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January 24, 2025

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EDITORIALS

Jan 20, 2008

Some good ideas, but can he do it?

In his second policy speech before the Diet, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda made clear that his administration has abandoned the basic policy line of his predecessor, Mr. Shinzo Abe, who called for a "departure from the postwar regime" and constitutional revisions. Symbolically, Mr. Fukuda did not use the...

EDITORIALS

Jan 19, 2008

Relief must go further

The Diet's enactment by unanimous vote of a bill for "blanket" government relief for people who were infected with hepatitis C via tainted blood products is a victory for the victims and their tenacious lawyers. Credit also should go to Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who decided to solve the problem through...

EDITORIALS

Jan 19, 2008

Diet battle looming

With Friday's start of the ordinary Diet session, a fierce battle is expected to ensue between the ruling and opposition forces over the fiscal 2008 budget and related bills. As far as the budget is concerned, under the Constitution the Lower House's decision takes precedence over the Upper House's decision....

EDITORIALS

Jan 18, 2008

Reality check in the Middle East

American President George W. Bush has just completed his first extended Mideast trip of his presidency. The visit was remarkable on two counts. First, there is the fact that Mr. Bush has not been to the region before despite its centrality to U.S. foreign policy in general and his administration's policies...

EDITORIALS

Jan 17, 2008

Japan's Olympic prospects

The 2008 Summer Olympics are fast approaching. China will host the Games in Beijing from Aug. 8. The rising economic power will do its utmost to mobilize human and other resources to bolster its global image and prestige. In the games themselves, China will strive to grab the most gold medals. In the...

EDITORIALS

Jan 17, 2008

Small-scale consolidation plan

The government has adopted a plan to consolidate and streamline its 102 independent administrative agencies. Six entities will be abolished or privatized and 16 others will be integrated into six entities. Many of the entities affected are small, like research institutes. The government should continue...

EDITORIALS

Jan 16, 2008

Getting serious about global warming

This year is crucial in the fight against global warming — especially for Japan. During the 2008-2012 five-year period, industrialized countries must reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions by an average 5 percent from 1990 levels under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. In July, Japan will host the summit of...

EDITORIALS

Jan 16, 2008

Slowdown in housing starts

Repercussions from the fabrication of quake-resistance data by structural engineer Mr. Hidetsugu Aneha and other engineers continue two years after the scandal first surfaced. In the wake of the scandal, the Building Standards Law has been revised to make buildings safer. Since the revision took effect...

EDITORIALS

Jan 15, 2008

Taiwan votes for change

Legislative elections in Taiwan have given the opposition Nationalist (KMT) party a two-thirds majority and handed President Chen Shui-bian a stunning rejection. Voters turned their back on Mr. Chen's confrontational politics and his focus on national identity over practical measures to improve the lives...

EDITORIALS

Jan 14, 2008

Refueling law enacted with regrets

By using a special provision in the Constitution, the ruling parties have voted into law a bill that enables the resumption of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean for antiterrorism operations in and around Afghanistan. The mission is expected to resume in mid-February....

EDITORIALS

Jan 13, 2008

The year of sake

The Year of the Rat may also turn out to be the Year of Sake. Last year, exports of sake (Japanese rice wine), rose to the highest level since a passing miniboom 11 years ago. The just-finished Year of the Boar saw a 10 percent increase over 2006 and a 40 percent increase since 2001. All signs point...

EDITORIALS

Jan 12, 2008

Scandal demands deeper probe

An Upper House panel has questioned a senior executive of a defense-related group in the scandal involving Yamada Corp., a defense equipment trading house. Mr. Naoki Akiyama, executive director of the Japan-U.S. Center for Peace and Cultural Exchange, gave unsworn testimony to the panel Tuesday.

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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