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RAIN
Farmers in the city of Tamura, Fukushima Prefecture, have begun planting rice in a district once designated a no-go zone because of radioactive fallout ejected by the disaster-hit Fukushima No. 1 power plant.
Recently I was asked to write a blurb for a new liquid plant-nutrient. As soon as I saw the name of the product, 早根早起 （Hayane Hayaoki), I smiled at this example of linguistic creativity.
Life in Japan just seems tailor-made for certain foreign residents, who slip into the fabric of this society as smoothly as a hand slides into a glove. American Curtis Patterson, a professional koto player and music teacher, is a case in point. Not only ...
Denmark’s Emmelie de Forest won this year’s Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night with her ethno-inspired flute and drum tune “Only Teardrops,” despite tough competition from spectacular stage shows by performers from Azerbaijan and Ukraine. Juries and television viewers across Europe awarded the barefoot, ...
One team’s quest for a first title has ended. The other team’s fight will continue next season. The Yokohama B-Corsairs outplayed the Rizing Fukuoka in Sunday’s bj-league championship game, controlling the tempo for larger stretches and making enough timely baskets to fill an instructional ...
Natsuki Uno, 29 Nurse (Japanese) I feel let down by Aso. I was overseas when everyone got their ¥12,000 cash payouts. When I came back I wasn’t allowed to get one. Japan needs a change. Masao Tamaoki, 29 Online retailer I don’t really watch ...
Yuki Wilson Office worker, 35 I moved here from the U.K. when my son was 4. Kids do seem encouraged to express themselves here, but in their teens they are suddenly encouraged to conform. Osamu Suzuki Programmer, 34 I have never been abroad, but ...
Kristian D’ArneyDesigner, 35 Recently, I’ve heard this situation being compared to the 1918 Spanish flu, which got me paranoid. So now I wash my hands after going out, holding on to railings, and so on. Mie DeaconHousewife (Japanese), 35 As well as hand-washing and ...
Ashley Thredgold Restaurant manager, 33 (Australian) I think they should really give the guy a break. Yes, he is an icon, but everyone makes mistakes, especially after a few drinks. Sato Kumi Designer, 31 Everybody goes a little too far sometimes, famous or not. ...
Yasuaki Sakuramoto Office worker, 35 People should visit the viewing floor of the Bunkyo Ward Office. Everyone who comes to Japan should see Tokyo from high up, because it’s surprising how large it is. Aya Saito Student, 18 Getting on the Yamanote Line at ...
Luke Harrington, 36 Gardener (Australian) Focusing on the Middle East as a hot spot, the world is failing to pay attention to the simmering tensions between Japan, China and North and South Korea. Yumi Setoguchi, 23 Social studies teacher More frightening than the launch ...
Kozue Adachi, 34 PR/Marketing At first I didn’t think he needed to quit. As the story has grown, people’s feelings toward him and his party have become more negative. Now I think he should resign. Wahab Labi, 32 Accountant (English) I don’t think he ...
Juliette Prime, 25 Civil servant (French) Despite his criticism of French maths, I like Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara. He’s controversial and outspoken. He’s also an artist and he won art prizes in his twenties. Julian Lambert, 40 IT manager (Aussie) I like (ex-PM) Junichiro ...
Rachel Earhard, 33 Consultant (Canada) I heard his father may also have had a similar character and perhaps similar problems. Often weaknesses as well as strengths can be hereditary. Shuho Takei Chef, 21 The media witch hunt led to a very hasty decision. It’s ...
Joe Kern (American) Rewriter, 34 People see disaster when there is really just change. Japanese society will evolve into something that has never existed before in order to incorporate these issues. Michaela Vedecnik Student, 26 (German) Family life should be supported, and as the ...
Genki Ofuki IT, 31 Among Asian countries, Japan is one of the most important to America. Obama should nurture ties with Japan because Japan has supported America recently. Emiko Takeda Animation firm, 34 America has so many problems around the world, and it has ...
Ken Hirota Furniture maker, 35Lighting, especially in homes. People use the big circular lights, which are too bright. In the West, people tend to use a more relaxed, yellow-orange lighting scheme. Chiharu Orimo Bank employee, 35 I like to go out in the evening ...