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January 31, 2025
 

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EDITORIALS
Oct 28, 2011
Reconsider Futenma relocation
Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa told U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in Tokyo on Oct. 25 that the Japanese government will take an official procedural step by the end of this year to push the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from Okinawa Island's densely populated Ginowan city...
EDITORIALS
Oct 27, 2011
A prisoner swap in Israel
The exchange of some 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for one kidnapped Israeli soldier is a victory for humanitarianism in a region too often characterized by brutality. The decision by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to make the deal goes against every one of his impulses, which were over-ridden...
EDITORIALS
Oct 26, 2011
Time for more decisive action
A 51-day-long extraordinary Diet session started Oct. 20 — the second extraordinary Diet session under Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda. In the first session, Mr. Noda, who had been in power only for a short period of time, adopted the tactic of "driving safe," avoiding going deep into details in discussions...
EDITORIALS
Oct 26, 2011
Rectify disparity in vote value
In March, the Supreme Court ruled that the Lower House election of August 2009 was unconstitutional due to a great difference in the value of a vote between populated and depopulated constituencies. But it refrained from nullifying the election results. Political parties must urgently reach a consensus...
EDITORIALS
Oct 25, 2011
Freedom of information threatened
A government committee headed by Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura on Oct. 7 decided to submit to the Diet in 2012 a bill to mete out severe punishment to people who leak "special secrets" related to diplomacy, national security and public order. The committee says that the purpose of the bill is...
EDITORIALS
Oct 24, 2011
U.S. remembers trade diplomacy
On the morning of Oct. 14, U.S. President Barack Obama signed three free-trade agreements, one each with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. The trade deals are important steps forward for the United States and its partners. While these deals are economic agreements, they are much more. In particular,...
EDITORIALS
Oct 23, 2011
Toward a barrier-free Japan
Japan's move to make urban environments and transportation systems barrier-free came much later than other developed countries. However, in the decade since Japan's barrier-free transport law was enacted in 2001, the number of barrier-free stations has more than tripled. The transport ministry reported...
EDITORIALS
Oct 23, 2011
Releasing psychiatric patients
A recent report by Bloomberg news that the government is planning to reduce the number of patients in psychiatric hospitals signals an important shift in Japan's view of mental health. According to the report, which was not well circulated in the Japanese press, the health ministry set a 10-year timetable...
EDITORIALS
Oct 22, 2011
A business-like summit
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Oct. 19 met with South Korean President Lee Myung Bak in Seoul at the Blue House. By choosing South Korea as the first country to visit as prime minister for a bilateral diplomatic meeting, Mr. Noda signaled to Seoul that he gives importance to the ties between Japan...
EDITORIALS
Oct 22, 2011
No end in sight for nuclear crisis
Tokyo Electric Power Co. and the government on Oct. 17 released a newly revised a road map to bring the stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant under control. It shows that a "cold shutdown" of the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 reactors at the plant will be achieved by the end of the year. The reactor cores suffered...
EDITORIALS
Oct 21, 2011
Informed decision needed on TPP
Moves to join the talks for the Transpacific Strategic Economic Partnership (TPP) agreement had been put on hold since the March 11 disasters devastated the Tohoku region. But Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is now eagerly pushing for progress.
EDITORIALS
Oct 20, 2011
Tokyo steps up pressure on Okinawa
Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa met with Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima in Naha on Monday and told him that Tokyo plans to submit to him by the end of this year a report of environmental impact assessment for relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from the densely populated Ginowan to...
Japan begins feeling the pain of BOJ rate hikes more concretely
People were more concerned about the direct and specific impact of the Bank of Japan's latest rate hike on their personal lives, according to an artificial intelligence-driven analysis of various platforms, including social media.
Sumo’s newest yokozuna is all smiles — but major challenges await
Hoshoryu (front, second from left) celebrates after being promoted to yokozuna on Wednesday in Tokyo.
Japanese man ends his 6,000 kilometer Africa rickshaw trek in Cape Town
Yuji "Gump" Suzuki, the Japanese runner and social media sensation, runs with supporters while pushing his rickshaw as he nears his goal in Cape Town, South Africa, on Sunday.
No survivors from jet and helicopter collision in Washington, officials say
Part of the wreckage is seen as rescue crews search the waters of the Potomac River Thursday morning after a passenger plane on approach to Reagan National Airport crashed into the river after colliding with a U.S. Army helicopter, near Washington, D.C., on Wednesday evening.
Cherry blossom season predicted to begin in Tokyo on March 21
Tokyo is expected to lead the season with its first cherry blossoms on March 21, followed by Fukuoka, Kochi and Hiroshima prefectures as well as the city of Yokohama on March 22.
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.
Kanoa Igarashi dreams big as surfing championship tour gets underway
Kanoa Igarashi surfs in the Hurley Pro Sunset Beach competition in Oahu, Hawaii, on Feb. 18.

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

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