This month’s column will offer my impressions about how much Japan has changed regarding the issues that have always been on my radar screen—society’s openness to newcomers. On that score, I have some positive developments to report.
We all know life can be tough, especially for people in Japan. But practicing being thankful, particularly if you can find someone to thank, isn’t just a matter of good fortune. Psychologically, the basic unit of survival is being part of a pair.
Exclusionary businesses have a long history in Japan, and people seem to be forgetting it. Here’s a reminder from somebody who has studied them more than anybody.
Haiti is currently facing its highest levels of gang violence in recent years, prompting the country’s self-proclaimed prime minister to seek foreign intervention. Despite the complications and failures of previous interventions, recent surveys indicate that both citizens and local charities might be open to this approach.
As you have probably have heard, SNA President Michael Penn will be moving his operations overseas. He’s leaving Japan. At his age, that’s probably a good idea. I speak from experience.
Activists supporting the Amhara people of Ethiopia are warning that their ethnic group is facing a “hidden genocide” due to the historical and territorial grievances of rival political factions.
Suruga Bank is facing allegations of fraudulent lending practices that disproportionately targeted Japan’s foreign residents, wiping out personal savings, and placing the safety of tenants at risk.
The news outlets The Wire (India) and Shingetsu News Agency (Japan) have agreed to partner with one another to mutually strengthen their services. The agreement includes provisions to mutually syndicate one another’s work.
The assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has occasioned a lot of valuable, eye-opening discussions in the media, but few if any have focused upon how Abe’s death could be seen as a form of karmic payback–what happens when you ignore the lessons of history in the pursuit of raw political power.
News Headline: “Prosecutors drop case over death of detained Sri Lankan woman.”
