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Wishful thinking fuels Kremlin's temptation: PARIS — What is the significance of France's recent sale of four powerful Mistral-class landing assault ships to Russia? Was it business as usual or an irresponsible move contributing to a dangerous shift in the balance of power in the Baltic and Black Seas? It is sometimes said that Germany ...; Posted on March 17, 2010 at 9:52 PM

Sea Shepherd needed in jungles: Regarding the March 13 article "Sea Shepherd activist arrested": The confrontations between Sea Shepherd activists and Japanese whalers in the Antarctic Ocean would be comical if they were not so dangerous. Someday, somebody, a whaler or an activist, is going to get killed. Why can't governments or nongovernmental groups do ...; Posted on March 17, 2010 at 9:51 PM

China's hollow constitution: In many ways, the Chinese Constitution is a marvelous document. It guarantees Chinese citizens a host of rights, including "freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration." The problem is that these rights exist only in theory, not in practice. The latest human ...; Posted on March 17, 2010 at 9:50 PM

Hawks' Matsunaka to start season in minors: FUKUOKA (Kyodo) Fukuoka Softbank Hawks outfielder Nobuhiko Matsunaka, who had surgery on his right knee during the off-season, is set to begin the season in the minor league, it was learned on Wednesday. Matsunaka, 36, played the same day against select players from the independent Shikoku-Kyushu Island League in his ...; Posted on March 17, 2010 at 9:49 PM

Try using another species for food: What some people in Japan and other countries don't understand is that cows and pigs are bred solely for food — unlike dolphins, which are free spirits swimming the world's oceans until they're bludgeoned inhumanely to death for a few thousand dinner plates, or put into small cages/ponds for popular ...; Posted on March 17, 2010 at 9:48 PM

Dolphin meat itself another story: Regarding the March 10 article " 'Cove' Oscar won't end Taiji dolphin kill": I suppose that complaints from Japan were expected after "The Cove" won the best documentary Oscar. If Japan wants to cull or hunt dolphins, there are far more humane ways to do it. "The Cove" shows the ...; Posted on March 17, 2010 at 9:47 PM

Consequences of past mistakes: Regarding the March 10 editorial, "A blueprint for China": Unlike many critics who insist that China must disclose more, I am not in the least perturbed by China's military spending. It is easy to tell that Beijing spends on the military as a defense from foreign attack and not so ...; Posted on March 17, 2010 at 9:46 PM

Spring may be as good as it gets: Autumn is my favorite season. It is transitional. It's bittersweet. But I like the spring, too, for some of the same reasons, and Tokyo is as fine a place as any to be in the spring. On a bright yellow, mild spring day I will go down to the Imperial ...; Posted on March 17, 2010 at 9:45 PM

Dump-truck identification numbers: Dear Alice, It has been my great pleasure, these past few months, to watch from my window the total destruction of a large building. The work started with three hydraulic excavators that carefully crushed their way down from the roof. Now I'm watching a beautifully orchestrated parade of dump trucks ...; Posted on March 17, 2010 at 9:44 PM

Israel's unproductive 'insult': The Middle East has been the graveyard for many U.S. presidents' diplomatic ambitions. The best intentions and the dedication of considerable time and effort have done little to overcome the seemingly intractable Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Yet rarely if ever has a U.S. president been insulted as plainly as Barack Obama was ...; Posted on March 17, 2010 at 9:43 PM

Afghanistan lost without better governance: NEW YORK — The United States and its Afghan and NATO allies have demonstrated unmistakable progress in Afghanistan this year. The ongoing Marjah campaign, the arrest of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and two Taliban "shadow governors" in Pakistan, and the recent drone strike hitting top leaders of the al-Qaida- affiliated ...; Posted on March 17, 2010 at 9:42 PM

Double-take on fashion label: Regarding the March 12 article "Prada accused of maltreatment": I am shocked and surprised [that the Italian fashion label has been accused of discriminating against managers in Japan because of their appearance]. I knew things like this happen in the industry, but not to this extent. That loyal, hardworking and ...; Posted on March 17, 2010 at 9:41 PM

DPJ rule raises Hague treaty-signing hope: It has been over five years since Murray Wood's two children left their home in Canada with his Japanese ex-wife for a supposed visit with their ill grandfather in Japan. But what he believed to be a short trip was actually the beginning of the end for his time as ...; Posted on March 17, 2010 at 9:40 PM

Include pro-North schools in tuition waiver: U.N. panel: GENEVA (Kyodo) A U.N. panel monitoring racial equality and nondiscrimination expressed concern Tuesday about Japan's possible exclusion of pro-Pyongyang schools for Korean residents from its planned tuition waiver program for public high school students. In a report, the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination said it "expresses concern ...; Posted on March 17, 2010 at 9:39 PM

BOJ doubles loan program to ¥20 trillion: Responding to the government's call for deflation-fighting steps, the Bank of Japan said Wednesday it will expand liquidity by doubling its three-month loans to banks, introduced in December, to about ¥20 trillion. The central bank also announced it will keep the benchmark interest rate at 0.1 percent, the level it ...; Posted on March 17, 2010 at 9:38 PM

Seoul looks to delay Lee visit: Seoul has told Tokyo that it wants to postpone South Korean President Lee Myung Bak's visit to Japan being planned for around April 10, diplomatic sources said. The request for a postponement is apparently due to Seoul's concern that Lee's visit will yield no progress on the issue of whether ...; Posted on March 17, 2010 at 9:37 PM

Woods to return at Augusta: PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) For Tiger Woods, this figures to be a Masters like no other. Woods said Tuesday he will end more than four months of seclusion and play at Augusta National in three weeks, shielded by the most secure environment in golf as he competes for the first ...; Posted on March 17, 2010 at 9:36 PM

Panasonic's 3-D gamble pays off in U.S.: Panasonic Corp. said its 3-D TVs sold out in the U.S. in their first week, raising optimism the technology that helped the film "Avatar" break records at the box office will extend to living rooms and help boost profits. The shortage is prompting the world's largest plasma TV maker to ...; Posted on March 17, 2010 at 9:35 PM

Consumers turn to long-life containers to keep down costs: Consumers are turning to innovative food storage containers to help stretch their food budgets amid the economic slowdown. Companies are keeping up with demand by giving plastic freezer bags, soy sauce dispensers and instant coffee refill cartridges a technological edge.; Posted on March 17, 2010 at 9:34 PM

Baruto remains unbeaten: OSAKA (Kyodo) Promotion-chasing sekiwake Baruto dodged a bullet to floor Aminishiki and retain his share of the lead alongside yokozuna Hakuho at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday. Baruto looked set to taste his first "kuroboshi" defeat of the 15-day tournament when he was tipped off balance at the ...; Posted on March 17, 2010 at 9:33 PM

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