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Miyamoto Musashi was a serious man. The warrior-poet walked the medieval Japanese countryside seeking duels with the strongest warriors he could find. He lived a pure ascetic existence. He didn't care where he slept. He carried no money or food. And when too old to fight, after a life on the edge of mortality, he wrote philosophy in a cave. So, pretty much the exact opposite of the modern American lifestyle. Yet as our country grapples with a dangerous debt/deficit problem, caused by demographic challenges and an overpriced and inefficient health care system, we should pay heed to two of...

<p>Masamune Date is not an obvious heart-throb for today’s young Japanese women. He has an aristocratic lineage and love of the arts — but he is also a one-eyed ruthless killer. He lost an eye to smallpox and in his relentless pursuit of power is said to have slaughtered his own brother, as well as Christian missionaries, Korean peasants and countless of his compatriots.</p>

Tokyo - Japan on Thursday executed four convicted murderers, the Justice Ministry announced, a decision expected to draw renewed protests from pressure groups. Japan is one of the very few industrialized countries upholding capital punishment. The world's second largest economy after the United States faces regular international condemnation from human rights organizations like Amnesty International over prison conditions and its continued adherence to capital punishment. Relatives are informed of executions only after the fact, and prisoners of death row are told of their upcoming death only in morning of their executions, leaving them only hours to live. In 2008, the...

This is a "heads-up" for the airing of "The War", the Ken Burns (Florentine Films) production on PBS.

An independent investigator for the UN says racism in Japan is deep and profound, and the government does not recognise the depth of the problem. Doudou Diene, a UN special rapporteur on racism and xenophobia, was speaking at the end of a nine-day tour of the country. He said Japan should introduce new legislation to combat discrimination. Mr Diene travelled to several Japanese cities during his visit, meeting minority groups and touring slums. He said that although the government helped to organise his visit, he felt many officials failed to recognise the seriousness of the racism and discrimination minorities suffered....

Part VI Japan: War, Warfare and Weapons   SEVEN PRINCIPLES From "The Zen Way to the Martial Arts, Bushido, the way of the samurai, grew out of the fusion of Buddhism and Shintoism. This way can be summarized in seven essential principles:1. Gi: the right decision, taken with equanimity, the right attitude, the truth. When we must die, we must die. Rectitude.2. Yu: bravery tinged with heroism.3. Jin: universal love, benevolence toward mankind; compassion.4. Rei: right action--a most essential quality, courtesy.5. Makoto: utter sincerity; truthfulness.ó. Melyo: honor and glory.7. Chugo: devotion, loyalty.These are the seven principles underlying the spirit...