Scenes of Pyongyang citizens wailing the death of “Dear Leader” Kim Jong Il remind us how easily dictatorships can manipulate public opinion. But are the rest of us so immune to similar manipulation?
Entries Categorised as 'Japan'
Japan’s economic morality play.
October 26th, 2011 · 3 Comments
World attention focuses on the problems of the Greek economy — no doubt with a large helping of schadenfreude added: There, but for the grace of God, go the rest of us is the thought.
Aquarius Wind and Solar Marine Power System for Ships
September 2nd, 2011 · 5 Comments
World shipping is a major source of airborne pollution and the movement of seaborne trade across the world requires vast amounts of bunker oil and other fossil fuels to be consumed by ships of all sizes. In Japan work has begun on developing a wind and solar power solution for ships called the “Aquarius System”. Since I am involved in the project I thought I might take this opportunity to promote the idea!
Thoughts from Japan – a terrifying earthquake & tragedy
March 14th, 2011 · 12 Comments
Lives for all us living in Japan changed from the moment the first terrifying earthquake hit off the North East coast of Japan on Friday 11th March. We all live near fault lines and most of us live near the coast as well, therefore as the images of the disaster were shown on television I was simply lost for words – unable to process what I was seeing.
A contrarian view of how ‘austerity’ bleeds Japan
March 4th, 2011 · 9 Comments
With the Standard and Poor’s downgrading of Japan’s long-term credit rating from AA to AA minus, the focus even more is on how the economy can get out of its current deflationary quagmire.
Debating the Optimistic versus Pessimistic Views of China
January 18th, 2011 · 4 Comments
First a few personal facts. My involvement with China goes back to the early sixties as a diplomat in Hongkong where I was learning Mandarin. For a while I served as China desk officer in Canberra’s foreign affairs ministry. Then during Cultural Revolution days I finally got to China, by organizing an Australian pingpong team (over Canberra’s opposition).
Origins of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
September 24th, 2010 · 2 Comments
In the 1960’s the Japanese rightwing had a problem. The leftwing was arguing strongly that Japan’s postwar economy badly needed access to the markets and raw materials of China, North Korea and the Soviet Union if it was to survive (in prewar years it had depended heavily on China and the Korean peninsula for both).
Media vultures circle Japan’s P.M.
May 27th, 2010 · 11 Comments
In Brazil they tell the story of the small-town TV crime reporter who gained fame and scoops by arranging crimes himself. He could then rush out and interview the victims well before rivals. But eventually his scoops caught up with him and he ended up in jail.
U.S. base problem drags on.
March 25th, 2010 · 4 Comments
The loud dispute over the future of the U.S. Marine Air Station at Futenma, Okinawa, is puzzling. Even U.S. officialdom agrees that this base causes enormous inconvenience to the residents of Ginowan city who are forced to live alongside. Plans to have it moved have been around for years. But to where?
The Japanese economy: trying to get a balanced view.
March 1st, 2010 · 12 Comments
Toyota’s current recall woes have generated a range of articles about the Japanese economy as journalists rush to get some Japan flavoured content served up to their masters. But often these articles simply rehash the same tired cliches about Japan and it’s economy and don’t provide people outside Japan with a balanced view of what is really happening.
The Japanese economy: an economy chasing its tail.
January 18th, 2010 · No Comments
The Japanese have a saying sandome no shojiki. Roughly translated it means that ‘after getting it wrong twice you finally get it right the third time.’ Two previous Japanese administrations – Hashimoto (1996-98) and Koizumi (2001-6) – have set out to revive the economy through promises to cut government borrowing and spending.
First ban the hawks, then the bomb.
October 26th, 2009 · 5 Comments
This year’s Hiroshima atomic bombing anniversary saw more demands for the abolition of nuclear weapons. It is a worthy goal. But does it make sense? People genuinely keen to rid the world of nuclear weapons need first do something about the hawks and hardliners whose actions often make nuclear weapons inevitable. Japan would be a good place to start.
Farewell Taro Aso: but will anything change in Japan?
August 29th, 2009 · 2 Comments
Tomorrow Japan goes to the polls and there seems almost no chance that Taro Aso will be returned as Prime Minister. But don’t be fooled into thinking this is because the DPJ (Democratic Part of Japan) ran a great election campaign, put forward excellent policies or their leader Yukio Hatayama is hugely popular.
When in a recession be careful what you believe.
August 13th, 2009 · No Comments
Recessions are not only bad for an economy but they are also appear to create an environment where some of the worst financial reporting and commentary thrives. Suddenly journalists actually start to believe they know how the recession will unfold and many self titled market experts toss up the most bizarre predictions that cover everything from the end of the global financial system, to cunning plans being secretly developed by bankers to control the world.
The Japanese economy: fragile but improving.
July 7th, 2009 · 4 Comments
It has been hard to write much about the Japanese economy of late simply because the economic data appeared to change every day. But over the last few weeks things do seem to have stabilised and both the government and the private sector in Japan generally agree that the economy probably hit the bottom earlier this year.
Fuel cells, nuclear power, solar energy and the way forward for Japan
May 1st, 2009 · 3 Comments
The global economic downturn is hurting most developed nations and at present, most governments around the world are focused on supporting their economies via a range of economic stimulus packages. But in my mind a good stimulus package should not only be cost effective and support future productivity, but it should also position a nation for the eventual recovery in the global economy. In that respect Australia could learn a lot from Japan where contrary to what is conveyed in the western media, a great deal of thought and common sense goes into government spending packages and long term planning.
