Transport authorities launched a full-fledged investigation Sunday into the derailment of a bullet train on the Akita Shinkansen Line in Daisen, Akita Prefecture, on Saturday afternoon.
It's a dangerous, unpredictable world. Twice in January Chinese warships in the East China Sea challenged Japan's Maritime Self Defense Forces patrols in a manner deemed threatening. And on Feb. 12 came North Korea's nuclear test.
Here's an open secret: Japanese men have a bad international reputation on the romance front.
SELLING WOMEN: Prostitution, Markets and the Household in Early Modern Japan, by Amy Stanley. University of California Press, 2012, 282 pp., $49.95 (hardcover) In the vast cultural landscape, Japan fascinates the mainstream with manga and anime, the martial arts, Zen and kimono. Of course, ...
Kenta Maeda shook off worries about his form with five shutout innings as Japan beat China 5-2 in first-round Pool A of the World Baseball Classic on Sunday at Fukuoka Dome. Japan improved to 2-0 following a tough win over Brazil in Saturday evening’s ...
Back to basics When Naoto Fukasawa collaborated with furniture manufacturer Maruni earlier this year, they created two new series: the wood-based Hiroshima and Tradition, a modern take on some earlier Maruni collections. Both series present furniture that truly showcases Fukasawa’s pared-down aesthetic. This autumn, ...
Animated cleaning Japanese manufacturer Teramoto has added two new products to its design-friendly TIDY (Teramoto Industrial Design Yard) line of goods. The Kop Roll Cleaner (right) and the Kop Handy Mop both have the same distinct container — that of a simple cup — ...
Recovered crests Thailand-based designer Craig Anczelowitz has been on an amazing mission to modernize the traditional hand-made stationery from Japanese maker Awagami, fusing a Western aesthetic with the company’s traditional craftsmanship through the “Awagami +1″ line. The latest addition is Kamon, a collection of ...
The minimalist There’s a new addition to Balmuda Design’s Highwire LED desk lamp series, which has already turned heads thanks to the thin aluminum bodies of its sleek offerings. The worthy followup is called the Highwire Smooth and is available in a smaller size, ...
A cool dry Hairart Japan has just the thing to keep you hair dry and looking great during the up coming humid summer months. Its new, nameless hairdryer uses tourmaline crystals and negative ions to create a process that will dry your hair faster ...
A stylish plug Certainly a common sight for any technophile is a floor covered in wires gathering dust in an unsightly manner. The electric-outlet and extension-cord combo of Japanese brand Monos’ Plugo will help put your wired life in order and add a flash ...
Material emoticons Here’s a bit of fun. Chances are, if you frequent Tokyo’s select shops that you’ve come across Makiko Yoshida’s CAO Maru squeezable rubber faces, which you can push and squish to create a variety of expressions. Design Office A4′s Faces Stamp is ...
Lowdown Scandinavian cool If you’re in the market for a modular sofa, check out Osaka-based Teruhiro Yanagihara’s Grow (above). The designer, who also works under the name Isolation Unit, has created the attractive couch for interior brand OFFECCT, a Swedish company that’s known for ...
Lowdown Scandinavian cool If you’re in the market for a modular sofa, check out Osaka-based Teruhiro Yanagihara’s Grow (above). The designer, who also works under the name Isolation Unit, has created the attractive couch for interior brand OFFECCT, a Swedish company that’s known for ...
Spot the bag The age of do-it-yourself design is upon us, with the latest entry coming in the dotted form of Seto Design Studio’s Ika-Textile. The studio is known for its whimsical 9brand line of bags and pouches done in cute animal shapes. Now, ...
