Anthony Kuhn

To Save Japan's Northeast, A Radical Rethink Required

Anthony Kuhn — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:39:00 +0000

With a fierce yell and a resounding thwack, 13-year-old Japanese student Nanami Usui brings her bamboo sword down on her opponent.

By practicing Kendo, or Japanese swordsmanship, Usui is one of several students in the town of Minamisanriku who are rebuilding their confidence after last year's tsunami washed away their homes and shattered their hometown in the country's northeast.

Usui says she dreams of being a police officer, but she doesn't know yet where she wants to live and work.

"Most high school students here have dreams about their future careers," she says, as she prepares to do

Japanese Village Marks Disasters' Anniversary

Anthony Kuhn — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 12:00:00 +0000

The people of Japan have been remembering the dreadful events of March 11, 2012 when at 2:46 p.m., a massive earthquake struck. Soon afterwards a tsunami crashed into the north east coast. The village of Minamisanriku, once a beautiful fishing community and tourist destination, was one of the towns worst affected. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports.

A Year On, Japan Is Still Looking For The Road Ahead

Anthony Kuhn — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 05:01:00 +0000

A year after suffering the worst nuclear accident in its history, Japan is still struggling to understand what happened at the Fukushima nuclear plant in the country's northeast.

Last week, an independent commission released a report arguing that Japan narrowly averted what could have been a far deadlier disaster and that the government withheld this information from the public.

Organized by a civic group called the Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation, the commission included journalists, lawyers and scholars.

How Far Will The Changes In Myanmar Go?

Anthony Kuhn — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 20:58:00 +0000

Once an international pariah ruled by a repressive military regime, Myanmar has in recent months become one of Southeast Asia's hottest destinations.

Last year, a nominally civilian government took over and began political changes in the country also known as Burma. Now, foreign investors and tourists are flooding in, and foreign governments are considering lifting their sanctions.

In stark contrast to the uprisings that have shaken the Arab world, Myanmar's metamorphosis is occurring from the top down.

Opposition Leader Bets On Myanmar Reforms

Anthony Kuhn — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:01:00 +0000

The military-backed government of Myanmar, also known as Burma, has surprised many skeptics with the pace of its political reforms — releasing political prisoners, easing censorship and making peace with ethnic insurgents.

But none of these reforms have won it as much praise as its efforts to mend fences with opposition leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.