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EDITORIALS
Jun 14, 2009

A vote for peace in Lebanon

The victory of the March 14th alliance in Lebanese parliamentary elections June 7 is a welcome surprise. For many, the election was a referendum on Hezbollah and the armed resistance movement it represents as well as on the continued influence of Syria and Iran over Lebanese politics.
COMMENTARY
Jun 14, 2009

A purge of Parliament is calling

LONDON — In British politics the familiar scenario is for the opposition to press for an early general election — there being no fixed-term provision in the very flexible British constitution — and for the government of the day to reject all such demands and sit tight.
BUSINESS
Jun 13, 2009

Household sentiment continues rise

Household sentiment rose to a 14-month high in May, adding to signs that the deepest postwar recession may be easing.
BUSINESS
Jun 12, 2009

GDP drop revised but still worst since '55

The economy shrank less in the first quarter than initially estimated, but the contraction was still the severest since 1955, revised data released by the government Thursday showed.
BUSINESS
Jun 12, 2009

Tokyo office vacancies climbing

Tokyo's office vacancy rate rose to a four-year high in May as companies in the capital slashed spending and jobs.
BUSINESS
Jun 11, 2009

Penalties urged for opaque capital-raising moves

Japan should enhance corporate governance standards by penalizing publicly listed companies that fail to be transparent when they raise capital, a government research committee said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jun 9, 2009

Sea-zone ban fuels speculation of missile launch

North Korea has banned vessels from traveling in a designated area off its northeast shore between Wednesday and June 30, raising speculation that another missile launch is on the way, the Japan Coast Guard said Monday.
BUSINESS
Jun 9, 2009

Exit policy should be discussed: BOJ's Mizuno

Central banks need to discuss how to unwind their unconventional policy measures even though the global economy is still in a slump, according to Bank of Japan Policy Board member Atsushi Mizuno.
BUSINESS
Jun 9, 2009

Merchant index at 14-month high

Confidence among merchants rose to a 14-month high in May, adding to evidence that the economy is recovering from its deepest postwar recession, a government survey showed Monday.
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Jun 7, 2009

What price heroism for indoctrinated fighters in unjust wars?

What makes a hero in war? If that war is unjust, do the soldiers involved deserve to be treated as heroes? And what is the civilian role in these heroics?
EDITORIALS
May 31, 2009

Creation of a consumer agency

By a unanimous vote, the Upper House of the Diet has enacted bills to create a government agency to promote consumers' rights. A consumer agency is likely to be established by this fall at the earliest. The agency should strive to realize the ideal of former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who in April...
JAPAN
May 30, 2009

Ruling coalition rams through record ¥14 trillion extra budget

A record ¥14 trillion extra budget for fiscal 2009 was enacted by the Diet on Friday as the Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling bloc used its right to override the opposition again and force the legislation through.
JAPAN
May 29, 2009

Concern greets nomination of new U.S. envoy

The nomination Thursday of a virtually unknown lawyer as the next U.S. ambassador to Japan was greeted with more concern than optimism by experts and the government.
COMMENTARY
May 28, 2009

West resembles Mrs. Jellyby

There is a character in the works of Charles Dickens who is increasingly coming to symbolize the spirit of the age in which we now live.
JAPAN
May 27, 2009

Japan scrambles for right response

The government Tuesday welcomed the U.N. Security Council's quick opposition to North Korea's nuclear test but continued to scramble for a fresh response to Pyongyang's latest provocation.
COMMENTARY / World / SENTAKU MAGAZINE
May 25, 2009

Paying Aso back with praise

Ranking officials at the Foreign Ministry appear more preoccupied with presenting Prime Minister Taro Aso as dexterous at diplomacy than promoting the national interest. One official has confided that it is now their turn to return the favor given to them when Aso was foreign minister.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 25, 2009

DPJ triumphs in Saitama election

SAITAMA (Kyodo) Hayato Shimizu, supported by the Democratic Party of Japan, was headed toward certain victory in Sunday's mayoral election in the city of Saitama, beating five rivals, including the incumbent backed by the ruling camp, according to Kyodo News projections.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 24, 2009

MOX use opposed by Genkai's leery residents

GENKAI, Saga Pref. — Before a two-lane access road was built to connect it with other parts of the prefecture, the village of Genkai, nestled in high hills with deep ravines beside the Sea of Japan, was so remote that even locals called it the "Tibet of Saga Prefecture."

Longform

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