U.S. interest now coincides with Iran's. Both wish to save the Shiite government of Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki from the ISIS advance. But the prospect of an Iran-U.S. alliance will cause a political clash.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 13, 2014
Kagan and the ruin of ideas
Neocon commentator Robert Kagan's belief — detailed in his new book 'The World America Made' — that the world will benefit from a benevolent American suzerainty, despite the side effects of the Persian Gulf, Iraq and Afghan wars, beggars the imagination.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 6, 2014
U.S. could spare Israel a bad outcome
Until Washington stops its nonmilitary aid to Israel, ends its complicity in Israel's continuing illegal occupation of Palestinian lands and instead supports full Palestinian membership in the U.N., the Jewish state will remain locked into self-destruction.
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Ishiba aggravates his own political failures with diplomatic faux pas
Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba is greeted at the APEC summit in Lima by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. The Japanese leader was criticized for remaining seated while meeting several world leaders at the event.
Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?
By Kathryn Wortley

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

mission sustainability vol.12 : Kose Corp.Kose takes pride in creating beauty in the world
mission sustainability vol.12 : Kose Corp.Kose takes pride in creating beauty in the world

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