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JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jul 25, 2014

With poll numbers falling, Abe turns to suffering local economies

As his polling numbers dive, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe turns his attention and bluster to the nation's rural economies, vowing to work his 'Abenomics' magic outside Tokyo.
EDITORIALS
Jul 24, 2014

Collective self-defense smokescreen

It is deplorable that Prime Minister Shinzo continues to avoid discussing the inherent dangers to Japan with regard to his Cabinet's recent reinterpretation of 'collective self-defense.'
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jul 1, 2014

Critics: What defines the conditions for military force?

Japan is at a historic crossroads in amending its long-held pacifist defense posture, a move that it may never reverse, and critics charge that the Abe administration's criteria for exercising the right to collective self-defense will prove ineffective.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 30, 2014

Japan on verge of legalizing war as Komeito bends

Japan is set Tuesday to legalize waging war even when not under direct attack. It is a drastic departure from its postwar position that the war-renouncing Constitution prohibits exercising the right to collective self-defense.
EDITORIALS
Jun 29, 2014

Rushing on collective self-defense

The Abe administration may adopt a Cabinet decision as early as this week to change the government's long-standing interpretation of the Constitution so that Japan can participate in 'collective self-defense.' Opinions from the public do not seem welcome.
EDITORIALS
Jun 25, 2014

Stop undermining Kono statement

A government panel has reported that some parts of the 1993 statement by then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono concerning the "comfort women" at Japan's wartime frontline brothels were the product of diplomatic negotiations between Tokyo and Seoul. Still, the panel's findings do not change the basic...
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 20, 2014

Kono apology was tug of war: panel

A government panel unveils its report on the drafting of the official 'comfort women' apology issued by Yohei Kono in 1993, describing it as a tug of war.
EDITORIALS
Jun 12, 2014

Ramping up debate in the Diet

Lawmakers need to make sure that steps taken by the ruling coalition and two major opposition parties to reform Diet proceedings do not let government leaders off the hook in facing legislative scrutiny and regular debate.
EDITORIALS
May 16, 2014

Abe takes aim at Article 9

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he will try to change a long-standing constitutional interpretation so that Japan can exercise the right to 'collective self-defense.' His move would gut the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution without going through the amendment procedure.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Apr 18, 2014

Key adviser: GPIF should sell ¥25 trillion in JGBs

The world's largest retirement fund should seek to sell ¥25 trillion in Japanese government bonds as soon as possible, said the head of a panel that advised the government on overhauling pension investments.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Mar 27, 2014

Abe ready for full-on military drive

With the launch next Monday of a special intraparty panel directly under his lead, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his ruling Liberal Democratic Party are ready to kick off their full-fledged drive to reinterpret the Constitution to allow Japan to help defend its allies.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / ON: GAMES
Mar 24, 2014

Your turn to shoot AKB47, alongside your BFFAKB

Zombie girls in uniform
EDITORIALS
Mar 17, 2014

Change at the top court's helm

It is hoped that incoming new chief Justice Itsuro Terada will stand firm in keeping the Supreme Court independent of political presssures as it considers controversial issues such as the disparity in vote value between legislative constituencies and whether Japan may exercise its right to collective self-defense.
EDITORIALS
Dec 25, 2013

Breaching the weapons-export ban

It is deplorable that the Abe administration decided to provide rifle ammo to South Korean troops engaged in U.N. peacekeeping operations in South Sudan without consulting government officials first.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 6, 2013

Diet enacts controversial state secrets bill

The Upper House passes the state secrets bill despite soaring opposition over the lack of an independent oversight body to check the government's decisions.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 20, 2013

Abe touts women in first Kennedy meeting

New U.S. Ambassador Caroline Kennedy met Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for the first time Wednesday in a courtesy visit, and Abe took the opportunity to highlight one pet initiative — promoting the status of women in male-dominated Japan.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 4, 2013

Use 2020 Olympics to lift economy, Suga urges execs

The central government should use the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics as an opportunity to boost economic growth nationwide, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Monday.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Sep 16, 2013

Fukushima and the right to responsible government

A responsibility-shirking government is ultimately the people's problem — and responsibility — just as much as the nuclear disaster and all the nation's other problems are, argues Colin P.A. Jones.
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Aug 10, 2013

Aso's Nazi gaffe tarnishes Abe's agenda for constitutional revision

The other night at my local sushi bar conversation turned to Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso's comments about constitutional revision — specifically, his suggestion there is something to be learned from the way the Nazis revised the Weimar Constitution in 1933.
JAPAN / History / JAPAN TIMES GONE BY
Jul 20, 2013

Tokyo homeless, Olympics cancelled, medals given for kindness, Mandela's birthday feted

Summer is generally a good season for employment-seekers of the laboring classes. This summer, however, there are twice as many unemployed men as usual. The Free Lodging House of Honjo, Tokyo, for instance, generally takes in about 20 lodgers nightly during the hot months, but this season some 45 are finding shelter there every night.
EDITORIALS
Jul 5, 2013

Views of history vex the future

South Korea has been critical of Japanese views of modern Asian history. Shinzo Abe must do more than parrot the importance future ties between the two nations.
EDITORIALS
Jun 25, 2013

Safety of online drug sales

It is rather bizarre that Japan's government would treat nonprescription drug sales over the Internet as a component of its economic growth strategy.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 20, 2013

LDP policy chief retracts Fukushima comments

Facing flak from both the opposition — and her own party — Sanae Takaichi, policy chief for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, retracted earlier remarks that no one was killed in the 2011 Fukushima meltdowns and that the government should restart reactors nationwide.

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