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November 28, 2024

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COMMENTARY

Jul 8, 2002

Erosion of respect for sweat

By Takamitsu Sawa

Few doubt that the scholastic abilities of young Japanese, from grade school children to university students, have declined markedly. Some critics blame the problem on the system of "yutori kyoiku" ("relaxed education") introduced in Japanese public schools; others blame the nation's declining birthrate....

COMMENTARY / World

Jul 8, 2002

Danish EU presidency plans global tasks with Japan's help

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen

On July 1, Denmark assumed the presidency of the European Union. Today, together with European Commission President Romano Prodi, I will meet Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in Tokyo at the 11th EU-Japan Summit. This summit, which has taken place annually since 1991, is an important occasion for promoting...

COMMENTARY

Jul 7, 2002

Getting that racial-quota feeling again

By Doug Bandow

WASHINGTON -- "A minority of mean-spirited politicians and demagogues" have redefined the meaning of civil rights, equality and dignity, warns Julian Bond, chairman of the civil rights group National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The answer, he says, is to help the NAACP "with media,...

EDITORIALS

Jul 7, 2002

A man in a balloon

It may not seem obvious, but Mr. Steve Fossett really is a man for our times. Why? Because this adventurer-athlete, who last week became the first solo balloonist to circumnavigate the globe, in some ways embodies our frenziedly competitive era and in others -- particularly with his latest feat -- gives...

COMMENTARY

Jul 7, 2002

Morality to match the times

By Sarah Benton

LONDON -- What is it about the British and sex? Young people seem to leap to it as though having as much of it, as soon as possible, as flamboyantly and boastfully as possible and damn the consequences, is their national destiny.

EDITORIALS

Jul 7, 2002

Fudging a few little fingers

I t's a good thing Mr. Steve Fossett doesn't play golf. Those other CEOs wouldn't stand a chance. On the other hand, many might do better than they should: In a survey published last week, a staggering 82 percent of top business executives admitted to cheating on the golf course. They shave strokes,...

EDITORIALS

Jul 6, 2002

Unemployment insurance in peril

Rising unemployment is creating serious financial problems for the government, making it likely that jobless insurance premiums will be increased. In fact, Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Chikara Sakaguchi suggested the other day that the premium rate would be raised on an emergency basis, perhaps...

COMMENTARY

Jul 6, 2002

Pakistan's pressing diplomatic challenges

By Farhan Bokhari

ISLAMABAD -- With thousands of Indian and Pakistani troops on high alert facing each other across front lines and global concern over the confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors remaining high, Pakistan faces the challenge of revitalizing its foreign policy.

EDITORIALS

Jul 5, 2002

Malpractice and coverups

In a serious case of medical malpractice, two doctors at Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital have been arrested in connection with a heart operation that resulted in the death of a 12-year-old girl. One is charged with committing errors in the handling of a heart-lung machine and the other with...

COMMENTARY

Jul 5, 2002

No reason to bury 'sunshine'

By Tom Plate

LOS ANGELES -- Last Saturday's fierce 21-minute naval gun battle between the two Koreas was unfortunate and tragic for several reasons -- not just for the loss of lives on both sides. The deadly duel splashed cold water on South Korea's sudden place in the sun. Its soccer team had just completed its...

COMMENTARY / World

Jul 4, 2002

Reserved but hardly remote

By Makoto Watanabe

The June 8 article "A right royal celebration," by former British Ambassador to Japan Sir Hugh Cortazzi, described the Golden Jubilee celebration for Queen Elizabeth II. I was happy to read that the celebration was a great success, that the respect and affection of the British people for the queen were...

EDITORIALS

Jul 4, 2002

Malaysia without Mr. Mahathir

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has announced that he plans to step down. It is difficult to envision that country without Mr. Mahathir at the helm: He provided Malaysia with its energy, its backbone and its vision. His pride and sharp tongue also made him a lightning rod for criticism, but...

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

SWCC keeps changing with keyword ‘new challenges’

SWCC keeps changing with keyword ‘new challenges’

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