Morearticles

 
Menu
Search
 
February 01, 2025
 

Today's print edition

Home Delivery
Subscribe for more access

More Editorials stories

EDITORIALS
Nov 7, 2009
Mr. Hatoyama fuzzy on funds
As expected, the opposition Liberal Democratic Party has launched a salvo of criticism in the Lower House's Budget Committee against Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama over a political funds scandal. Unfortunately for Mr. Hatoyama, his explanations have not been very convincing.
EDITORIALS
Nov 7, 2009
Tough pension task for DPJ
When the Democratic Party of Japan was in the opposition, party member Mr. Akira Nagatsuma was known for research into the problem of hard-to- identify pension-premium payment records and his sharp questions on the matter in the Diet. Now as health, labor and welfare minister, he finds himself struggling...
EDITORIALS
Nov 6, 2009
Confusing approach to goals
Under the slogan "Politics that values humans, not concrete," the Hatoyama administration is taking a different direction from that of the Liberal Democratic Party when it was the ruling party. Symbolic of the change are decisions to stop the Yanba dam project in Gunma Prefecture and to introduce monthly...
EDITORIALS
Nov 6, 2009
Separate surname option
Justice Minister Keiko Chiba is so eager to revise the Civil Law that the government is likely to submit a related bill to the Diet next year. One of the changes proposed will be to allow all people to retain their existing surnames after getting married, if they so choose. At present, following the...
EDITORIALS
Nov 5, 2009
More promising economic signs
Officially, the Great Recession is over, at least for the United States. That nation's economy recorded 3.5 percent annual growth for the third quarter of 2009. Japan is also showing signs of an uptick in its economic fortunes. It is too early to celebrate, however. The recoveries will prove fleeting...
EDITORIALS
Nov 4, 2009
A solution in Honduras
It looks like the political crisis in Honduras has been resolved. Ousted President Manuel Zelaya and his rival, Mr. Roberto Micheletti, reached agreement last week on a deal that will allow the deposed president to complete his term and permit the country to hold elections to replace him later this month....
EDITORIALS
Nov 3, 2009
Freeing up local government
The government panel on devolution has submitted its third set of recommendations to Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, calling for the relaxation or abolition of 892 items, most of them related to administrative service standards for local residents. These standards are imposed by the central government...
EDITORIALS
Nov 3, 2009
Rewards for medical workers
Every other year the Central Social Insurance Medical Council (Chuikyo) determines how much health insurance societies must pay to medical institutions for medical treatments. The 165,000-member Japan Medical Association, which includes private and hospital doctors and traditionally has supported the...
EDITORIALS
Nov 2, 2009
JAL from the ground up
Struggling Japan Airlines Corp., following recommendations made by a task force of the transport ministry, has given up trying to reconstruct itself on its own and has put itself under virtually direct state supervision. Specifically, the Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corp. (ETIC) of Japan, which...
EDITORIALS
Nov 2, 2009
Pushing new court procedures
Before the lay judge system was introduced in May, Japanese courts adopted pretrial procedures to enable the prosecution, the defense counsel and the court to narrow down evidence and points of argument in a case to speed up criminal trials. A recent Supreme Court ruling shows its determination in getting...
EDITORIALS
Nov 1, 2009
Fighting corruption in Asia
When Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama likened the Democrat Party of Japan's takeover to the Meiji Restoration in last week's policy speech, he failed to mention an issue that fueled discontent with the Tokugawa Shogunate as it ended in 1867 — corruption. Though corruption did not get a specific mention...
EDITORIALS
Oct 31, 2009
More doubts about Copenhagen
The prospects for success at the United Nations meeting in December in Copenhagen to devise a global accord to fight global warming appear to be receding. Ironically, one reason for the growing pessimism is the bilateral agreement struck by China and India, two of the world's leading producers of greenhouse...
Investigators seek to salvage aircraft after deadly Washington crash
Debris at the site of a deadly plane crash in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Thursday.
In meat- and fish-loving Japan, veganism is making a comeback
Though vegan restaurants have been on the upswing since 2017, Japanese vegans still lack a wide variety of options.
North Korean troops no longer seen on front lines fighting Ukraine
Ukrainian military vehicles close to the border with Russia’s Kursk region, in Ukraine on Jan. 9.
74-year-old truck driver trapped in Saitama sinkhole for third day
Efforts continued Thursday to rescue a 74-year-old truck driver trapped in a massive sinkhole in Yashio, Saitama Prefecture.
LDP gets a taste of life with an opposition-led budget committee
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba answers questions during a Lower House budget committee meeting on Friday.
Two decades of unparalleled access into the world of Hayao Miyazaki
Documentary director Kaku Arakawa’s filming style — naturalistic, intimate and unobtrusive — proved essential to portraying anime powerhouse Hayao Miyazaki as a man as flawed and human as he is a visionary artist in “Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron.”
For two weeks only, cold-water yellowtail can give you chills
Yellowtail caught during the coldest period of the year is delicious enough — but paired with a classic method of marinade and pan-searing, it's divine.
In meat- and fish-loving Japan, veganism is making a comeback
Though vegan restaurants have been on the upswing since 2017, Japanese vegans still lack a wide variety of options.
Who are the key figures involved in the growing Fuji TV scandal?
Fuji TV adviser Hisashi Hieda in 2005
What we learned at Fuji TV's marathon Nakai scandal news conference
Members of the media raise their hands for questions as outgoing Fuji TV President Koichi Minato attends a news conference in Tokyo on Monday.

Podcast

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

Longform

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

SWCC keeps changing with keyword ‘new challenges’
SWCC keeps changing with keyword ‘new challenges’

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS note

Read more

SUPPLEMENTS BINDER