taikan said...

taikan at 06:45 AM JST - 9th September

The irony of the government taking over FNMA is that originally it was a government agency. It worked extremely well after its initial creation as part of FDR's New Deal. However, in 1968 it was privatized. Nevertheless, it still continued to work quite well so long as it purchased mortgages…

Posted in U.S. government takes over mortgage giants at 06:45 AM JST - 9th September
taikan at 02:07 AM JST - 6th September

Interesting how no such age limit applies to the PM or other lawmakers.

There are strict retirement age requirements throughout Japanese society, including the government. For example, JR requires its train drivers to retire at age 60, so for most of them their 60th birthday is also their last day…

Posted in Supreme Court Justice Yokoo to resign ahead of age limit at 02:07 AM JST - 6th September
taikan at 01:48 AM JST - 5th September

Looking at the results of recent elections I have to conclude that many voters are indeed stupid. Why else would they elect the fascist Ishihara as Tokyo governor time and time again?

Ishihara is a nationalist rather than a fascist. Regardless of the label, it's probably safe to assume that…

Posted in LDP tops DPJ in voters' preference at next election: Kyodo poll at 01:48 AM JST - 5th September
taikan at 05:48 AM JST - 4th September

Given the fundamentally conservative and nationalistic base of the LDP, one should expect that whoever is elected LDP president will reflect those views, and all of the leading candidates do. Thus, one can expect that Japan's relationship with China will suffer somewhat. However, what really counts is whether any of…

Posted in LDP local execs in 22 prefectures support Aso as Fukuda's successor at 05:48 AM JST - 4th September
taikan at 08:49 AM JST - 8th August

The recent report from the GAO concluding that Iraq is likely to end the year with a $79 billion budget surplus (the report can be found at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04902r.pdf) is likely to add to the pressure on the Bush administration to reduce the US presence in Iraq, because it shows that…

Posted in Iraq says it is close to deal on U.S. troop withdrawal at 08:49 AM JST - 8th August
taikan at 10:43 AM JST - 7th August

The question asks whether Japan is part of the West as a matter of geopolitics, and not as a matter of culture or geography. On most geopolitical issues (e.g., Iraq war, WTO, NKorea, etc.), Japan tends to side with the US and/or the EU, rather than with other Asian nations.…

Posted in In the world of geopolitics, do you think of Japan as part of the West? at 10:43 AM JST - 7th August
taikan at 01:54 AM JST - 7th August

If the purpose of the shrine is to memorialize those who died in war either to protect the Emperor or to advance the Emperor's interests, then one can argue that logically the spirits of the Class A war criminals should not be included at Yasukuni because none of them actually…

Posted in Fukuda says he won't visit Yasukuni on Aug 15, but justice minister will at 01:54 AM JST - 7th August
taikan at 01:37 AM JST - 7th August

Police and prosecutors generally have what is known as "prosecutorial discretion." This means that they get to make the initial decisions regarding whether to go forward with criminal charges. In many countries, including the US, if the police decide the evidence is not sufficient to prosecute then the matter never…

Posted in Police say JR West president culpable over fatal derailment at 01:37 AM JST - 7th August
taikan at 02:21 AM JST - 6th August

Although generally it is a good idea to eliminate deficit spending and use any budget surplus to pay down existing debt, the urgency of the need to do so depends in part on who holds the government's debt securities.

If most of the Japanese government's debt is owed to its…

Posted in Fukuda to stick with 2011 budget surplus goal at 02:21 AM JST - 6th August
taikan at 02:06 AM JST - 6th August

Part of the problem is related to the date. Visiting on the anniversary of Japan's surrender in WWII implies that the visit is designed primarily to show respect for those who died in connection with that war, including those classified as Class A war criminals. Because the shrine originally was…

Posted in Fukuda says he won't visit Yasukuni on Aug 15, but justice minister will at 02:06 AM JST - 6th August