Tag - supreme-court

 
 

SUPREME COURT

EDITORIALS
Jul 26, 2014
Safety net is for all taxpayers
A recent Supreme Court ruling sends an unfortunate message to foreign workers that while their contributions to Japan's economy might be welcome, the government in turn is not obliged to take care of them when they are in need.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal / Q&A
Jul 25, 2014
A closer look at the Supreme Court's welfare benefits ruling
Opinions are divided over how the Supreme Court ruling last week declaring permanent foreign residents of Japan ineligible for welfare payments will affect the foreign communities in Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jul 25, 2014
Ruling hinged on assistance law revamp: summary
The following is a rough translation of the text of Supreme Court's July 18 ruling that found permanent residents ineligible for welfare payments.
JAPAN / Society
Jul 19, 2014
Welfare ruling stuns foreigners
The Supreme Court's landmark decision that permanent foreign residents of Japan are not entitled to welfare benefits will discourage municipalities from doling out such aid.
EDITORIALS
Jul 17, 2014
Supreme Court's dereliction of duty
By rejecting a citizens' request to have the government disclose secret documents that allegedly show Japan's financial obligations in the 1972 reversion of Okinawa from U.S. control, the Supreme Court has evaded its duty to protect people's right to know.
COMMENTARY / World
May 9, 2014
Supremes answer town's prayers
The upshot of the May 5 U.S. Supreme Court decision to uphold prayer before a town council meeting is that as long as no one is coerced, nonsectarian prayer is a political virtue but not a constitutional requirement.
COMMENTARY / World
May 5, 2014
Phones may not have the right to remain silent
The U.S. Supreme Court has just heard arguments over whether police should be allowed to search a person's smartphone without a warrant to find evidence relevant to the crime for which he or she is being arrested.
EDITORIALS
Mar 17, 2014
New burden for Minamata victims
The Environment Ministry appears to have relaxed conditions for the official recognition of Minamata disease victims, but the attached record-keeping requirements make it unlikely that many more people will receive financial relief.
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.
COMMUNITY / Issues
Jan 15, 2014
Three cases, three paths to legitimacy for Supreme Court
When I began studying Japanese, one of my goals was to be able to read the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Japan's version of The Wall Street Journal. Achieving that goal, however, meant realizing that it is possibly The Most Boring Newspaper on Earth.
JAPAN
Nov 20, 2013
Top court balks at voiding 2012 poll
The Supreme Court declares that the 2012 Lower House general election was “in a state of unconstitutionality” due to the large disparity in vote value among constituencies, but declines to nullify its outcome.
EDITORIALS
Oct 30, 2013
Death row inmate deserves retrial
Japan's top court rejects a request for retrial from an 87-year-old man on death row — after taking its time doing so — despite chemical evidence that might clear the defendant.

Longform

Professional cleaner Hirofumi Sakurai takes a moment to appreciate some photographs in a Gotanda apartment whose occupant died alone.
The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan