Using Global Studies: Japan and the Pacific Rim Selected World Wide Web Sites U.S. Statistics and Map Canada Statistics and Map World Map The Pacific Rim Map The Pacific Rim: Diversity and Interconnection Pacific Islands Map The Pacific Islands: Opportunities and Limits Japan Country Reports Australia (Commonwealth of Australia) Brunei (State of Brunei Darussalam) Cambodia (Kingdom of Cambodia) China (Peoples Republic of China) East Timor (Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste) Hong Kong (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Indonesia (Republic of Indonesia) Laos (Lao Peoples Democratic Republic) Macau (Macau Special Administrative Region) Malaysia Myanmar (Union of Myanmar [Burma])) New Zealand North Korea (Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea) Papua New Guinea (Independent State of Papua New Guinea) Philippines (Republic of the Philippines) Singapore (Republic of Singapore) South Korea (Republic of Korea) Taiwan Thailand (Kingdom of Thailand) Vietnam (Socialist Republic of Vietnam) Articles from the World Press 1. Meeting the Needs of the Developing World, Asia Pacific Perspective, December, 2004. Large amounts of Japanese money in the form of overseas development assistance has been bridges of cooperation for 50 years throughout Asia. What has been accomplished, and what changes are underway? 2. United East Asia, Fukunari Kimura, Asia Pacific Perspectives, November, 2004. The trend toward integration of East Asia is well underway. These agreements could be the beginning of a regional economic community along the lines of the European Union or the North America Free Trade Association. 3. China Goes Shopping, Dexter Roberts et al., Business Week, December 20, 2004. Chinese businesses, with the encouragement of Beijing, are launching a wave of acquisitions of Western companies. What is the cause of this trend and where will it end? 4. Animapans Animated Pop Culture, Yonezawa Yoshihiro, Nipponia, December 15, 2003. The first Japanese animated film was made about 90 years ago. Japan is now the animapital of the world. What are the secrets behind the development of animnto a worldwide industry? 5. Japans Aging Society, Asia Pacific Perspectives, October 2003. Japans demographics are changing rapidly, with far fewer children and far more senior citizens. What will be the impacts of these trends? 6. As Japans Women Move Up, Many Are Moving Out, Howard W. French, New York Times, March 3, 2003. The overall divorce rate in Japan is flat in comparison to the rates in the West, but it is nonetheless steadily creeping upward, even among the middle aged. The social changes underlying the rising divorce rate are examined in this article. 7. Whither North Korea?, Koen De Ceuster, IIAS Newsletter # 32, November 2003. The nuclear crisis involving North Korea could have easily been averted and has its roots in the policies of the Bush administration. 8. Parasites in Prorter, Peggy Orenstein, New York Times Magazine, July 1, 2001. Peggy Orenstein describes an interesting social phenomenon in Japan: free-spending 'parasite single' women in their 20s and 30s--'girls' who just wanna have fun. 9. Taiwans Democratic Movement and Push for Independence, Chang Mau-kuei, IIAS Newsletter # 34, July 2004. The current Taiwanese independence movement has its roots in the resistance to Japanese colonialism in the early 1920s. But the island is pulled by forces from different directions, and the end result is not yet clear. 10. The Japan That Can Say Yes, Kazuhiko Togo, IIAS Newsletter # 34, July 2004. A former Japanese ambassador analyzes the new, more assertive, Japanese definition of its role in international affairs. 11. Hong Kong: Still One Country, Two Systems ?, Craig N. Canning, Current History, September 2001. Is the 'one country, two systems' approach for reunification working in Hong Kong? In some ways, yes; in other ways, no. Craig Canning takes inventory. 12. Keep Costs Under Control, John McBeth, Far Eastern Economic Review, April 24, 2003. Indonesias comparative advantage of being a low-cost, labor-intensive manufacturing base is being eroded. How will it change to stay competitive 13. The Sacred World, Aboriginal Art & Culture Centre, 2000. Australian culture extends far, far back from Russell Crowe, the Bee Gees, and Nicole Kidman. This brief article explains the basics of Dreamtime, the Australian Aborigines understanding of the world. 14. A Doomed Reform Harpal Sandhu, Harvard International Review, Spring 2003. Communist North Korea has existed in almost complete isolation from the rest of the world since its establishment in the 1950s. Will it succeed in its tentative flirtations with free market capitalism? 