From the Editor in Chief
So even though Japan Echo Web is the successor publication to Japan Echo, given its nature as an online journal, our editorial policy is bound to be somewhat different. At the same time, the switch to online publication also represents a major opportunity. We hope to take advantage of the flexibility offered by this new medium to offer insightful essays, interviews, dialogues, and other articles about a variety of topics in a more timely manner. Also, although this fiscal year the online journals are to be published only in English and Chinese, as a matter for future consideration it ought to be quite possible to add other languages—as seen in the case of the Kyoto Review of Southeast Asia, published by the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University—if the necessary budgetary funding is secured.
With the exception of Chūō Kōron and a handful of other periodicals, Japanese journals generally do not allow their articles to be posted online. So we think it is important for us to enhance the content of Japan Echo Web by commissioning more original articles in order to present a balanced set of views representing the discussions being conducted in Japan’s print media concerning foreign policy, politics, the economy, society, culture, and other topics. We also hope to present series, including articles offering systematic analyses of the Japanese economy and essays that focus on various aspects of Japanese culture, such as cuisine, fashion, games, manga, anime, and films, along with blog entries written by members of our editorial board.
I hope you will strongly support Japan Echo Web with your readership and interest. (Shiraishi Takashi) [June 2010]
