More Opinion Articles - The Japan Times

November 29, 2024

Today's print edition

Subscribe for more access

COMMENTARY / THE VIEW FROM MOSCOW

Jun 30, 2003

An irrational space odyssey?

By Constantine Pleshakov

MOSCOW -- Of all the arms races humankind has been involved in, the one in space has been the most bizarre. If a person is interested in a case study of unintended consequences, one could hardly find a better subject. Scientific curiosity, imperial dreams, down-to-earth geopolitics, interests of commerce...

COMMENTARY

Jun 30, 2003

U.N. strives to control real weapons of mass destruction

By Keizo Nabeshima

In July 2001 the United Nations General Assembly adopted by consensus an action program to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. Two months later, the 9/11 terror attacks hit the United States, shifting the focus to international terrorism and the proliferation...

COMMENTARY

Jun 29, 2003

Six lies of Myanmar's junta

By Harvey Stockwin

HONG KONG -- Myanmar's military junta has reacted to growing international disquiet over its current crackdown on the country's duly elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy by telling lies that only increase fears for her personal survival.

EDITORIALS

Jun 29, 2003

Harry Potter and the perfect storm

No doubt about it, this past week has been the week of Harry Potter -- a fireworks-and-champagne phenomenon not seen in the publishing industry for three years. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," the long-awaited fifth volume in a series, has been flying off the shelves like so many Firebolts...

COMMENTARY

Jun 29, 2003

Humane results don't justify bad policy

By Doug Bandow

WASHINGTON -- Never mind finding Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, intones U.S. Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican: Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was a bad man and "our war to liberate Iraq was right and just." Liberal pundit Nat Hentoff agrees, calling humanitarianism "the most compelling reason...

COMMENTARY

Jun 29, 2003

China a laggard in preemptive reforms

By Frank Ching

HONG KONG -- When China sacked its health minister and the mayor of Beijing on Easter Sunday for their mishandling of the SARS crisis, many political analysts predicted that severe acute respiratory syndrome would have the same effect on China that the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986 had on the Soviet...

EDITORIALS

Jun 28, 2003

Mr. Vajpayee breaks new ground

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has just concluded a historic weeklong visit to China. A meeting of the minds between these two countries -- home to one-third of the world's population -- is long overdue. Both India and China, their neighbors and their entire region, will benefit from better...

COMMENTARY

Jun 28, 2003

Appeasers selling India short

By Brahma Chellaney

NEW DELHI -- Belgian scholar Pierre Ryckmans coined the phrase the "100 percenters" to describe Beijing's international fans who support whatever China says 100 percent. Publishing under the pen name Simon Leys, Ryckmans compiled the statements of these toadies in defense of Chinese actions, including...

COMMENTARY / World

Jun 28, 2003

Asia's future leaders take center stage

By John Barry Kotch

SEOUL -- "If you've got it," as the saying goes, "flaunt it!" And Asia's "New Leaders" have got "the right stuff" in spades. But what to do with it?

EDITORIALS

Jun 27, 2003

How to protect personal information

A full-scale electronic government is about to make its debut in Japan. Beginning Aug. 25, the central and local governments will be linked nationwide by an online resident-registration network. "Juki Net," as the system is known, went into limited operation last August. It identifies each resident by...

EDITORIALS

Jun 26, 2003

Europe peeks at a new constitution

The European Union unveiled its draft constitution last weekend. The document overhauls the institutions and procedures of the union of 15 countries to better prepare it for the expansion scheduled for 2004 when 10 new members are added. The constitution navigates between two imperatives: safeguarding...

COMMENTARY / World

Jun 26, 2003

End North Korea's drug-trade addiction

By Ah Young Kim

HONOLULU -- The recent seizure of the ship Pong Su off Australia and its cargo of more than $144 million of heroin has put North Korea's drug trafficking in the international spotlight. The attention is long overdue. There must be a strong response by the international community and concerted efforts...

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

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Totopa in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward was picked by consultants TTNE as the best sauna of the year.

Japan’s sauna movement: Relax, refresh, repeat

By Greg Dvorak

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

The celebrated artist ‘updating’ the kimono

The celebrated artist ‘updating’ the kimono

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS

SUPPLEMENTS BINDER

international-reports