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July 24, 2026
 

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Takamitsu Sawa

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Takamitsu Sawa
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Aug 7, 2020
Plan to phase out inefficient coal plants breaks no new ground
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshi Kajiyama said in early July that the government will work out a program to phase out inefficient coal-burning thermal power plants ¡ª by either suspending or scrapping these plants. METI later followed up on the move by launching a panel of experts to...
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 13, 2020
Can Japan get out of its downward spiral?
To turn the nation around, Japan needs more effective political leadership.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 16, 2020
No end in sight to the debate over Japan¡¯s school year
Starting the academic year in April poses yet another obstacle in the nation¡¯s effort to internationalize its higher education.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 27, 2020
Stay-home request spurs a reading revival
In many urban areas of Japan, people were recently urged to stay home for weeks on in the fight to contain the spread of COVID-19. Most big bookstores in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto were closed through the end of the Golden Week holidays, making it difficult to buy books.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 19, 2020
What we¡¯ll miss when bookstores disappear
Nothing can fully replace holding a real book in your hands.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Mar 13, 2020
Japan¡¯s post-3/11 and future energy landscape
Seeking to raise the share of renewable energy as close as possible to 100 percent could resolve many problems.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 17, 2020
Strong liberal arts education is key to success in Society 5.0
A liberal arts education is crucial to the development of the skills required for success in Society 5.0.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 21, 2020
Japan going the wrong way in English-education reform
English-language education in Japanese schools should focus on reading and writing rather than conversation to build a strong foundation.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 13, 2019
Achieving human liberation through AI
AI is none other than a mechanized slave in that it liberates humans from labor for production.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 13, 2019
Cheap power the key to AI-based business
It is imperative that Japan reform its power industry to make electricity more affordable for industries relying on AI.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 16, 2019
Reforming education for Society 5.0
It will be impossible to nurture human resources suitable for Society 5.0 unless drastic curriculum reforms are carried out to make universities an arena for a liberal arts education.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Sep 22, 2019
How AI and robots can lead us to utopia
AI could conceivably eliminate the need for human labor in production and allow people to immerse themselves in intellectual activities.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Aug 6, 2019
Japan lags in AI use and internet literacy
The speed of change in the Fourth Industrial Revolution is extremely high, and Japan is falling behind.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 14, 2019
Fix Japan¡¯s misallocation of human resources
Medical schools at universities are becoming unprecedentedly popular among high school students seeking to advance to higher education. Many high schools¡¯ websites exhibit not only the number of graduates who have successfully entered well-known national, public and private universities, but also how...
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 16, 2019
Demand in doubt for fully autonomous cars
Fully automous cars are coming, but how many people will be willing to pay for them?
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 19, 2019
The distribution revolution
Internet shopping provides benefits to both sellers and consumers, and should be regarded as the main player in the third revolution in the distribution of goods.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 12, 2019
Foreign student numbers don¡¯t tell whole tale
The government¡¯s goal of strategically attracting outstanding students from abroad under its plan to accept 300,000 foreign students is far from accomplished.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 14, 2019
Democracy in a self-contradictory trap
Populism is the Achilles heel of democracy.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 20, 2019
Winds of change sweep auto industry
Automakers are engaged in a fierce batttle for survival.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 18, 2019
The global decline of Japanese universities
Dark clouds hang over the future of Japanese universities due to the government¡¯s failure to recognize the importance of education and research.
Japan scientists identify clusters of protein believed to trigger Alzheimer¡¯s disease
A team of researchers said they found a ¡°seed¡± that accelerates the amyloid beta accumulation process in the brain, naming it ¡°Peak 1 amyloid beta,¡± as seen in a mouse's brain.
Indian brothers make manga debut in Japan
Two Indian brothers made their manga debut in Japan with "Kung Fu Kung Fool" ¡ª an action-comedy series that follows the adventures of a notorious thief and a young boy.
Japan weighs regulating Pokemon cards amid trading mania
A Pokemon event is held in Jakarta on July 11
Low-income families in Japan cut food and air conditioning during summer break
Yumiko Watanabe, the chairperson of nonprofit Kidsdoor, explains the results of a survey in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on July 1.
Iran strikes on CIA facilities prompt questions about possible Russian role
Iranian drones are displayed in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on Jan. 13, 2025.U.S. officials have acknowledged that Russia has ?provided targeting ?and other support for Iran in its drone strikes on U.S. targets in the Persian Gulf region.
The sci-fi sensibilities of electronic trio Black Boboi
Black Boboi was formed in 2018 when solo artists Julia Shortreed, Utena Kobayashi and Ermhoi came together under Kobayashi¡¯s newly founded label, Bindividual.
A perfect storm: Kaze Fujii fans flock to Fuji Rock
Okayama-born singer-songwriter Kaze Fujii has carved out a distinctive place in Japanese pop since his major-label debut in 2019.
Can Japanese comedy get laughs in English? Yoshimoto Kogyo lets the jokes rip
Wes-P has millions of followers and his viral clips made him recognizable out of Japan.
The 180-day locals: Life on Japan¡¯s digital nomad visa
Christopher Flinn works remotely from Tokyo earlier this month. Japan issued 646 digital nomad visas in 2025, but tourism officials are hoping to increase that figure in the coming years, with Japan's relatively cheap cost of living and the weak yen seen as potential draws for young professionals.
Japan reveals hint of new defense spending target in fiscal blueprint
The Self-Defense Forces' Type 16 mobile combat vehicle fires during a joint live-fire drill with U.S. Marines as part of the annual Resolute Dragon exercises in Yufu, Oita Prefecture, on June 28.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo¡¯s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo¡¯s ¡®stadium of desire¡¯

Longform

For many people, utility poles and power lines have become such a familiar part of Japan¡¯s landscape that they often go unnoticed.
Why Japan¡¯s utility poles won¡¯t be disappearing anytime soon
By Alex K.T. Martin

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