930148mike said...

930148mike at 05:30 PM JST - 28th November

Japan has more than demonstrated its humanitarian intentions and its willingness to shoulder international responsibilities by deploying its ASDF to aid in the Coalition effort in Iraq. This mission has lasted four calendar years and is testimony to Japan's growing maturity in meeting what it sees as its obligations to…

Posted in Japan to end ASDF activities in Iraq by yearend at 05:30 PM JST - 28th November
930148mike at 05:52 PM JST - 23rd November

Prime Minister Aso and Foreign Minister Medvedev have made a good start to re-opening negotiations over the "Northern Territories"/"Kurile Islands" dispute that has bedevilled Russo-Japanese relations since 1956. Until now, Japan has insisted on the return of all four occupied islands, whilst Russia has only offered two islands. The issue…

Posted in Japan, Russia vow concrete steps to end island dispute at 05:52 PM JST - 23rd November
930148mike at 10:48 PM JST - 22nd November

Finance Minister Nakagawa has a point in allocating most of the blame for the current global financial crisis on failed US banks and corporations. Because of inadequate regulation, firms like Lehman Brothers entered the high-risk sub-prime mortgage field, only to lose most, if not all, of their capitalization. Japan's experience…

Posted in Finance minister says financial crisis mainly U.S. fault at 10:48 PM JST - 22nd November
930148mike at 02:58 PM JST - 17th November

Japan's first recession in seven years is cause for great concern. One by one, it seems that the major economies of the world are succumbing to economic hardship. The EU, the US and now Japan are caught in the iron grip of fiscal contraction, which shows no immediate sign of…

Posted in Japan slides into recession for 1st time since 2001 at 02:58 PM JST - 17th November
930148mike at 10:36 PM JST - 15th November

The Tamogami affair had the possibility of creating major diplomatic upsets for Japan, its people and its government. The issue of right-wing historical "revisionism" concerning Imperial Japan's actions in the 1930s and 1940s is extremely sensitive throughout the world, especially in China, Korea and Southeast Asia. The Aso government acted…

Posted in U.S. official praises Tokyo's swift dismissal of Tamogami at 10:36 PM JST - 15th November
930148mike at 10:09 PM JST - 9th November

Prime Minister Aso and his LDP/New Komeito Government are in a very difficult situation. Were a Lower House Election to be held soon, the Opposition DPJ would most probably win. The problem is that without an Election, the political gridlock that has dogged Japan since July 2007 will continue. Mr…

Posted in LDP secretary general says no Diet dissolution by year-end at 10:09 PM JST - 9th November