In 1981 Chaim Potok published a novel about Japan called The Book of Lights based on his experience of living in Japan as a chaplain in the U.S. army after the Korean War. Potok had been raised as a traditional…
Among the articles I read this Memorial Day about heroes and generations past that accomplished great things without the benefit of cell phones, Google, or oat milk, was one concerning the discovery of the original letter announcing the award of…
I never thought that I would be spending Passover in Japan. The idea was always, “Next year in Jerusalem” not Tokyo, but here I am. Several currents conspired to bring me here with a few other members of my family….
Culture counts. It is not everything, but it is often the most important influence, whether in an organization or a corporation or a nation. I spent some time in Japan on business, and I loved the culture of precision, efficiency,…
The Pennsylvania-based U.S. Steel company recently agreed to be purchased by the Tokyo-headquartered publicly traded company Nippon Steel. This deal makes sense to economists. It will encourage other foreign companies to invest in the U.S., creating wealth and new job…
Fear. Merriam-Webster defines it as “an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger.” That’s a decent definition — and it is reasonably useful when looking at historical events where fear is a motivator. What Merriam-Webster’s definition…
I’ve just returned from a conference on religious persecution. Held in the Mediterranean, the event covered the status of religious liberty in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). In general, the status of religious minorities in that region ranges…
Is it bad for the U.S. that a Japanese automaker such as Honda builds millions of cars in America — in five American states — employing thousands of American workers? If it isn’t, then why would it be bad for…
How far Lord Minamoto no Muneyuki had fallen. His grandfather was the former Emperor Kōkō, and his father the Imperial Prince Koretada, yet in the year 894 A.D. Muneyuki found himself reduced to commoner status by his uncle, the reigning Emperor…
