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Japan Times
JAPAN / CABINET INTERVIEW
Aug 11, 2008

Antiterror effort vital, new defense chief says

The government has not yet decided whether to submit a bill that would extend the fuel-supply mission for NATO-led naval forces in the Indian Ocean, according to the newly appointed defense minister.
EDITORIALS
Aug 11, 2008

Entity to change its spots

The pension-related functions of the Social Insurance Agency will be taken over by a new organization in January 2010. The organization will have to solve problems related to pension records. The government should take utmost care to ensure that the new body can fulfill its tasks.
Reader Mail
Aug 10, 2008

Few more details about Yasukuni

Regarding the Aug. 5 article "Yasukuni in spotlight as Aug. 15 nears": I would like to point out a couple of inaccuracies in an otherwise very informative and balanced presentation by writer Masami Ito. The first and most important one concerns the "1978 enshrinement of the 14 wartime leaders convicted...
EDITORIALS
Aug 9, 2008

Tightening the social safety net

The Cabinet has endorsed emergency measures mainly designed to alleviate public worries about pension, medical services and employment. They are bundled as a plan to provide reassurances in five areas. The initiative, pushed by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, is timely, but with about 160 proposed measures...
Japan Times
JAPAN / CABINET INTERVIEW
Aug 8, 2008

Hone science, tech abilities: education chief

Promoting science and technology is every bit as important as improving the education system in general, according to Tsuneo Suzuki, the newly appointed education, culture, sports, science and technology minister.
Japan Times
JAPAN / CABINET INTERVIEW
Aug 8, 2008

China wanted poisonings hushed up, Komura admits

At Beijing's request, Japan refrained from divulging that China suffered a food poisoning outbreak from pesticide-tainted "gyoza" dumplings made by the same firm whose frozen gyoza sickened people in Japan, Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura admitted Thursday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 6, 2008

Aso demands DPJ come to table

With an extraordinary Diet session expected to start later this month or in September, Taro Aso, newly appointed secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, challenged the Democratic Party of Japan Tuesday not to duck talks with the ruling bloc on its own policy proposals.
JAPAN
Aug 6, 2008

LDP election chief cool to near-term campaign

The Liberal Democratic Party needs more time to promote its policies before entertaining any idea of a Lower House election, the chairman of the LDP Election Strategy Council indicated Tuesday.
EDITORIALS
Aug 4, 2008

Tough budget environment

The Cabinet last week adopted the guideline for fiscal 2009 budgetary requests — at a time when tax revenues are expected to decline due to sluggish economic activities. This is a completely different picture from when the fiscal 2008 guideline was adopted. Therefore, budgetary negotiations will not...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 3, 2008

Ibuki tells LDP to draft tax hike scenarios

Finance Minister Bunmei Ibuki said Saturday the ruling Liberal Democratic Party needs to propose a scenario on how and when to ask for a tax hike before it starts campaigning for the next general election.
BUSINESS
Aug 2, 2008

New team to seek tax hikes

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda brought in a new economic team Friday to show his commitment to reconstruct debt-ridden finances through higher taxes, but economists warn it will not be easy for the government to raise taxes when consumer sentiment is already on the skids.
BUSINESS
Aug 1, 2008

Wage drop in June ups chances of recession

Wages dropped in June for the first time this year, indicating slower consumer spending coupled with falling exports may bring on a recession.
COMMENTARY
Jul 31, 2008

An outbreak of nationalism

The issue of Scottish nationalism has again come to a head, and is raising serious political issues for all of Britain. The situation has been sparked by the outcome of a recent parliamentary by-election which, to general surprise, the Scottish Nationalist candidate won.
EDITORIALS
Jul 29, 2008

More good lawyers needed

The Japan Federation of Bar Associations (Nichibenren) has made an emergency proposal to slow down the government's plan to increase the number of successful applicants in the annual national bar exam to 3,000 by around 2010. Nichibenren said that since the current system of nurturing legal professionals...
EDITORIALS
Jul 29, 2008

Spending off the road

The ruling coalition partners Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito have started discussions on how to proceed with the plan to free up the use of revenues from road-related taxes. A consultative body, made up of officials from both parties, will serve as the ruling bloc's decision-maker on the issue....
Japan Times
LIFE
Jul 27, 2008

Was the 'Japanese Renaissance' lost at sea?

Last week, Japan celebrated Umi no Hi (Marine Day). First observed as a national holiday in 1996, Marine Day marks the anniversary of the return of Emperor Meiji from a boat trip to Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido on July 20, 1876.

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