EDITORIALS We believe that Japan’s best course for the future is to develop into a “cooperative welfare state.” But how to achieve that goal? On specific proposals, let us first discuss decentralization. We propose that all issues related to living be handled at the regional level, and entrust to the central government only those that cannot […] [ASAHI]

EDITORIALS The Democratic Party of Japan has drafted the outline of a bill that constitutes the party’s counterproposal to the government’s bill for a new antiterrorism law to allow the Maritime Self-Defense Force to resume refueling activities in the Indian Ocean. [YOMIURI]

EDITORIALS Ichiro Ozawa, president of opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), stunned the nation Sunday by suddenly announcing his resignation as party chief. Ozawa said he is stepping down to “take responsibility for causing political confusion” by his response to the coalition proposal Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda made during their recent meetings. [ASAHI]

EDITORIALS When we look coolly at the current political deadlock, a grand coalition between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan is an idea that should be realized. [YOMIURI]

EDITORIALS The U.S. Federal Reserve Board’s monetary policy is in a tight spot as it seeks to calm financial uncertainties ravaging the markets and keep a lid on inflation. [YOMIURI]

EDITORIALS The chairmen of the Upper House and Lower House Rules and Administration Committees signed an agreement Wednesday that would reject government appointments requiring Diet approval if their assignments are leaked before confirmation. [ASAHI]

EDITORIALS A government panel set up to investigate mismanagement at the Social Insurance Agency issued a final report Wednesday on the debacle over some 50 million unidentified pension records. It was supposed to pinpoint responsibility for that failure. [ASAHI]

EDITORIALS Four textbook publishers have applied to the Education, Science and Technology Ministry to reinsert in high school textbooks phrases stating that the Japanese military forced residents to commit mass suicide during the Battle of Okinawa. The revived phrases will be carried in Japanese history textbooks for the next academic year. [YOMIURI]

EDITORIALS Japan’s attitude and determination to fight terrorism are being tested, and the situation is both regrettable and grave. [YOMIURI]

EDITORIALS With the expiration Thursday of the anti-terrorism special measures law, the Maritime Self-Defense Force was ordered to return to Japan after six years of refueling operations in the Indian Ocean in support of the U.S.-led war against terror. [ASAHI]

EDITORIALS The report on the pension fiasco issued Wednesday illustrates again how sloppily the organization tasked with looking after public pensions was managed. [YOMIURI]

EDITORIALS Appearing on Monday as a sworn witness before the Lower House special committee on anti-terrorism measures, former Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya admitted he had been lavishly entertained by a former senior executive of Yamada Corp., a trading house specializing in defense-related products. [ASAHI]

EDITORIALS During a meeting on Tuesday, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is said to have told Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa that he wants to “discuss a new approach to Japanese politics under the current unusual power relations in the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors.“ [YOMIURI]

EDITORIALS The debate between the ruling coalition and opposition parties about how to revise the Political Fund Control Law has not been going well. The point in question is how to ensure transparency in “politics and money.“ [ASAHI]

EDITORIALS As former Administrative Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya testified as a sworn witness at the House of Representatives’ special committee on terrorism affairs, it became clear that his suspected collusive ties with defense trading firm Yamada Corp. has nothing to do with the Maritime Self-Defense Force’s refueling activities in the Indian Ocean. [YOMIURI]

EDITORIALS NOVA Corp., Japan’s largest English conversation school chain, applied for court protection from creditors late last week under the Corporate Rehabilitation Law. [MAINICHI]

EDITORIALS Scientists say there is an 87-percent chance of a major earthquake striking the Tokai region within 30 years. At the epicenter of the projected quake stands the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant operated by Chubu Electric Power Co. [ASAHI]

EDITORIALS China’s space technology has progressed to a new phase and reached a high level. [YOMIURI]

EDITORIALS Nova Corp.‘s students have been left in the lurch–and out of pocket–after the company announced it would temporarily close its schools. Steps must be taken to ensure these students can continue taking English conversation lessons. [YOMIURI]

EDITORIALS Despite all the fanfare, the outcome of a nationwide survey on academic achievement was a letdown. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology released the results of the tests in which nearly all of the nation’s 2.2 million sixth-graders and third-year junior high school students took part. [ASAHI]