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Some of JEF's activities are subsidized by JKA through its Promotion funds from KEIRIN RACE.
COVER STORY:World Poverty
a Challenge to Humankind in 21st Century
How should we work on reducing poverty in the world?
Dr. R. K. Pachauri, Novel Peace Prize winner in 2007, and other opinion leaders will present various solutions to the most urgent issue focused on the "bottom billion" in the poorest countries in the world.
COVER STORY:Japanese Culture: Source of Power on World Stage?
Can Japanese Modern Culture Contribute to the World Business Development & Peaceful Foreign Relations?
A variety of the thinkers world-wide talk aboutlook into what Japanese culture today implies to the globalized world community.
Special Artilce: Future Outlook of Japan-US Strategic Alliance
(From the report of "Panel to Propose Building of New Japan-US Relationship under New US Administration")
A group of Japanese experts on relations between Tokyo and Washington has drawn up a set of recommendations on bilateral and global issues in a project commissioned by the Japan Economic Foundation.
COVER STORY: White Paper on International Economy & Trade 2009
Amid the global economic crisis, METI White Paper shows us the way in which Japan's economy should proceed to, "change a pinch into a chance."
Its main topics include the financial crisis & Asian economy, the international trade regime amid the crisis, internationalization of Japanese content industry, and tourism.
COVER STORY: Foreign Direct Investment in Japan
In the cover story delves into the activities of foreign corporate subsidiaries in Japan and their impact on the Japanese business community and economy amid the evolving business climate.
Special Report: Dr. Barry Eichengreen, professor at UC Berkeley, paints "a better future" for the role of economics, called into question amid the global credit crisis today.
COVER STORY Global Aging: Challenge & Opportunity
Global aging is a challenge for the world as well as Japan. However, we should look at its positive side as well. Academic experts and businesspeople introduce you to a wide range of aspects of the theme.
COVER STORY Energy & Environment: Global Approach to Long-term Challenges
How will Japan and the rest of Asia cope with this new challenge while responding to global environmental concerns closely related to the energy situation? Experts in various sectors, including bioenergy, the IEA and METI. showcase the road to solutions.
Special articles:Dr. T. J. Pempel, professor, UC Berkeley,
suggests Japan "re-balance" its policy priorities as it gives a fresh look at its relations with the United States ahead of the Obama administration's inauguration.
This issue carries a second installment in the Japanese Craft & Art series featuring "urushi" lacquer. Leading urushi lacquerware artist Kazumi Murose, holder of a "living national treasure" title, introduces the masterpieces of his choice in this issue. Another article features Wajima lacquerware, produced in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture. It is one of Japan's leading traditional craftwork brands using urushi, and some Wajima ware products were used at an official dinner during the G-8 Toyako summit. Yet another related article features "butsudan," a family Buddhist altar, also coated with urushi as well as leaf gold.
The current issue concludes the Promenade series of articles on farmer philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka. The last installment introduces the present activities of desert greening by clay-ball seeding, a practice being inherited by the next generation.
Japan SPOTLIGHT welcomes letters to the Readers' Column for the exchange of opinions among readers. Please feel free to send your opinion or comment about articles and today's world economy. For example, you may comment on the article about the economic crisis by Dr. Madsen. When your letter is to be carried, we will contact you beforehand.
COVER STORY:Plus-sum game in innovative Asia This issue features various regional alliance efforts designed to achieve a win-win relationship in the Asia-Pacific region. Some regional opinion leaders provide their insights into the theme. Now, Japan SPOTLIGHT offers an Asian-wide discussion tool on the important policy issue.
In one of two special articles, Dr. Robert Madsen, a senior fellow at MIT, presents steps to fend off a "once-in-a-century" financial crisis.In the other, Nobutake Odano, Japanese ambassador to the EU and former envoy in charge of TICAD 4, sums up the significance of the conference.
The latest issue also profiles farmer philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka, who passed away this August after making a lifelong effort for greening the desert by clay-ball seeding in Asia and Africa. He won the Ramon Magsaysay Award and was awarded the highest honorary degree of India's Visva-Bharati University by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi as well as the Earth Council Award. In his second installment in a new series, Kazumi Murose, an urushi lacquer art producer appointed a living national treasure in July, describes urushi in Japanese culture.
