Asserts that the US should be wary that Japanese aid and troops for Iraq have strings attached. From the Christian Science Monitor.

Examines a hypothetical model of policy-making by focusing on the relationship between the transition of political power between government agencies and the subsequent policy changes in the process of administrative reform in the 1990s.

Organization fighting international abduction and working to assure children in Japan of meaningful and continuing contact with both their parents and extended family regardless of the parents' marital status.

Provide information and public education on nuclear power and nuclear issues in Japan.

Discusses Japan's recent proactive stance in foreign policy making.

Author argues that after 12 years of failure in attempted economic reforms, fixing Japan's political system is nearly impossible.

A paper intended to demonstrate some problems inherent in the arguments surrounding exceptionalism in Japan and the United States.

Examines Japan as portrayed in western movies, and how the perceptions have changed with the export of Japanese popular culture. [Free registration required.]

A New York Times article on Japan's emerging crisis of depopulation and cultural resistance to the only solution that can save it. [Free registration required].

Essay from the Institute for Corean-American Studies on Japan filling the role of South Korea for influence on China.

Offers Japanese and international perspectives on contemporary Japanese politics, international relations, economics, social movements, war and terror, and historical memory.

Links collection on Japanese government, politics, and political history.

An editorial giving a review of Japanese postwar reconstruction, and asserts that George W. Bush's comparison of Iraq with postwar Japan ignores the facts. [Free registration required.]

Examines Karel van Wolferen's seminal work critical of the Japanese Establishment eight years after its publication, and examines if some camparisons hold up.

Japan's red ink hit a record high of 703 trillion yen at the end of fiscal 2003, or 5.5 million yen per person, further jeopardizing Japan's long term future.

Artictle on how and why do political corruption and scandals keep popping up in Japan with alarming frequency.

Asserts that old style politics is why Japanese leaders fail to address Japan's wartime brutalities.

Three articles with differing viewpoints on what effect Japan's rapidly aging society with have on its economy as well as influence on the world.

Article documenting that now along with their jobs and pensions, Japanese now fear for their safety.

Conducts scholarly research and analysis on critical Asia policy issues to strengthen international understanding of Japanese and northeast Asian science, technology, economic and security policy.

Compares and contrasts the US occupation of Japan after WWII with post-Hussein Iraq.

A non-profit organization based in Tokyo with information and resources on the abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korea.

Contains politically oriented news, articles, and links related to grass roots campaigning to improve society, culture, government, and the environment.

Article describing troubles on Hokkaido when economic realities force off the flow of pork barrel spending.