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EDITORIALS
Nov 6, 2013

Mr. Abe stacking the deck at NHK

Three of the five people named to fill vacancies on NHK's Board of Governors are close to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, prompting concern that the public broadcaster's neutrality is at risk.
EDITORIALS
Nov 5, 2013

Real effect of wage increases

Despite signs that Japan Inc. may be ready to accept the prime minister's call to raise wages next spring, it's questionable whether the hikes would offest higher prices and taxes.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 5, 2013

Washington isn't working, so why not move it?

Dispersing the headquarters of Washington's bureaucratic agencies throughout America's hinterland might well reduce people's feelings of alienation and hence lead to better government.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 5, 2013

Abe copies China's playbook on protecting state secrets

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is so obsessed with China eclipsing Japan on the global stage that he's adopting some of his neighbor's policies with regard to the protection of 'secrets.
LIFE / Digital
Nov 5, 2013

Why the Obamacare website was doomed

One of the most dispiriting spectacles of the last month has been the botched launch of HealthCare.gov, the website created to implement President Barack Obama's landmark healthcare reforms. Obamacare had a desperately turbulent passage through Congress and survived various wrecking attempts by the Tea...
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 5, 2013

BOJ struggles to convince on 2% as 'Abenomics' shine dims

Half a year after Bank of Japan Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda unleashed record monetary easing, economists see the bank failing to meet its inflation target, underscoring the case for stronger steps to revive the economy.
EDITORIALS
Nov 4, 2013

Preventing information leaks

The three-year statute of limitations has expired on indictments of suspects in the online streaming of terror probe documents. Police made no arrests, but the case spurred a dangerous anti-leaks bill.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 4, 2013

U.S. model not seen serving Japan's bid to keep its secrets

As Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government pushes for a controversial new state secrets law, critics warn that the public's right to know will be greatly stifled because the bill, recently approved by the Cabinet, targets leakers of information the state deems critical to defense, diplomacy, terrorism...
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 3, 2013

Yachi tapped to head new security council

Foreign policy adviser Shotaro Yachi has been asked to head up Japan's version of the U.S. National Security Council if the Diet backs its launch, government officials said.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 1, 2013

Next euro country in need of reform is Germany

The next German government — probably a grand coalition — will need to concentrate on basic issues affecting the next generation, including whether to establish a minimum wage.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 31, 2013

Anti-nuclear lawmaker tries to get Emperor's attention

Upper House lawmaker Taro Yamamoto, an anti-nuclear activist who was formerly an actor, creates a public stir when he apparently approaches Emperor Akihito for political purposes at a garden party hosted by the Imperial Couple.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 31, 2013

Japan Times appoints advisers to improve coverage

The Japan Times announced Thursday that it has established The Japan Times Media Advisory Board, appointing four distinguished individuals living in Japan to improve the quality of the newspaper and its reportage.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 30, 2013

Anti-nuclear Koizumi agitating for comeback?

Long out of the public eye, ex-Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's recent rumblings against nuclear power are causing many to wonder if the most popular leader of recent decades seeks a political comeback.
Reader Mail
Oct 30, 2013

A reason to applaud the LDP

Regarding the Oct. 25 Jiji brief "Bicycle minister pitched for Cabinet": For the first time in years I'm applauding the Liberal Democratic Party. Has this group of old cronies actually agreed to promote something so environmentally friendly? What next, an alternative energy minister? Bicycle lanes in...
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Oct 30, 2013

Rescues of South Koreans abducted by North come with controversy

In divided Korea, even the homecomings can be bitter.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 29, 2013

IMF offers guarded praise to 'Abenomics'

"Abenomics" has brought positive results, but challenges remain as to whether Prime Minister Shinzo Abe can implement structural reform to bring about sustainable growth, the International Monetary Fund said Tuesday in its first preliminary assessment of his economic policies.
JAPAN
Oct 28, 2013

Suga downplays LDP loss in Kawasaki poll

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga on Monday downplayed the significance of an independent candidate winning the Kawasaki mayoral election the previous day after boasting no affiliation to the political machine, and the defeat of the presumed front-runner, a Liberal Democratic Party pick he campaigned...
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 25, 2013

Pro-Japan Australia vs. China

Australia's foreign policies are a puzzle. It depends on China to take 35 percent of its exports. Yet its government now wants to cooperate with Japan and U.S. in their anti-China policies.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 25, 2013

Pro-Japan Australia vs. China

Australia's foreign policies are a puzzle. It depends on China to take 35 percent of its exports. Yet its government now wants to cooperate with Japan and U.S. in their anti-China policies.
EDITORIALS
Oct 24, 2013

Mr. Abe's undemocratic secrecy bill

An Abe administration-sponsored bill to protect national security 'secrets' will undermine freedom of the press and people's right to know. Diet members should oppose it.
JAPAN
Oct 23, 2013

Required English from third grade eyed

The education ministry is considering moving up the starting year of obligatory English-language education in elementary schools to the third grade from the current fifth grade by around 2020.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 22, 2013

Japan's 'helplessness' crisis

The biggest crisis in Japan's democracy today is that people know the prime minister is telling lies — intentionally or not — but they've given up even imagining alternative ways of politics.

Longform

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