15. Close to Home, James Hookway, Far Eastern Economic Review, February 20, 2003. Shunned by Western tourists, the Philippines rebrands itself as premier beach resort for Asians. 16. Japans Homeless Find Their Place in Public Parks, Phred Dvorak, Wall Street Journal, June 18, 2003. The decade-long economic slump has produced a phenomenon not seen in Japan for many years: homelessness. How do local governments deal with shantytowns? 17. Open Education, Kim Jung Min, Far Eastern Economic Review, April 17, 2003. South Korean is willing to open the door for Western-style education, but teachers and others strongly oppose the idea. 18. Going It Alone, Margot Cohen, Far Eastern Economic Review, May 29, 2003. Separatists movements have plagued the Indonesian government for years. Now, a new demand for democracy at the grass-roots is causing new headaches for a country always on thse of this trend and where will it end? 4. Animapans Animated Pop Culture, Yonezawa Yoshihiro, Nipponia, December 15, 2003. The first Japanese animated film was made about 90 years ago. Japan is now the animapital of the world. What are the secrets behind the development of animnto a worldwide industry? 5. Japans Aging Society, Asia Pacific Perspectives, October 2003. Japans demographics are changing rapidly, with far fewer children and far more senior citizens. What will be the impacts of these trends? 6. As Japans Women Move Up, Many Are Moving Out, Howard W. French, New York Times, March 3, 2003. The overall divorce rate in Japan is flat in comparison to the rates in the West, but it is nonetheless steadily creeping upward, even among the middle aged. The social changes underlying the rising divorce rate are examined in this article. 7. Whither North Korea?, Koen De Ceuster, IIAS Newsletter # 32, November 2003. The nuclear crisis involving North Korea could have easily been averted and has its roots in the policies of the Bush administration. 8. Parasites in Prorter, Peggy Orenstein, New York Times Magazine, July 1, 2001. Peggy Orenstein describes an interesting social phenomenon in Japan: free-spending 'parasite single' women in their 20s and 30s--'girls' who just wanna have fun. 9. Taiwans Democratic Movement and Push for Independence, Chang Mau-kuei, IIAS Newsletter # 34, July 2004. The current Taiwanese independence movement has its roots in the resistance to Japanese colonialism in the early 1920s. But the island is pulled by forces from different directions, and the end result is not yet clear. 10. The Japan That Can Say Yes, Kazuhiko Togo, IIAS Newsletter # 34, July 2004. A former Japanese ambassador analyzes the new, more assertive, Japanese definition of its role in international affairs. 11. Hong Kong: Still One Country, Two Systems ?, Craig N. Canning, Current History, September 2001. Is the 'one country, two systems' approach for reunification working in Hong Kong? In some ways, yes; in other ways, no. Craig Canning takes inventory. 12. Keep Costs Under Control, John McBeth, Far Eastern Economic Review, April 24, 2003. Indonesias comparative advantage of being a low-cost, labor-intensive manufacturing base is being eroded. How will it change to stay competitive 13. The Sacred World, Aboriginal Art & Culture Centre, 2000. Australian culture extends far, far back from Russell Crowe, the Bee Gees, and Nicole Kidman. This brief article explains the basics of Dreamtime, the Australian Aborigines understanding of the world. 14. A Doomed Reform Harpal Sandhu, Harvard International Review, Spring 2003. Communist North Korea has existed in almost complete isolation from the rest of the world since its establishment in the 1950s. Will it succeed in its tentative flirtations with free market capitalism? 15. Close to Home, James Hookway, Far Eastern Economic Review, February 20, 2003. Shunned by Western tourists, the Philippines rebrands itself as premier beach resort for Asians. 16. Japans Homeless Find Their Place in Public Parks, Phred Dvorak, Wall Street Journal, June 18, 2003. The decade-long economic slump has produced a phenomenon not seen in Japan for many years: homelessness. How do local governments deal with shantytowns? 17. Open Education, Kim Jung Min, Far Eastern Economic Review, April 17, 2003. South Korean is willing to open the door for Western-style education, but teachers and others strongly oppose the idea. 18. Going It Alone, Margot Cohen, Far Eastern Economic Review, May 29, 2003. Separatists movements have plagued the Indonesian government for years. Now, a new demand for democracy at the grass-roots is causing new headaches for a country always on th
