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January 23, 2025

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EDITORIALS

Nov 27, 2006

Economic boom casts a shadow

The current economic expansion has entered its 58th month without interruption to become the longest post-World War II boom, surpassing the 57-month-long Izanagi boom from November 1965 to July 1970. But it is a boom shadowed by weak consumption attributable to stagnation in personal income. It is an...

EDITORIALS

Nov 26, 2006

A line in the sand for Ian Thorpe

When he was 18, Australia's golden giant of swimming, Ian Thorpe, remarked, "I don't know where the line is in the sand, but when I get there, I hope to jump over it and continue improving all of my career."

EDITORIALS

Nov 25, 2006

Progress in fight against warming

The countries that attended the second meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol in Nairobi agreed to review the pact in 2008. The Nov. 17 agreement is a step forward since it was feared that serious conflict between developed and developing countries might torpedo the conference. It is hoped that...

EDITORIALS

Nov 24, 2006

Cyber-crime bucks the trend

Excluding criminal violations involving traffic accidents, about 2.27 million crimes came to the attention of police in 2005, according to the 2006 white paper on crime. The figure was 11.4 percent lower than the year before and around 20 percent (580,000 incidents) lower than the peak year 2002. The...

EDITORIALS

Nov 23, 2006

More of the same from APEC

The annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum was held last weekend in Hanoi. The Vietnamese hosts were no doubt pleased with the results. The conclave showcased the country's economic development and provided an exclamation point for Vietnam's accession to the World Trade...

EDITORIALS

Nov 22, 2006

Working for a better society

Japan's population began to shrink in 2005 and society continued to grow older. That year, people aged 60 or older accounted for 21 percent of the population, making Japan one of the grayest countries in the world. Taking these factors into consideration, the 2006 welfare and labor white paper compiled...

EDITORIALS

Nov 21, 2006

Ruling bloc's victory in Okinawa

The victory of a ruling bloc-backed candidate in the Okinawa gubernatorial election over an opposition-backed candidate should come as a relief for the central government, which is pushing a plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corp's Futenma Air Station in Ginowan to the marines' Camp Schwab area in Nago,...

EDITORIALS

Nov 21, 2006

Earthquake warning service

The Meteorological Agency plans to expand its service of supplying information on the arrival time of major earthquake jolts. It is now supplying such information to about 230 businesses. For example, the information is used to ensure safety in railway operations and construction sites. The general public...

EDITORIALS

Nov 20, 2006

Politics of an energy boost

Recent events surrounding energy-development projects overseas highlight resource-poor Japan's vulnerability. They underscore the need for both the government and the private sector to develop a multipronged long-term strategy that will enable the nation to flexibly cope with unexpected changes in the...

EDITORIALS

Nov 19, 2006

Law students who can think

The annual national bar exam was once reputed to be Japan's most difficult examination. Virtually anybody could take the exam, but only about 3 percent of the applicants passed it. Some hapless applicants spent many years preparing for it, riveted to the text of a compendium of laws that became their...

EDITORIALS

Nov 18, 2006

Another dent in public trust

The arrest of Wakayama Gov. Yoshiki Kimura on suspicion of involvement in rigging bids for a prefectural sewerage project has further weakened public trust in local government. He became the first incumbent governor to be arrested on such an allegation. Bribery is also suspected inasmuch as a slush fund...

EDITORIALS

Nov 18, 2006

Quicker justice for misdemeanors

As part of national legal reform, a speedy trial system for misdemeanors was introduced last month in summary and district courts. Trials for minor offenses -- from indictment to sentencing -- used to take about two months. Under the new system, the period has been shortened to two weeks in principle....

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

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Atsuyoshi Koike, the president and CEO of Rapidus, says there is a “sense of urgency” when it comes to Japan’s efforts in manufacturing semiconductors. “We have to make sure we are successful,” he says.

Atsuyoshi Koike’s big game: Fourth down and 2 nanometers to go

By Kazuaki Nagata and Richard Meyer

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SWCC keeps changing with keyword ‘new challenges’

SWCC keeps changing with keyword ‘new challenges’

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