Category Archives: Others

【Editorial】 Ruling coalition’s landslide victory is by no means carte blanche for agricultural policy (Dec. 16, 2014)

  The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito together maintained a two-thirds majority in the 47th general election of the House of Representatives held on Sunday, Dec. 14. However, at the same time, the dark side of Abenomics, such as the widening wealth gap and declining regional economies, reared its head through the election campaigns. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe must sincerely listen to the voices of farmers and rural communities. Worries and distrust are surging over the government’s headlong liberalistic trade policies and reform of agricultural co-operatives. He should seriously take to heart that this vote of confidence in the Abe administration is by no means a carte blanche. There … Continue reading

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【Editorial】 Don’t cover people’s eyes and ears with state secrets law (Dec. 10, 2014)

  The state secrets law came into effect on Wednesday, Dec. 10. The law will be put into practice amid remaining fears that the people’s right to know and freedom of the press might be threatened. The government set guidelines for enforcing the law a year after the ruling bloc steamrollered the bill through the Diet, but the nature of the issue remains unchanged. The government must not intentionally hide information unfavorable for itself and cover the people’s eyes and ears. The negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks, conducted behind closed doors, show us the dangers of confidentiality pacts. We urge the government to make ceaseless efforts to review … Continue reading

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【News】 Finance Ministry proposed to close 5,000 elementary and junior high schools to reduce budget (Oct. 28, 2014)

  The Ministry of Finance held a meeting of the Finance System Council on Monday, Oct. 27, and proposed to reduce about 5,000 elementary and junior high schools in reference to the budget compilation of compulsory education. Based on the basic guideline (12 to 18 classes a school) of The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), the Finance Ministry will advance the integration and abolition of small schools. They intend to reduce the budget of compulsory education by decreasing the fixed number of teachers. In the current situation, however, as schools are regarded to play a pivotal role in rural areas, some people are likely to oppose … Continue reading

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【News】 Kabuki shout echoes through mountains (Sept. 14, 2014)

Hiroki Arai – Hinoemata Kabuki (Hinoemata, Fukushima Prefecture) – Hinoemata Kabuki performed by Hinoemata villagers is one of the traditions that can be traced back to the Edo Period. It was started by a villager who watched a kabuki play in Edo. Learning from what he saw, ancient Hinoemata villagers created Hinoemata Kabuki as a performance in dedication to the gods. Since then, it’s been handed down through generation to generation for more than 270 years. On the evening of September 6, 2014, a shrine located in the central part of the Hinoemata village was packed with people waiting for a kabuki play to begin. It was the day for … Continue reading

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【News】 Make ties and sail boats for future (Sept. 7, 2014)

Kotaro Yamada – Reed Boat School (Ishinomaki-shi, Miyagi Prefecture) – Three and a half years ago, the great earthquake hit the eastern part of Japan and tsunami swept away a large part of reed fields along the Kitakami River. Today, a specified non-profit organization (NPO) organized by local residents of Ishinomaki-shi, Miyagi Prefecture, is trying to restore the fields. In late August, it had an event for approximately 30 people, mostly the local and some from other areas, to offer an experience of building reed boats. The event was held for the first time by the organization, inviting Jin Ishikawa, a professional adventurer, as a lecturer. Ishikawa has learnt reed … Continue reading

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