U.S. President Barack Obama pledged to create a world without nuclear weapons in Prague. Many people around the world admire Mr. Obama's commitment. I think that it is very significant that the most influential person in the world clearly stated that wiping out nuclear weapons is indispensable to making the world a safer place — even if he knows that eradicating all the nuclear weapons around the world is a long and formidable task.

Despite Obama's pledge, nuclear weapons still pose a threat, with unstable nations like Pakistan and North Korea possessing them. Regional conflicts can contribute to hatred, which in turn can create arms races (as it did between India and Pakistan). Further, it is possible that North Korea could threaten its neighbors, a particularly frightening thought. So far, Japan is the only country to have suffered a nuclear attack. Therefore, we should be concsious of the consequences of nuclear weapons and be leaders in the fight against nuclear proliferation.

I was intrigued by two articles in your magazine, "Magazines with brand items gain popularity" (Jan. 20) and "Foreign media pulling out of Japan" (Feb. 13). I know that an increasing number of people are paying less attention to magazines and print media in general, and I think it's a good idea for domestic fashion magazines to make every effort to attract more customers by using recognizable apparel brands and original gifts to sell their product.

On the other hand, it is a pity that foreign media are pulling out of Japan because their coverage is an indispensable resource for foreigners and Japanese alike. Less available information in Japan from foreign media will only lead to more misunderstandings, a problem. Also, I think the government should cooperate more often with foreign media and share with them as much up-to-date domestic information as possible. Because I am a student of English, I would like to see more coverage of Japan-centric news in English.

I've recently become upset by the misstatements of several politicians on the issue of the relocation of American troops in Okinawa. The more these politicians try to correct their statements, the more skeptical I become about their plan, which sounds like it is not yet ready to be put into action.

First and foremost, the Japanese government should listen to people around the country about this issue because it's not just a regional matter. Whenever this issue is broached, it seems to be portrayed as if Okinawans are the only people who are burdened by this problem. It's regretful that the opinions of Japanese across the country seem to be kept out of the discussion. Also, to help us understand the heart of the problem, our politicians need to tell us all of the facts on the issue and we need to know all the facets of the relocation debate. If there are implications for the U.S.-Japan security pact, we need to examine these implications and discuss how we can either become more independent of or build a better relationship with the United States.

The Japan Times Weekly: March 6, 2010
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