The Nikkei Shimbun asked: “How good is the next ambassador to Japan, John Roos?” Check out the translation of their interviews with ex-Vice President Walter Mondale and Stanford University Professor Emeritus Daniel Okimoto below.

The U.S. government has nominated lawyer John Roos, 54, as the next ambassador to Japan, and his appointment will soon be submitted to the Senate for confirmation. There is high interest in the personality and capability of Roos, who is not well-known in Japan. We interviewed former Vice President Walter Mondale, 81, a former ambassador to Japan …

From Japan Newbie: “That says “konkatsu”. This word isn’t in your dictionary, but if you’ve been studying Kanji for quite some time and know a bit about Japanese society you can probably guess what it means. By the way, “konkatsu” was nominated for the 2008 流行語大賞, if you’re into that sort of thing.
I’ll explain this “konkatsu” slang phrase while sharing some information about modern Japanese society and teaching you the joy of Kanji.” Click here to read more.

The Yomiuri Shimbun ran a story on Prime Minister Taro Aso half-stepping or playing politics when it comes to discussing Japan’s right to (re)militarize. Aso remains unable to begin discussion to alter the government’s constitutional interpretation that prohibits the country from exercising the right to collective self-defense. Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has urged Aso, his close friend, to make the issue the party’s campaign pledge for the next House of Representatives election, and changing the government’s interpretation has been Aso’s stock argument, as well. Aso, however, apparently does not …

Did you know?: “High school is not compulsory in Japan, and even public high schools require tuition fees. In Tokyo, students have to pay a little more than ¥10,000 a month to attend public high schools.” 
Phillip Brasor in a Japan Times piece reports that “media silence on first lady’s school visit shows Japan’s education gap.” He says, “In essence, there is no such thing as a “scholarship” in Japan.” Surprising? Well check out the rest of his article here! 
Additionally, you can read Ms. Aya Abe’s report (in English), “Empirical Analysis …

I previously posted about Harvard University professor and Japan expert Dr. Joseph Nye and now it seems that is finally confirmed as the next US Ambassador to Japan.
The Mainichi Shimbun reports: “Harvard University Professor and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense Joseph Nye has been confirmed as the next U.S. ambassador to Japan, a senior Japanese government official has revealed.

FROM: American Embassy Tokyo
SUBJ: Warden Message – Narita Airport Operations Affected by FEDEX Crash

Sunday
: As of 1330 local, March 23, 2009
This is to inform the American community that the crash of a FedEx cargo plane at Narita International Airport at 0648 local time on Monday, March 23, 2009, has temporarily disrupted the arrival and departure of some commercial passenger flights while investigation and cleanup of the crash continue.   The FedEx plane crashed on Runway A, the longer of Narita’s runways, which remains closed as of this report.  The airport is currently operating with only one runway.
If you …