Home >> East Asia Japan Political Transition seems imminent in Japan
Rajaram Panda, Ph.D. - 8/31/2009
Japan goes to the polls on 30 August 2009. The assessment of Japans current domestic politics leads one to believe that the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has virtually uninterruptedly ruled Japan for more than half a century is going to be ousted from power, paving the way for the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). If the DPJ wins and assumes power, it will be a welcome change for Japanese politics and a move closer to a possible two-party system in the future. But given the nature of Japanese politics, it might be unrealistic to assume major policy change, though there will be s... Will North Korea propel Japan to revisit its Nuclear option?
Shamshad Ahmad Khan - 7/27/2009
Security analysts of Japan has often argued that commensurate with its economic superpower status Japan will try to become a military superpower, amend its Constitution and will ultimately become a nuclear weapon state. The statements by the political elites also suggests towards that ambition. The recent nuclear and missile tests by North Korea have also triggered the nuclear debate in Japan. But judging Japans future nuclear strategy mere on statements and the events would be deceptive and foolhardy. The issue should be judged whether Japan has the delivery capability, Second Strike capacity and most importantly whether nuclear weapon has strategic significance for the country. Single-Payer Health Care In Japan
Susan Goya - 1/8/2009
Could it be? Was I really listening to the pleasant song of birds? I looked around the hospital and saw finches in cages affixed to the walls every twenty feet or so. Well, that's different. So began my first visit to a Japanese hospital. Over the years I would visit general practitioners, optometrists, dentists, obstetricians and pharmacists in public, private and church-run facilities. The jingoist geisha is obsessed how to entertain the president monkey
Shirzad Azad - 12/3/2008
The Japanese political establishment has once again mobilized an army of spin doctors to clean up a new foreign policy mess. Contrary to the recent media and press coverage in Tokyo , Japan was pretty preoccupied to make sure whether Republican Senator McCain could successfully capture the helm of the White House. There were even some rumors that Japan contributed, either directly or through its corporate warlords, a significant amount of money to McCain in the course of his presidential campaigns. This is yet to be acknowledged by either side or be investigated by a third party. Is pacifism limping back in East Asia?
Shamshad Ahmad Khan - 7/16/2008
The North Korean nuclear crisis, a Sino-Taiwanese standoff and resurgence of nationalism in Japan had led the security experts to speculate that the pacifism is pass in the region. But the developments in East Asia -such as destruction of cooling tower of North Koreas Yongbyong nuclear plant, thaw in Cross straits relations with the opening of skies, resumption of high level talks between the Sino-Taiwan authorities, Sino-Japanese agreement on sharing of energy reserves of East China Sea and port calls of naval ships of both the countries- would indicate that the situation is taking a revers... How the American NIE report influences Japans extension of the anti-terror law
Shirzad Azad - 1/4/2008
Among major U.S. allies, Japan and the French government of President Nicolas Sarkozy were the biggest casualties of the recently released National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) report on the Iranian nuclear issue. France, with President Sarkozy, took an aggressive approach to Iran's nuclear program, while at the same time Sarkozy's more prudent counterparts in Germany and Britain, Chancellor Merkel and Prime Minister Brown, adopted a flip-flop policy over the nuclear issue. How Japan lost Iran to China?
Shirzad Azad - 11/11/2007
It has recently become a popular dictum in Japan that whatever the Japanese lose, it finds its way into the hands of the Chinese. Based on such an assumption, Chinas latest adroitness to put itself at the top list of Irans trading partners provides only a tiny case of how the rising dubious dragon is conquering Japans oversea markets one after another. Thirsty Japan Gambles over Iraqi Oil
Shirzad Azad - 12/20/2006
The Japanese media have started questioning the government's decision of extending the Air Self-Defense Forces (ASDF) in Iraq until July 31, 2007. The ASDF started airlifts from Kuwait in March 2004 under a July 2003 ad hoc law to carry out Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces (GSDF) deployment for non-combat activities in Iraq. Discrimination Towards Foreigners in Japan
Shirzad Azad - 12/5/2006
The orchestrated move by the Japanese government over the case of an Iranian family of four seeking special residence permission to continue living in Japan should be considered as a clear example of violating all human rights conventions that tarnishes Japan's image. Japan Between Eagle And Dragon: What Is Behind Sino-Japanese Frictions?
Shirzad Azad - 10/3/2006
The liberal school of international relations maintains that as a byproduct of economic cooperation and interdependence between countries, a wide range of norms, rules and institutions will emerge to coordinate and regulate their cooperation(1). In such process, they will necessary become politically integrated and the institutions that are created would foster collective actions in order to achieve their intended objectives. Based on this view, an increasing level of economic interdependence and regional cooperation could act as the precursor of political integration, with the final goal of r... Japanese Politics Turns To Business Tricks
Shirzad Azad - 9/18/2006
Shinzo Abe, top contender in Japanfs premier race, is neither more conservative than his right-wing and outspoken comrade, Foreign Minister Taro Aso, nor more experienced and competent than his so-called main challenger, Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki;@he simply looks more attractive than them. Toward a Beautiful Country: The credo of Japans prime minister-in-waiting
Shirzad Azad - 8/1/2006
Released on July 20, Shinzo Abes book, Utsukushii Kuni E (Toward a Beautiful Country), has captured the attention of Japan specialists, analysts, journalists and politicians, both inside and outside Japan. |
