英字新聞ジャパンタイムズによるバイリンガル週刊紙　The Japan Times Weekly

2012年5月12日号

2012-05-12T00:00:19+00:00

Cautious attitude imperative to constitutional revision proposals

2012-05-12T00:00:04+00:00

Japan marked the 65th anniversary of the enforcement of the postwar Constitution on May 3, and 60 years have passed since the San Francisco Peace Treaty went into effect April 28, 1952, ending Japan’s occupation by the Allied Powers. Until that day, decrees issued by the Occupation forces headquarters had priority over the Constitution.

An irresistible opportunity - right in your lap

2012-05-12T00:00:37+00:00

I recently took a lap-dancing course for the first time in my life.

London re-elects Johnson as mayor

2012-05-12T00:00:19+00:00

London’s comic and outspoken Mayor Boris Johnson won re-election May 4, triumphing in a closer-than-expected vote to secure a second term, and his status as the unvarnished and unpredictable host of the 2012 Olympics.

U.S. airstrike kills al-Qaida leader

2012-05-12T00:00:30+00:00

An airstrike May 6 killed a top al-Qaida leader on the FBI’s most wanted list for his role in the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole, Yemeni officials said. The drone attack was carried out by the CIA, U.S. officials said.

Hirose promoted to Tepco president

2012-05-12T00:00:51+00:00

Tokyo Electric Power Co. and a state-backed bailout fund officially announced May 8 the promotion of Naomi Hirose, a key Tepco official in charge of compensation issues related to the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, as the next president of the troubled utility.

Bus company in crash violated safety regulations

2012-05-12T00:00:29+00:00

The operator of a tour bus involved in a fatal accident on an expressway employed the driver on a day-by-day basis in violation of the road transport law and committed other operational breaches, a special transport ministry audit and details provided by the carrier’s president indicate.

2012年5月5日号

2012-05-05T00:00:00+00:00

Tragedy of the U.S.

2012-05-05T00:00:22+00:00

I read two articles about the Trayvon Martin shooting from The Washington Post. Regrettably, they lack the most important thing: a call for gun control.

Real reform for Japan

2012-05-05T00:00:07+00:00

I can’t quite agree with the editorial “Mr. Okada’s pseudo-reform” in The Japan Times Weekly on April 7.

Japan needs more Japanese

2012-05-05T00:00:18+00:00

I was interested to note a reader’s response to a previous article on the question of foreigners overstaying and making illegal entry to Japan titled “Overstayers a boon to society” on April 21.

Protection from parental abuse

2012-05-05T00:00:37+00:00

A revised civil law came into force April 1 with a provision for suspending parental prerogatives for up to two years to protect children from parental violence or neglect. The revised law makes clear that parental protection and education of children must be done for the sake of the children’s interests.

Joining Hague Convention

2012-05-05T00:00:27+00:00

The Noda administration March 9 submitted a bill related to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Abduction to the Diet. Once Japan joins the convention, Japanese married or formerly married to foreigners and living abroad must keep in mind that the often-employed method of removing their children from their country of habitual residence, and bringing them to Japan once their marriage has ended will not work anymore.

Suu Kyi to swear oath in parliament

2012-05-05T00:00:04+00:00

Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on April 30 said she will swear an oath in parliament “as soon as possible,” after a political impasse that saw her delay her debut in the legislature.

Chinese dissident escapes to U.S. Embassy

2012-05-05T00:00:45+00:00

Blind Chinese rights activist Chen Guangcheng is in the U.S. Embassy in Beijing but is not seeking asylum, fellow dissident Hu Jia said April 30, raising the specter of a drawn-out China-U.S. diplomatic standoff.

Imperial Couple prefer cremation

2012-05-05T00:00:08+00:00

In a departure with Imperial family tradition, the government will study the possibility of cremating Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko if they so request it, a senior Imperial Household Agency official said.

U.N. OKs Japan claim to expand shelf

2012-05-05T00:00:15+00:00

The U.N. commission on seabed claims has adopted a recommendation allowing Japan to vastly extend its claimed continental shelf area far to the east of Okinawa, government officials said April 28.

2012年4月28日号

2012-04-26T12:43:50+00:00

A risk-free, empty life at the touch of a button

2012-04-28T00:00:01+00:00

About 10 years ago, I jokingly said to a friend that because the veranda of my Tokyo apartment faced northwest, I could look out for North Korean rockets. These days, my place faces east, toward the rising sun. Now as then, I am not worried about the missiles.

Government announces new worst-case scenario for megaquake

2012-04-28T00:00:33+00:00

A panel of the Cabinet Office announced late last month that if a megaquake occurs in the Nankai Trough, a tsunami higher than 20 meters may hit 23 municipalities in six prefectures stretching from Kanto to Shikoku on Japan’s Pacific side. The prediction represents a worst-case scenario that happens once in 1,000 years.

2012年4月21日号

2012-04-21T00:00:41+00:00

Overstayers a boon to society

2012-04-21T00:00:02+00:00

Regarding the April 7 article “Visa overstayers rally to maintain privileges”: At a time when we need people in Japan who are contributing to society, why would we want these people to leave?

Sunny pipe dream in the storm

2012-04-21T00:00:33+00:00

Regarding the April 14 Japan In Brief article “Softbank plans Hokkaido solar plant”: This project sounds wonderful in theory. In reality, the promised minimum output won’t be under Softbank’s control; it will depend 100 percent on the weather. And Hokkaido really isn’t suitable for the project.

Money to study abroad

2012-04-21T00:00:38+00:00

To combat the decline in Japanese students studying abroad, the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry is finally taking action. Special five-year grants of ¥100 million to ¥200 million will be offered to 40 universities for study abroad programs.

Reimpose arms export ban

2012-04-21T00:00:10+00:00

The Noda administration in December 2011 drastically relaxed Japan’s long-standing weapons export ban. On the strength of this step, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on April 10 agreed with visiting British Prime Minister David Cameron to push joint development of weapons.

2012年4月14日号

2012-04-14T00:00:10+00:00

Preparing to have one’s inburgering examined

2012-04-14T00:00:00+00:00

My February column was about inburgering (integration), the obligation for non-EU nationals to integrate into Dutch society.

Institutional intolerance prevails in Osaka, undermining democracy

2012-04-14T00:00:21+00:00

In June 2011, Osaka Prefecture became the first prefecture to enact a bylaw to make it obligatory for teachers at prefectural schools to stand up and sing the national anthem, Kimigayo, at school ceremonies, although it did not provide for punishment. Osaka Ishin-no Kai (Osaka reform association), a local party led by then Gov. Toru Hashimoto, took the initiative in pushing through the legislation. Mr. Hashimoto, now the mayor of Osaka, strongly insists that public school teachers should stand up and sing Kimigayo at school ceremonies.

New graduates should prepare for possible volatility in job market

2012-04-14T00:00:53+00:00

For university students graduating this spring, finding jobs is not an easy task. As of February, about 80 percent of them had found work, the third lowest percentage on record. At this stage, the situation for students graduating next year is expected to be a little better.

2012年4月7日号

2012-04-07T00:00:11+00:00

英字新聞ジャパンタイムズによるバイリンガル週刊紙 The Japan Times Weekly