Search - article

 
 
JAPAN
Oct 24, 1997

Ruling party allies wrangle over Article 6

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its two smaller allies on Oct. 24 failed to resolve differences over whether Article 6 of the Cabinet Law should be revised to allow the prime minister to issue direct orders to officials of various ministries.Direct orders would be made when swift action is needed...
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 16, 2021

Tokyo and Canberra quietly reach a major security milestone

Japan and Australia reached a major milestone in their security relationship when, for the first time ever, the SDF executed an 'asset protection' mission with a non-U.S. military unit.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / 2019 Outlook
Jan 2, 2019

Japan already in for politically hectic 2019, but may see 'double election'

Japan's 2019 political calendar is shaping up to be a busy year with Emperor Akihito's historic abdication at the end of April and elections in mid-April and over the summer.
ASIA PACIFIC / Crime & Legal
Jan 8, 2018

Indian government criticized for naming a reporter after article alleges database breach

The Indian government named a reporter in a police complaint after she wrote an article alleging a federal identity database breach, drawing criticism from a journalist group that accused officials of trying to muzzle free speech.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Nov 4, 2017

Abe: Will he be a man of his many words?

Since his big win in the lower house election on Oct. 22, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been talking about proceeding with measures to revise the Constitution, a project that has been close to his heart for most of his political career. However, during the official campaign period he almost never mentioned...
EDITORIALS
Nov 1, 2017

What now for Abe with his new mandate?

Handed a new mandate by voters, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe should carefully consider whether amending the Constitution is a priority issue given the economic and demographic issues facing the nation.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
May 29, 2017

A crisis of constitutional politics

A state of barbarism incompatible with modern constitutional principles permeates Japan's politics today.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
May 27, 2017

Under Abe, are we heading toward a beautiful Japan or an ugly future?

Where is the beauty in downplaying the 'comfort women' issue, muzzling the media, promoting patriotic education, rolling back transparency and restarting nuclear reactors?
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 15, 2017

Abe's dangerous 2020 vision

It is time to come into the open to consider the costs and benefits — psychological, diplomatic and financial — of revising Japan's Constitution.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 9, 2017

Abe says defining SDF in revised Constitution is 'the responsibility of our generation'

The remarks were among only a handful he would make on his desire to amend the charter during a face-off with Democratic Party leader Renho.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 25, 2016

Nature of South Sudan conflict will determine if SDF peacekeeping mission is legal

Questions of whether South Sudan is in a state of war or if the cease-fire there is still holding pose a test for the legality of the decision by the Abe administration to extend the Self-Defense Forces' peacekeeping operations there until March.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Jul 20, 2016

Views from Gifu: Now Abe has the numbers, is it time to tweak the Constitution?

People have their say on whether Prime Minister Shinzo Abe should push for constitutional revision now that he has the numbers in both houses of parliament to force a referendum on the issue.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Jul 9, 2016

How rights and liberties may be downsized under the LDP

During a recent TV program, the vice president of the Liberal Democratic Party, Masahiko Komura, insisted "there is zero possibility" that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would revise war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution even if the ruling coalition wins a two-thirds majority in the upcoming Upper...
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 29, 2016

Much at stake in this election

If voters do not wish to give the Abe administration a carte blanche to revise the Constitution, they must express their intention in this election.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 29, 2016

Abe's misplaced priorities

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would be better off working on real-life problems like the stagnant economy than worrying about changing the Constitution, which has served Japan so well.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 6, 2016

Prospect of war a vexed issue for SDF staff, their families

Masaki Tomiyama is desperate.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 15, 2015

SEALDs members' next step — launching a think tank

Members of the student group that ignited a massive wave of youth protests last summer against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's security bills are embarking on a new project.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Oct 28, 2015

OVERSEAs Japanese show solidarity with activists back home

OVERSEAs is a loose collective that aims to unite Japanese-speaking people who want to support specific domestic causes from outside the country.
EDITORIALS
Sep 18, 2015

Security policy set the wrong way

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has rammed his security legislation through the Diet, public opposition be damned.
EDITORIALS
Sep 16, 2015

Security questions go unanswered

Many of the questions and doubts about the legislation that remained from the Lower House deliberations were also never answered in the Upper House.

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?