Politics
Radhika Seth on Jan 9 2013
The whole of 2012 (along with the last administration) saw Japan bickering with
South Korea, using backdoor tactics like
un-favoring K-Pop artists and actors, in retribution to the disputed islands and comfort women issue. However ever since Shinzo Abe’s election, efforts to renew amicable ties have been ongoing in 2013. We recently
saw an envoy being dispatched by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to meet with South Korean President-elect Park Geun-Hye in order to begin healing relations between the two countries.
While the dispute over the islands has started taking its toll on the economic front, Japan and China’s shadow dance in the territorial waters, continues unabated. Recent news suggests that four Chinese government ships were spotted sailing into the territorial waters of disputed islands controlled by Japan.
Features National
Radhika Seth on Dec 7 2012
A chilling sense of déjà vu has descended amongst the people living in the coastal region of northeastern Japan, as a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast. This is the same region where last year’s devastating earthquake and ensuing tsunami crippled the Fukushima nuclear plant and claimed many lives. The
Japan Meteorological Agency says that a preliminary magnitude of 7.3 earthquake has struck the in the Pacific Ocean off Miyagi prefecture on Friday 7th December at 5:18 p.m. (0818 GMT).
The initiative by Lin Kobayashi is very simple; a school that nurtures students to grow into natural-born leaders but on home turf and that too with Asian sensibilities. This also means biting the bullet with history lessons that teach both sides of the story. So a lesson in Japan-China Island dispute will give the whole truth, not just glammed up Chinese or stoic Japanese versions. Just Plain Facts!
Features National
Radhika Seth on Nov 26 2012
The upcoming elections are a tough call on voting strategies for the people who reside in the
disaster-struck regions of Japan. They are utterly disappointed with the way the authorities are progressing with the reconstruction work and the finances being allocated to rebuild lives. So much so, many just don't want to vote, saying all politicians are the same.
Diesel brand founder Renzo Rosso is looking for new ways to emerge out from the recession that is gripping the European and Chinese markets. As the visionary behind the revolutionary stonewashed jeans, this cult - rock star, king of high-end casual wear, has a rocking new idea for the Japanese market, but is not divulging much as yet.
Sports
Radhika Seth on Nov 19 2012
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UPDATE: November 19th, 11:50 PM
Ichiro has confirmed with Japan's baseball officials that he will not be participating in the 2013 WBC. He stated that he appreciated being asked to play for his country again, but after the 2009 tournament, he always considered he wouldn't play in the event again.-
One of the key players responsible for Japan winning the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic,
Ichiro Suzuki, may not be a part of the 2013 games. This brings the head count to up by one more as Japanese major leaguers Yu Darvish of the Texas Rangers and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Norichika Aoki are also opting out.
They say that in politics you never really make friends or enemies; you simply transform to a role that suits the situation best. So it comes as no surprise that Osaka Mayor
Toru Hashimoto and former Tokyo Governor
Shintaro Ishihara are merging their new political parties ahead of next month's general election. This is their counter-attack against the current ruling and opposition parties.
The sky rocketing real estate prices in urbanised Japan belies the fact that rural areas have cheaper rates and in fact the industry has been facing a slump since the last two years. Rules on selling foreigners forestland with water rights attached has attracted a good amount of foreign investment, more so because of the water proposition.
Features National
Radhika Seth on Nov 16 2012
It’s been more than a year now but life in Japan is still revolving around the
Fukushima disaster and if and how it could have been averted. Fact is that the government's now-defunct Nuclear Safety Commission and officials of Tokyo Electric Power Co. (
TEPCO) were aware of the hazards involved, in case of an earthquake and tsunami. Angered by the way these people in power and position reacted to this knowledge, has led to a second mass suit claiming damages.
