Interesting Happenings in Japan

From May 21st 2009, the lay judge system would take effect in Japan. Trials using lay judges are expected to begin as early as July or August 2009. Since the criminal trials would include an the views of ordinary citizens, judgements are now expected to contain an element of everyday commonsense, similar to the mixed courts in some European countries.
The challenge seems to be whether the citizens can make objective decisions based on facts and not be easily swayed by emotion. This is harder because of the lack of a foundation in legal knowledge. Just recently, a trial held in Tokyo found that citizens tended to have a hard time determining sentences. Lay judges also tended to mete out harsher punishments because they felt bad for the victims. In any case, this system is still under control of the judges who are able to adjust the decision.
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The Lower House of Representatives will have to be dissolved by September 2009 for elections. Japan's bicameral structure now faces an interesting twist such that the Upper House majority is that of the Democratic Party of Japan while the Lower House is controlled by ruling party LDP. Given the recent weakening of the LDP and rise of DPJ in rural areas, many speculations abound that DPJ may be able to gain control of the Lower House this September. In my opinion, this seems ideal as it is a step in the right direction of creating a two-party system where there is good check and balance. Moreover, age-old pork barrel elements in politics (especially that of the rural areas) might be addressed. A revitatalization of policies based on party platforms may also enable Japan to overcome the current economic crisis without too much damage.
But amidst all the action, scandals are once again snagging the headlines. Secret love affairs or usage of the government JR pass for private purposes seem to trivalize the actual or potential good of a possibly new legislative branch. Ichiro Ozawa, widely respected as the man who brought DPJ to the front line through his presidential leadership, officially resigned earlier this week as president. Sounds like a pity but we also know that official resignations do not mean that they have lost total control of the situation. Such is the dynamic nature of Japan's politics. No one knows what would happen next. ;)
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Japan and Russia have recently signed a nuclear energy cooperation agreement, marking an end to a two-year negotiating process betwee Tokyo and Moscow on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. To quote the Japan Times Online, "Cooperation between the two parties will be strictly limited to the peaceful use of nuclear power and will be undertaken within the current and future framework of cooperation between the two countries' governments, as well as the international framework for the peaceful use of nuclear power". The Japan-Russia nuclear agreement is expected to provide up to $100 million worth of Russian low enriched uranium for Japan's 53 reactors and is seen as an important step toward the government's eventual goal of having atomic power provide at least 40 percent of the nation's electricity by 2017, up from about 30 percent at present.
Expectedly, opposition by several anti-nuclear groups in Japan and Russia have raised concerns of possible sale of nuclear material to other developing countries, lack of access to nuclear facilities for monitoring etc. It seems to me that the regional security architecture of Asia is still continuing to change, as Japan charts its own route to realizing its own security while balancing its own economic concerns.
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Recent news of swine flu, offensive against Taliban insurgents in the Swat Valley, civilians being used as human shields by the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka -- evidence of the world's continual changes, developments, problems... Discussions with friends from these countries sometimes leave us rather helpless that nothing more can be done at this point as the world continue its fight for survival and peace.
On another note, classes this semester are finally starting to get really interesting!!! My current favorite classes are those mostly related to Logistics -- national development and transport infrastructure, transport policy, transport economics.. heh. some theoretical background is helping me to understand the realworld situation much better.