We registered back number of JAPAN SPOTLIGHT July/Aug 2008 issue in JAPAN SPOTLIGHT website. You can read the articles about White Paper 2008 by METI, The columns of ECONOMIC FOCUS and PROMENADE by JEF for free.
JAPAN SPOTLIGHT September/October 2008 issue (Sep 1, 2008)September/October issue features the future of the fast digitalizing global economy. What impact is it causing on the Japanese economy? What about its effects on the Japanese digital industry's competitiveness? These and other points are analyzed in a broad perspective by government academic and industry experts such as Etsuhiko Shoyama, president of Hitach Ltd.. , plus specialists from abroad such as George Scalise, president of the US Semiconductor Industry Association. The Japanese Art & Craft column is featuring traditional handicrafts based on Japanese lacquer urushi. Promenade is featuring Masanobu Fukuoka, a father of Natural Farming, who has just passed away at age 95 for old age on 16th of last month.
JAPAN SPOTLIGHT July / August 2008 issue (July 15, 2008)
This time we will feature White Paper on International Economy & Trade 2008, an annual review of Japan's international economy and trade done by METI officials and specialists:
This year, they focus on how Japanese businesses are adjusting to "globalization." They also highlight the issue of "water shortage," one of the most urgent challenges in the world today.
Also taken up are the rising international status of Japanese food culture, a joint welfare project undertaken by Finland and the Japanese city of Sendai, the world of flower arrangement, social issue like Hikikomori, culture & trends in Japan and various economic analysis.
The main theme "Evolving Japanese-style Management and Global Competition". It is focasing on CSR (an important key to corporate governance in the 21st century), changes in Japanese management and its impact on overseas businesses, accented by interviews with business leaders. It also carries special articles on the upcoming G-8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, food culture, arts, and a foreign businessman's viewpoint to shed light on various aspects of Japan.
JAPAN SPOTLIGHT March/April 2008 (March 1, 2008)From outstanding engineering to the creation of products with superior performance, Japan's vigorous economic society is supported by excellent human resources. We will report Japan's cultivation of human resources today with resent movement of university reform, collaboration with industries and universities and concrete examples of business education. On the another column, employment reform, Japan-ASEAN FTA as special articles, food culture, art and view from foreigners etc., we will introduce Japan from various point of view.
JAPAN SPOTLIGHT Janurary/February 2008How has the web revolution changed Japaense media, business and society? This issue highlights the Internet evolution and its multi-faced effects, including those on TV, advertisement, the ICT industry, copyrights and human rights. Writers presenting their views on these and other topics will have a variety of nationalities such as China, Australia, the United States and Britan in addition to Japan.
JAPAN SPOTLIGHT November/December issue (November 1, 2007)We will look into Japan's sagging birthrate in this issue. There are many things to be considered in addressing this problem. We will try to approach some of them, including the current environment surrounding Japanese women, policy issues, psychological analysis, the work/life balance and corporate challenges. As a special article, problems associated with the safety of consumer products are to be taken up.
JAPAN SPOTLIGHT May/June 2007
What else can we do for environmental protection? In the next issue, we will feature global environmental issues, including Japan's latest technical developments by specialists in various fields. We will also
introduce a small regional company using bamboo for business, helping ease the load on the environment. In the "Japanese Mind" column, we will show you the fascination of "Noh" and how to enjoy the Japanese traditional
masked dance-drama, along with some beautiful photos.
On the Cover Story we will feature "White Paper on International Economy and Trade 2007" Senior officials and specialists from METI look into ways of coping with dicerse economic and trade issues such as global current account imbalances and logistics in the annual White Paper.
About other contents, we will introduce Japnese ODA to india, Japanese Food, Sake, the art island Naoshima and the Japanese mentality seen in city landscape.
It is also interesting the viewpoint from the foreigners living in Japan. On this issue, British freelance joulnalist watch Japanese film industry, and Malaysian scholer look at the relationship between East Asia and Japan
Japan SPOTLIGHT latest issue is feature Abe Administrateion's Economic Policies. We invite 8 economic experts to get a big picture view of the pilicies and present Japan's economic condition.here
Japan SPOTLIGHT March/April 2007 issue (March 1,2007)
The latest issue features Japan's Fashion Industry. It cover from policy aspects to some examples of Internet business, including its potentiality and development. It will also carry an interview with the president of a world-famous Japanese fashion brand company. On the basis of new initiatives such as "Japan Fashion Week in Tokyo," you will get an insider's view of Japan's burgeoning fashion industry.
