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Tuesday, September 1, 2026
News and Views from the Global South
LABOUR-JAPAN: Permanent Work Elusive for Young Workers
Haru Kitano, 24, is a law graduate who has never applied for a permanent job -- until now. He has managed on part- time salaries for years, but realises that the difficult job situation in Japan's economic slowdown means the time has come to change his ways.JAPAN: Govt Poised to Play Role in U.S.-Led Campaign
After promising Washington its full support to the war on terrorism, and assuring China its involvement in the U.S.-led campaign will in no way revive its own military ambitions, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi now has to convince people at home who are wary of expanding the role of Japan's Special Defense Forces (SDF).DEVELOPMENT-JAPAN: Economic Woes Push Cuts in Aid Budget
Japan's powerful Finance Ministry has suggested a 10 percent slash in the Japanese foreign aid budget, the largest in the world, for the next fiscal year, government officials say.JAPAN: Phone Dating under Scrutiny after Young Girl’s Death
The arrest this month of a high school teacher linked to the death of a 12-year-old girl with whom he got acquainted through the telephone, puts the spotlight on telephone dating clubs that have sprouted across Japan.LABOUR-JAPAN: Middle-aged Male Workers Lost in New Job Market
Work Net, one of several new recruitment companies springing up across Japan these days, is inundated with applicants -- most of them middle-aged men.JAPAN: Unprecedented Support for U.S. in Tragedy’s Wake
Japan, the United States' strongest ally in Asia and host of the largest U.S. military base in the region, has pledged unstinting support to that Western nation in the wake of terrorist attacks there this week.POLITICS: Japan Hankers After Bigger Role in World Affairs
Yotaro Miyamoto, 61, a retired company employee, recalls how hopeless he felt when Japan was defeated at the end of World War II.POLITICS: Japan Hankers After Bigger Role in World Affairs
Yotaro Miyamoto, 61, a retired company employee, recalls how hopeless he felt when Japan was defeated at the end of World War II./REPEATING/RIGHTS-JAPAN: Women Are Still Waiting for Recognition
Mayo Saito, 42, has for the past 18 years been wanting to marry her partner, while at the same time keeping her maiden name. Since this is not allowed in Japan, the two have not been able to tie the knot and are unlikely to do so anytime soon.ECONOMY-JAPAN: Koizumi’s Reforms Losing Steam, Say Critics
Reeling from the shock of still-rising unemployment and the recent ferocious dip in the stock market, Japan's much touted package of economic reforms under popular Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is fast losing steam.POLITICS-JAPAN: Neophytes Battle With Veterans in Parliamentary Poll
Bodyguards jostle with a crowd of supporters and television reporters whenever Japan's most popular prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, makes political speeches in the race for control of Japan's Upper House of parliament.ENVIRONMENT: Race is on to Ensure Tokyo Sticks to Kyoto Pact
The race is on to find ways to make sticking to the Kyoto protocol on climate change politically palatable for Japan, whose support is vital to keep the accord alive in global talks that begin next week.JAPAN: For a Change, Consumers are Enjoying Bargains
When Machiko Saso, 36, goes out for lunch these days, it costs her less than 7 U.S. dollars at a restaurant in Tokyo's upscale Ginza district.ENVIRONMENT-JAPAN: Tokyo Does Diplomatic Dance on Kyoto Pact
Japan continues to send a series of mixed signals on its position on ratifying the Kyoto protocol on climate change, an international agreement whose survival now heavily depends on Tokyo.RIGHTS-JAPAN: Steps in Gender Equality Come Too Slowly for Women
"Nothing surprising about the findings," Mitsuko Yamaguchi, head of the women's group Fusae Ichikawa Memorial Foundation, says about a recent white paper issued by the Japanese government on gender equality.JAPAN: Times are Hard, But Not for Big Spenders
Yuko Nakai, 22, left home at 5.30 a.m. to be able to shop at the first Hermes store that opened in Japan this week.JAPAN-U.S: New Premier Faces Diplomatic Test in Washington Visit
Japan's hugely popular prime minister Junichiro Koizumi will meet his first test in diplomacy this weekend, when he flies to Washington on Friday for a meeting with U.S. President George W Bush.JAPAN-CHINA: Tokyo Weighs Response to Worsening Trade Row
A decision by China to slap 100 percent import tariffs starting Friday on a number of Japanese-made products has hit Tokyo's pride and put officials in a quandary as to how to best resolve the escalating trade war with its most important Asian trading partner.POLITICS-JAPAN: Koizumi, the Newest Idol, Livens Stodgy Politics
Full-length posters for sale, a new compact disc featuring his favourite music, an electronic magazine registering a million sign-ups on the day of its launch, and daily television programmes on the life of Japan's newest idol.RIGHTS-JAPAN: School Murder Shows Stigma of Mental Illness
The grisly murder of eight Japanese children by a schizophrenic man nearly two weeks ago continues to prompt calls for tougher action against such mentally ill persons, but some fear it may well go overboard and deepen the stigma against people with mental problems./ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT/FILM-JAPAN: Movie on Wartime Struggle Grates on Indonesians
Producers of a film about Japanese soldiers who helped Indonesians fight Dutch colonisers say it aims to acquaint Japanese with history, but critics say it is another way of deflecting attention from its wartime record.« Previous Page — Next Page »
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