Tag - state-secrets

 
 

STATE SECRETS

JAPAN
Dec 3, 2013
Public protests continue against state secrets bill
With the contentious state secrets bill slated to clear the Upper House this week, citizens have been holding daily protests in front of the Diet building, denouncing the law as emblematic of the "rise of fascism."
EDITORIALS
Dec 2, 2013
The politics of secrets
Flip-flops in government explanations of the contentious bill for protecting state secrets — now under deliberation in the Upper House — suggest that the government itself does not have a clear idea of how it plans to prevent the arbitrary designation of information as a special secret.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 2, 2013
Ishiba softens criticism of bill protesters
Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba remains critical of public demonstrations despite retracting part of an earlier comment likening protesters to terrorists.
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Nov 30, 2013
The secret of keeping official secrets secret
"He that would keep a secret must keep it secret that he hath a secret to keep," says Sir Humphrey Appleby, permanent secretary to the Department of Administrative Affairs, a fictitious branch of the British government. He is one of the main characters in the highly acclaimed 1980s BBC television series...
Japan Times
JAPAN / DARK SIDE OF THE RISING SUN
Nov 30, 2013
Japan: The new Uzbekistan of press freedom in Asia
If you're living in Japan, you may be surprised to know that your right to know has been replaced by the right to remain silent. Shhh ... don't protest. It's practically a done deal.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 30, 2013
Skepticism engulfs secrecy bill
As Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government rammed the controversial state secrecy bill through the Lower House last week, what seemed to become evident is that even his Cabinet ministers lack a coherent understanding of the content, breeding even more skepticism among the public.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 27, 2013
Diet passes bill to create national security council
The Diet passes legislation to establish a version of the U.S. National Security Council, boosting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's drive for tougher security laws.
EDITORIALS
Nov 25, 2013
Opposition parties fail their duty
By supporting the government's secrecy bill, opposition parties failed their duty to serve as a check on the ruling coalition.
Japan Times
JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Nov 24, 2013
Secrets bill raises fears among nuclear foes
In late 2005, U.S. government officials, invited by Japan, observed a counterterrorism drill at the Mihama nuclear plant in Fukui Prefecture and came away worried about the security situation at the complex.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 19, 2013
Ruling bloc may yield a bit on state secrets bill
The Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling bloc is wooing the opposition camp this week to reach common ground on the contentious state secrets bill that the administration hopes the Lower House passed by Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 14, 2013
Ruling bloc may yield on state secrets bill
Eager to see its state secrecy bill passed by the Lower House next week, the ruling coalition is showing signs of giving ground on the controversial legislation.
EDITORIALS
Nov 8, 2013
NSC and secrecy bills pose dangers
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's policy of 'proactive pacifism' must be stopped before it destroys the Constitution's war-renouncing principle and Japan's traditional defense-only posture.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 24, 2013
Cabinet to OK state secrets bill
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet is set to approve a controversial bill to protect state secrets that stops short of fully guaranteeing the public's right to know and freedom of the press.
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Oct 5, 2013
Abe promotes secrecy, sidelining transparency and open government
Norika Fujiwara, a TV celebrity who serves as goodwill ambassador for the Japanese Red Cross, recently caused a media sensation when she came out against the government's proposed secrecy legislation, saying it would adversely affect citizens.
EDITORIALS
Sep 25, 2013
Drop antidemocratic secrecy bill
A proposed bill aimed at protecting state secrets that the government deems vital to national security would strongly limit people's access to relevant information.

Longform

The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo is a popular place to foster curiosity in the natural sciences.
Can Japan's scientific community rebound from a Nobel nosedive?