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November 22, 2024
 

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Takamitsu Sawa

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Takamitsu Sawa
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 19, 2015
Grasping the key to innovation
Japan should make 'new combination' innovation the nucleus of its growth strategy.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 24, 2015
Piketty boom fading too fast
Income inequality is high in Japan, and under the Abe administration it appears to be getting worse.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 29, 2015
Flawed entrance exam reform
The education ministry's effort to reform the university entrance exam system has serious flaws.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Mar 17, 2015
Picketty's impact on Japan
Every policy proposed by Thomas Picketty clashed head-on with the view of mainstream economists in Japan.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 15, 2015
Growth-stunting technology
Though information and communications technology has made remarkable strides since 1991, it appears to have stunted Japan's economic growth rate.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY
Jan 20, 2015
Why Abe's third arrow flopped
Japan's deflation can now be attributed to stagnant demand in the domestic market and to stagnation in technological innovation.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 9, 2014
'Abenomics' in the spotlight
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe blames the opposition camp for criticizing 'Abenomics' without presenting lternatives. But finding a way to put today's economy on a virtuous circle is akin to trying to create something out of nothing.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 20, 2014
The high price of a long life
In the near future, advanced medical technology will greatly extend the lives of those who can afford to pay for it. But is it worth it?
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 21, 2014
The battle to boost universities
The government should consider the latest lackluster global rankings for Japanese universities and undertake a fundamental review of its university education policies.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Sep 18, 2014
Comfy life amid stagnation
While information and communications technologies have increased the conveniences and comforts of life in Japan to an unprecedented level, the nation's economy remains stagnant, partly because of the saturation of the auto market.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Aug 24, 2014
Japan's universities can't win
In view of the disparity in professors' pay between Japanese and American universities, the notion of elevating Japanese universities' global rankings simply by bringing in outstanding 'foreign talent' as instructors and researchers is a castle in the sky.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 27, 2014
What economic policies will fit the 'growth strategy'?
The Abe government has decided on its new economic growth strategy — the 'third arrow' of 'Abenomics' — but what of today's production systems, which are quite different from the models depicted in economics textbooks?
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 22, 2014
University is not a business
Members of the Industrial Competitiveness Council and others are headed down a dead-end road trying to remake the governance of Japan's universities after that of business corporations.
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 25, 2014
Funding higher education
The percentage of Japanese high school graduates entering university is not growing as fast as one would expect. It is well below the average ratio for the 34 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 14, 2014
Internet raises misconduct risk
The road to glory for a scientific pioneer leads to temptations to plagiarize background info and must pass through a panel of 'referees' who may be inclined to judge a research paper by the name of the author rather than its contents.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Mar 25, 2014
Yamatoism is coming back
Although 'Abenomics' is at a standstill and its eventual success uncertain, the prime minister rushes to push a right-leaning agenda against the advice of close associates.
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.
COMMENTARY
Jan 21, 2014
Japan heading for darker days
It's still baffling why the Abe administration was in such a hurry to have the state secrets bill passed when various opinion surveys showed that the bill was opposed by about 80 percnet of respondens on the very day the Upper House voted on it.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 16, 2013
Abe shows totalitarian bent
The president of a Japanese university classifies the Abe administration as neither conservative nor liberal. Instead, he calls it 'totalitarian' and suggests that Japan is drifting away from European ideals based on democracy and individualism.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 26, 2013
Place university academics on an annual wage system
In academics as in other fields, traditional Japanese systems and practices are hampering the nation's globalization.
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.

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