Search - cabinet

 
 
BUSINESS
Jan 19, 2008

Consumer confidence at four-year low

Consumer confidence dropped to its lowest level in four years as falling wages and rising gasoline and food prices squeeze households.
BUSINESS
Jan 19, 2008

No names in the hat for next BOJ head

Candidates haven't been selected yet to succeed Bank of Japan Gov. Toshihiko Fukui when his term expires in March, the government's top spokesman said Friday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 18, 2008

Upcoming Diet session figures to be a stormy one for Fukuda

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda appears fated to face some challenging times ahead as the 150-day ordinary Diet session opens Friday, only three days after an extraordinary session drew to a close.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 12, 2008

Lower House rams through antiterrorism bill

For the first time in half a century, the Lower House on Friday overrode the Upper, ramming a bill through the Diet to resume the Maritime Self-Defense Force refueling duty in the Indian Ocean.
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Jan 12, 2008

Vote of confidence kiss of death for Allardyce with Magpies

LONDON — Sam Allardyce probably knew the end was in sight when Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley and chairman Chris Mort said it wasn't. Ashley's stock reply to speculation about his manager's future was to tell people not to listen to rumors.
BUSINESS
Jan 12, 2008

¥360 billion national tax levy hike sought

The national tax levy will rise by ¥360 billion on an annual basis should the government's tax proposal for the next fiscal year take effect, a Finance Ministry estimate showed Friday.
JAPAN
Jan 11, 2008

MSDF bill step closer to ruling bloc's ultimate OK

An opposition-controlled Upper House panel Thursday rejected a special antiterrorism bill to enable the Maritime Self-Defense Force to resume its refueling operations in the Indian Ocean, in a last-minute bid to block its expected passage Friday in the ruling bloc-dominated Lower House.
JAPAN
Jan 11, 2008

Illness, not policies, ended my time in office: Abe

The abrupt and, at the time, inexplicable resignation of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in September stunned the nation, prompting criticism that he was an irresponsible and immature politician who couldn't even offer a convincing explanation as to why he quit the nation's top post.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 10, 2008

Establish limits on naval support to U.S.

As the debate continues in Japan's Diet this month over a new Antiterrorism Special Measures Law (ASM Law) authorizing Japanese naval force activities in the Indian Ocean, serious attention must be paid to the issues of exactly how such activity is to be limited, and how the Diet can meaningfully monitor...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 10, 2008

Fukuda, Ozawa hold first Diet faceoff

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda maintained his humble tone Wednesday in his first one-on-one debate with Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 9, 2008

Work-life balance starts at home: Rengo chief

As part of efforts to stem the nation's depopulation, a guide to promoting a better work and family life balance among workers was recently adopted by a special government panel.
COMMENTARY
Jan 7, 2008

Hope and betrayal in Kenya

LONDON — More than two years ago, when Kenya's current opposition leader, Raila Odinga, quit President Mwai Kibaki's government, I wrote the following: "The trick will be to get Kibaki out without triggering a wave of violence that would do the country grave and permanent damage. . . . Bad times are...
COMMENTARY
Jan 4, 2008

Global 'war' waged in vain

LONDON — The tragic killing of Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan has sent a raft of shock-wave messages round the world. Most of these have been carefully and lengthily noted and analyzed — such as the concern that Pakistan, labeled a frontline state in the fight against terrorism, could now collapse into...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 3, 2008

NGOs gearing up for Lake Toya blitz

OSAKA — While officials of the Group of Eight countries are busy preparing for this year's summit in Japan, the country's major nongovernmental organizations are also gearing up for the event, which will culminate when world leaders meet in Lake Toya, Hokkaido, in early July.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 1, 2008

Political inertia, public indifference

Japanese politics and politicians continue to face an overriding question: What kind of nation should Japan become? The question needs to be discussed among all political parties in ways that inspire the public. Unfortunately, that is not about to happen. Preoccupied with short-term responses to immediate...
COMMENTARY
Dec 31, 2007

Censorship serves to flag our own limits

LOS ANGELES — It appears that many mainland Chinese moviegoers are traipsing over to Hong Kong in droves to view the uncensored version of Ang Lee's latest blockbuster, "Lust, Caution." With their feet, in effect, they are voting for lust — and as if wishing for official Beijing caution to be gone...
COMMENTARY
Dec 30, 2007

Living with war and a warmer planet

LONDON — 2007 was the year in which global warming finally began to be taken seriously. Climate-change deniers were in full retreat, and the realization that we face a long and grave crisis was finally dawning on the general public. However, it remains to be seen whether the world will agree on effective...
JAPAN
Dec 29, 2007

Hepatitis plaintiffs, state come to terms

, the chief lawyer representing plaintiffs in a case against the government over hepatitis C infection through tainted blood products, smiles during a news conference with ruling coalition lawmakers at a Diet members' office compound Friday in Tokyo. KYODO PHOTO
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 28, 2007

LDP 'forced' to propose sales tax hike: Yosano

Ballooning social security costs will force the Liberal Democratic Party to propose a consumption tax hike in the coming year so the new rate can take effect in 2009, according to LDP heavyweight Kaoru Yosano, who is versed in financial matters and a strong advocate of raising the levy.

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