More Editorials Articles - The Japan Times

January 20, 2025

Today's print edition

Subscribe for more access

EDITORIALS

Sep 21, 2003

Sweden sends a message to Europe

Sweden has voted to reject the euro. European governments may be inclined to see the results as an expression of Swedish exceptionalism. That would be a mistake. Despite an emotionally charged campaign, the outcome reflects a careful consideration of the country's national interests. European leaders...

EDITORIALS

Sep 20, 2003

The crash in Cancun

The gap between rich and poor nations proved too wide to bridge, and negotiations broke off amid finger-pointing and concern that the failure to reach agreement could unravel the global trade order. In place of one system, it is feared that governments will embrace bilateral and regional deals.

EDITORIALS

Sep 19, 2003

Quartet skirts tough questions

As the campaign for the Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election draws to a close, all four candidates, including Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, continue to avoid tough questions about economic policy issues. In offering "carrots" but no "sticks," they are projecting, wittingly or not, a populist...

EDITORIALS

Sep 18, 2003

One year after the Pyongyang summit

Wednesday marked the first anniversary of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's historic visit to North Korea, during which he met face to face with General Secretary Kim Jong Il. The meeting produced a joint declaration calling for, among other things, an early normalization of relations between the two...

EDITORIALS

Sep 17, 2003

High hopes for Ms. Ogata and JICA

Japan has updated its policy guidelines for official development assistance -- concessionary aid to developing countries -- for the first time in 11 years. ODA has long been considered a key instrument of Japanese diplomacy, but its effectiveness as such has been admittedly less than satisfactory. The...

EDITORIALS

Sep 15, 2003

Looming specter of tax hikes

The government's budget deficit continues to swell at an ominous pace. According to an estimate by the Finance Ministry, the total amount of bond issues in fiscal 2004 may exceed 41 trillion yen -- a sum roughly half the size of the budget. The figure could be revised downward, possibly to less than...

EDITORIALS

Sep 14, 2003

Tracking lost art of the Holocaust

Last Monday marked the launch of a Web site designed to help people find out whether American galleries and museums hold art that was, or could have been, stolen by the Nazis -- and if so, which institutions hold what. It was an occasion that, like the comparable moment more than three years ago when...

EDITORIALS

Sep 13, 2003

Mr. Arafat flexes his muscles

Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat has been sending a message to the world over the past few months: Despite being confined in his destroyed headquarters for a year and a half, he is still the only person that can make peace between Palestinians and Israelis. U.S.-led attempts to sideline...

EDITORIALS

Sep 12, 2003

A 'peaceful' parade in Pyongyang

A parade of military hardware was conspicuously absent from North Korea's 55th anniversary celebrations on Tuesday. That seemed to reflect its present external position. Perhaps the country was trying to send a dual message to the world: It wants to reconcile the political imperative of maintaining a...

EDITORIALS

Sep 11, 2003

September 11, two years on

In many ways, the world is a very different place today than it was two years ago. The Taliban and Saddam Hussein are no longer in power. Fears of international terrorism are pervasive; the possibility of an attack is considerably more real. There is heightened awareness of the dangers posed by weapons...

EDITORIALS

Sep 10, 2003

LDP race should enliven policy debate

Campaigning for the Liberal Democratic Party's Sept. 20 presidential election started on Monday with three men challenging Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. The winner will become the prime minister, since the LDP holds a majority in the Lower House. The next president, who has an extended term of three...

EDITORIALS

Sep 9, 2003

Can do in Cancun?

Trade ministers from 146 states gather in Cancun, Mexico this week to jump-start international trade negotiations. It is difficult to exaggerate the importance of this week's meeting. The Doha round, launched nearly two years ago, has stalled, the victim of a global economic slowdown and growing ill...

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