More Commentary Articles - The Japan Times

January 31, 2025

Today's print edition

Subscribe for more access

COMMENTARY / World

Dec 4, 2005

Folly of vying to rule rather than serve

By Christopher Lingle

KATMANDU -- The struggle over Nepal's political future seems to be unsolvable. Just as one group gains the upper hand and consolidates support for their cause, the opportunity slips away in a haze of bullets or boycotts.

COMMENTARY

Dec 2, 2005

Influence of French violence

By Andre Fontaine

PARIS -- No use telling Japan Times' readers about Beaujolais. Most of them surely have had the opportunity of tasting this refreshing, though somewhat acidic, wine from France. The day in November when new production went on sale used to be celebrated in many places by popular feasts, as a tribute to...

COMMENTARY

Dec 1, 2005

Trying to stem controversy in South Korea

By Tom Plate

LOS ANGELES -- The people of South Korea have responded to the stem-cell scandal involving genius-innovator Hwang Woo Suk with admittedly excessive passion and near-unanimous conviction. Still, by rallying around their amazing Seoul National University pioneer, their support should be a comfort to risk-taking...

COMMENTARY / World

Dec 1, 2005

China juggles growth, stability

By Eric Teo Chu Cheow

SINGAPORE -- As China's annual Central Economic Conference gets under-way in Beijing early this month, Beijing looks set to sustain the new social-economic shift that was laid out by the 5th Plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CCP) in mid-October. The plenum signaled the...

COMMENTARY / World

Dec 1, 2005

U.S. English-only laws harm immigrants

By Domenico Maceri

SANTA MARIA, California -- The Latino population has increased 500 percent in the past 15 years in State Rep. Courtney Combs' district, located between Cincinnati and Dayton. That has created a communication problem between residents and government officials, according to Combs, a Republican.

COMMENTARY

Nov 29, 2005

The pebble in Russia's shoe

By Keizo Nabeshima

At their meeting in Tokyo on Nov. 21, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to produce a joint statement on stalled peace treaty talks. The reason, of course, is that the two nations remain at odds over possession of the Northern Territories. It is unusual that...

COMMENTARY / World

Nov 29, 2005

Sharon's rebirth as 'centrist' overrated

By Ramzy Baroud

KUALA LUMPUR -- Most of what has been written or said to depict Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's departure from the Likud party is parable to an "earthquake," or the "eruption of a volcano," and has, without a doubt, turned the Israeli political map "topsy-turvy," to borrow Ha'aretz Gideon Samet's...

COMMENTARY

Nov 28, 2005

A ray of hope for Chinese progressives

By Frank Ching

HONG KONG -- The recent political rehabilitation of former party chief Hu Yaobang, whose death in April 1989 triggered massive student demonstrations in Tiananmen Square, is encouraging to the progressive wing of the Chinese Communist Party, even though there is little indication that the current leadership...

COMMENTARY / World

Nov 28, 2005

We can pay now or pay later

By Michael R. Czinkota

WASHINGTON -- International terrorists attack businesses far more than any other target, and when they strike, they aim to disrupt the flow of supply and demand and to destroy our way of life.

COMMENTARY / THE VIEW FROM NEW YORK

Nov 28, 2005

Ishihara fails to measure up to his image

By Hiroaki Sato

NEW YORK -- Earlier this month Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara gave a speech in New York City, and I went to hear him. That's one thing you do in this city: go hear or see some of the more famous visitors from your home country.

COMMENTARY

Nov 28, 2005

Yasukuni impasse cracking

By Kiroku Hanai

Since Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi took office in 2001, Japan has faced diplomatic spats with China and South Korea over his visits to Yasukuni Shrine. On Oct. 17, Koizumi made his fifth Yasukuni visit as prime minister, as Japan's relations with the two neighbors soured.

COMMENTARY

Nov 27, 2005

Seoul not the ally that Washington deserves

By Doug Bandow

WASHINGTON -- During his Asian trip, U.S. President George W. Bush met with South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun to highlight the two nations' alliance. The next day Roh's government announced that it was withdrawing a third of its soldiers from Iraq. Never mind.

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Ayumi Matsuki, a priestess at Yoshiwara Shrine, shows off some "o-mamori" charms. She says visitors to the shrine have increased since the NHK drama “Unbound” began airing this month.

Tracing Tsutaya Juzaburo, Edo’s media maverick

By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

mission sustainability vol.14 : Unicharm Corp.Unicharm recycles diapers back into diapers

mission sustainability vol.14 : Unicharm Corp.Unicharm recycles diapers back into diapers

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS

SUPPLEMENTS BINDER

international-reports