Search - cabinet

 
 
EDITORIALS
Nov 23, 2006

More of the same from APEC

The annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum was held last weekend in Hanoi. The Vietnamese hosts were no doubt pleased with the results. The conclave showcased the country's economic development and provided an exclamation point for Vietnam's accession to the World Trade...
JAPAN
Nov 21, 2006

Woman last seen in '77 finally listed as abductee

The government on Monday formally added Kyoko Matsumoto, who disappeared in Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, at age 29 in 1977, to the official list of Japanese abducted by North Korea.
EDITORIALS
Nov 17, 2006

Dip in personal spending

Japan's economy in the July-September period grew at an annualized 2.0 percent in real terms from the previous quarter, roughly twice as vigorously as the average growth forecast by private-sector economists. While the economy expanded for the seventh straight quarter and financial markets, including...
JAPAN
Nov 16, 2006

Ruling coalition education bill nears passage

is my Cabinet's priority," Abe told reporters Wednesday evening after the committee vote. Yukio Hatoyama, secretary general of the DPJ, the largest opposition party, slammed the vote, which went ahead despite the opposition boycott.
BUSINESS
Nov 15, 2006

Economy logs 2% annualized growth

The economy grew at an annualized 2.0 percent in the July-September period -- roughly twice as fast as the average forecast -- as strong corporate spending and exports offset weak private consumption, the Cabinet Office said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Nov 15, 2006

Banned goods to North listed

goods that are likely to be used by (government and party) executives, and those they are likely to give to their subordinates," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki told a news conference. "North Korea's leaders need to be sent a strong message from the international community" and abide by the...
EDITORIALS
Nov 14, 2006

Uninspiring case for revision

Sixty years after the postwar pacifist Constitution was promulgated Nov. 3, 1946, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other politicians are pushing to revise the supreme law. Strangely, their call for constitutional revision comes amid a lack of enthusiasm for it among the public in general. Clearly, people...
COMMENTARY
Nov 14, 2006

What are Kim's objectives?

North Korea has agreed to rejoin the six-party nuclear talks on its nuclear-weapons program before yearend following hard bargaining with the United States and China. The breakthrough resulted from mounting international pressure, especially the U.S. financial crackdown and the United Nations Security...
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Nov 12, 2006

Political piper moves to call some of NHK's editorial tunes

NHK, Japan's national broadcaster, is under siege -- and with it this country's commitment to freedom of speech.
EDITORIALS
Nov 11, 2006

On cue with the ministry's script

The recent revelation that the government has manipulated the process of promoting education reform raises the basic question of whether the government is morally qualified for education-related administration at a time when the Diet is discussing a bill to revise the Fundamental Law of Education.
JAPAN
Nov 10, 2006

Aso should be axed for nuke comments: opposition

The Democratic Party of Japan, the Japanese Communist Party, the Social Democratic Party of Japan and the People's New Party sent a letter to the prime minister Thursday demanding that Foreign Minister Taro Aso be dismissed for saying Japan must debate whether to go nuclear.
BUSINESS
Nov 10, 2006

ACCJ seeks to deepen U.S.-Japan economic ties

Japan and the United States should revitalize their economic partnership by creating a new bilateral mechanism to ensure sustained growth, the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan said in a report Thursday.
JAPAN
Nov 9, 2006

NHK closer to getting order on North reports

The Radio Regulatory Council, an advisory committee to the internal affairs and communications minister, Wednesday approved a ministerial directive to NHK to increase its reporting on North Korea's abductions of Japanese on its shortwave radio programs.
JAPAN
Nov 7, 2006

Japan talk of nukes 'not desirable': Ban

U.N. secretary general, I'd like to express concern." Ban said he understands the Japanese government will maintain its nonnuclear policy, as affirmed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 5, 2006

Study of nuclear issue demands caution

North Korea's underground nuclear test of Oct. 9, which has drawn a flurry of sharp reactions in the international community, has also brought the perennially simmering question of Japan's nuclear option to the surface again.
JAPAN
Nov 3, 2006

Plan OK'd to help students graduate

will say it is (unfair) to the 90 percent who completed the (required amount of) classes," Ibuki told reporters. "But if we are too strict, (they will say) it is cruel." The ministry plan specifies that "the students are victims and utmost efforts must be made so there is no unfairness between students...

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