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January 31, 2025

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EDITORIALS

Apr 1, 2009

Poor economy impacts land prices

A survey of land prices by the land and infrastructure ministry made public March 23 shows that the global recession has caused a general decline in demand for land throughout Japan. As of Jan. 1, commercial land prices fell by an average 4.7 percent and residential land prices by an average 3.2 percent...

EDITORIALS

Mar 31, 2009

Tragedy at Narita

Narita airport, Japan's busiest international gateway, which opened in 1978, saw its first fatalities from an air accident there on the morning of March 23, when a FedEx MD-11 cargo plane crashed and burst into flames. The pilot and copilot, the only crew members, were killed.

EDITORIALS

Mar 31, 2009

Nursing home safety

The death of 10 people in a March 19 fire at a nursing home for the elderly in Shibukawa, Gunma Prefecture, has brought to light the harsh conditions in which low-income elderly people must live. When the fire started, 16 elderly people and one staffer were at the home. It came to light that 13 of the...

EDITORIALS

Mar 30, 2009

Taking aim at the dollar

A cornerstone of America's international economic might is the dollar's status as the international reserve currency. Simply put, the dollar is the device that parties use for international transactions — even those that do not include the United States. The readiness to use the dollar reflects the...

EDITORIALS

Mar 29, 2009

'Moshi-moshi' recession

You know times are hard when Japanese start giving up their cell phones! The number of cell-phone shipments in Japan have dropped by nearly half since last year, according to a recent industry report. That is no small drop since Japanese cell-phone users are estimated to be over 110 million, or about...

EDITORIALS

Mar 29, 2009

Supporting single mothers

As the economy worsens, some people will suffer more than others. For the first time ever, the number of Japanese single mothers receiving child-care allowances to supplement their low income has topped 1 million, the health and welfare ministry reported in March. These single-mother households greatly...

EDITORIALS

Mar 28, 2009

Worrisome state of agriculture

Agriculture in Japan is experiencing difficult times. The nation's calorie-based food self-sufficiency rate is the lowest among developed countries. There are fewer farmers and those remaining are rapidly graying. The number of abandoned agricultural fields is rising.

EDITORIALS

Mar 28, 2009

Overhaul archaic election law

Even if Prime Minister Taro Aso decides not to dissolve the chamber for a snap election, the current term of Lower House members ends in September. So, an election will be held this year. With the Japanese economy in crisis and the nation facing political stagnation, the upcoming election will be very...

EDITORIALS

Mar 27, 2009

The lessons from Iraq

It has been six years since the United States led a coalition of forces into Iraq. The euphoria that followed the easy defeat of the Iraq Army gave way to dismay and disgust as "Phase 4" of the operation — the postconflict stage — fell apart and Iraq disintegrated. A misreading of the situation along...

EDITORIALS

Mar 26, 2009

Mr. Ozawa stands his ground

Democratic Party of Japan leader Ichiro Ozawa decided to remain in his post after his chief secretary was indicted Tuesday on a charge of violating the Political Funds Control Law. The party endorsed his decision.

EDITORIALS

Mar 26, 2009

A little lift from baseball

Team Japan, dubbed Samurai Japan, beat Team Korea (South Korea) 5-3 in the final game Monday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles to win its second consecutive title in the triennial World Baseball Classic.

EDITORIALS

Mar 25, 2009

Dialogue about defense

Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada met with his Chinese counterpart Mr. Liang Guanglie in Beijing on March 20 and talked about bilateral issues and the security situation in Northeast Asia. They agreed on some points and disagreed on others. Despite differences on some issues, it is important...

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

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