More Editorials Articles - The Japan Times

January 20, 2025

Today's print edition

Subscribe for more access

EDITORIALS

Jul 20, 2003

Driving Jesus crazy

Sooner or later, there had to be a backlash against the largely American phenomenon of preempting political debate by injecting "Jesus" into whatever social or political argument happened to dominate the hour. The fad started several years ago and quickly found favor among a surprisingly broad swath...

EDITORIALS

Jul 19, 2003

'Kenpo' deficit widens

Japan's health insurance system for private-sector employees (Kenpo) is sinking deeper into deficit. It is estimated that eight of 10 health insurance associations booked losses in fiscal 2002. At this rate, an increase in insurance premiums seems inevitable.

EDITORIALS

Jul 18, 2003

Time for responsibility in Hong Kong

The sense of crisis in Hong Kong continues to mount following the resignation this week of two top government officials. The departures come on the heels of massive demonstrations against Article 23, the proposed legislation designed to protect public security but which critics claim would erode civil...

EDITORIALS

Jul 17, 2003

Opening of labor market delayed

Japan is running in the fast lane of information technology, yet it has been relatively slow in one vital area: employment of foreign IT engineers. Part of the reason seems to lie in the nation's deep-seated reluctance to open the labor market wider to foreigners.

EDITORIALS

Jul 16, 2003

For now, focus on legislative agenda

The political situation in Japan is heating up amid growing speculation that the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership contest in September will open the way for a general election. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who is also president of the LDP, is already openly challenging his rivals in the party,...

EDITORIALS

Jul 15, 2003

Referendum risks in Taiwan

Taiwan has won respect the world over for its democracy. The island's political development has proven the naysayers wrong: Chinese culture and democracy are not incompatible. It is ironic then that one of the key issues today is the possibility that Taiwan is becoming "too democratic." The call for...

EDITORIALS

Jul 13, 2003

Music and (some) words by Bob Dylan

Speaking of inspiration -- the creative kind -- people have long wondered where it comes from and how it works. Maybe the American composer Aaron Copland came closest to an answer when he said, "Inspiration may be a form of superconsciousness, or perhaps of subconsciousness -- I wouldn't know. But I...

EDITORIALS

Jul 13, 2003

What the Bijanis died for

It was the saddest, yet most inspiring image of the week: two vibrant, intelligent 29-year-old sisters dead of uncontrollable bleeding following the surgical separation of their congenitally joined skulls. When the deaths of Ladan and Laleh Bijani were announced Tuesday, strangers in cities from Tehran...

EDITORIALS

Jul 12, 2003

Toward a viable dialogue

The latest round of ministerial talks between North and South Korea, which opened in Seoul on Wednesday, is a reminder that inter-Korean dialogue is alive. But prospects for reconciliation are clouded by the North's suspected nuclear-weapons program. As yet there is little hope for an improvement toward...

EDITORIALS

Jul 11, 2003

Securing oil while keeping the alliance

Japan's oil development talks with Iran face a serious challenge from the United States. President George W. Bush's administration, which suspects Tehran of trying to develop nuclear weapons, is strongly opposed to Japan's pursuit of a development project in the Azadegan oil field of southwest Iran....

EDITORIALS

Jul 10, 2003

Wrong light at the end of the tunnel

Stock prices and long-term interest rates in Japan have climbed rapidly of late. On Monday, the Nikkei index hit a 10-month high of 9,795 points while yields on 10-year benchmark government bonds topped 1 percent, more than double the level of a month earlier. That is good news if it signals an upturn...

EDITORIALS

Jul 9, 2003

A more flexible litigation system

Japan's system of administrative litigation -- which allows citizens to file complaints against actions taken by the central and local governments -- leaves much to be desired. Statistics show that 15 percent of complainants are rejected for lack of qualifications and other reasons, and that only 13...

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

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Site designer on why expos matter more than ever

Site designer on why expos matter more than ever

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS

SUPPLEMENTS BINDER

international-reports