Criticism of the Korean film Battleship Island (directed by Ryoo Seung-wan) has been increasing. The film is set on the coal mine on Hashima Island, which is part of the city of Nagasaki. The island itself is popularly known as “Battleship Island” because of its resemblance to a battleship when viewed from a distance. […]
When Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Pearl Harbor, Daniel Martinez was his official host and guide. Martinez, the chief historian at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, remembers that Abe was particularly impressed by a plaque at the entrance to the museum. Completely redone in 2010 under Martinez’ […]
In October edition of the monthly magazine Hanada, released on August 26th, author Ryushou Kadota revealed what he recently heard from journalist acquaintances. Somebody from Mainichi Shimbun supposedly said, “At the moment, the atmosphere in the company has become, just do anything to criticize [Prime Minister Shinzo] Abe.” Asahi Shimbun journalists were said to […]
Seventy-two years ago, the last bombs fell from the skies over Japan, and the last shots were fired in anger between Japanese and Allied forces in the Pacific, Asia, and beyond. The Pacific War started, of course, some three and a half years earlier, at Pearl Harbor, when the Japanese navy launched an […]
The month of August in Japan is a time for collective reflection on the merits of “war and peace.” It was in August of 1945 that Japan suffered the unprecedented devastation of two atomic bombs dropped on its people, and finally surrendered, bringing an end to World War II. The entire nation goes into […]
Twenty years have passed since the birth of the portable virtual character game Tamagotchi from Bandai. In July 2016, Bandai started offering a new version known as Tamagotchi MIX or Tamagotchi M!X in English. Keeping the original design in mind, the design team came up with a new way to enjoy the game by […]
Approximately 300 articles in the Chinese studies journal China Quarterly, which the Cambridge University Press publishes in Britain, were made temporarily unavailable in China. Articles that were made unavailable are on issues such as the June 1989 Tienanmen Square protests and Taiwan independence. All the articles share the theme of suppression of freedom […]
On August 15th, the 72nd anniversary of the end of the war, former United States marine Marvin Strombo, 93, returned a Japanese “Good-luck” flag found on the battlefields of Saipan to a bereaved family in Gifu Prefecture. Speaking at a press conference, Strombo, who hails from the western state of Montana, said: […]
The Radio representative Kazuhiro Araki (left) is talking to the microphone while Tatsuru Murao (right), executive director of COMJAN and program producer, is calling for support Amid increasing military tensions on the Korean Peninsula, it is understood that the “Investigation Commission on Missing Japanese Probably Related to North Korea (COMJAN),” has finalized preparations for […]
(Last of 3 Parts) Part 1: 3 Ways the US, Japan, Should Handle China’s Island Building Part 2: It’s Time for the US to Penalize China Where It Hurts As China continues with its policy of expansionism in the region, combining military intimidation and economic inducements toward its neighbors, we publish […]
Helmand Province, Afghanistan. (cr. Michael Yon) President Donald Trump thinks he can solve the AfPak dilemma. In his speech, the United States president talked about winning. There is no winning to be had beyond safeguarding our national interests. This is all a distraction from a gigantic problem: China. On our scale of […]
(2nd of 3 Parts) Part 1: 3 Ways the US, Japan, Should Handle China’s Island Building As China continues with its policy of expansionism in the region, combining military intimidation and economic inducements toward its neighbors, we publish in 3 parts an instructive interview by the Sankei Shimbun’s Washington bureau chief, […]
