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 Louise George Kittaka

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Louise George Kittaka
Originally from New Zealand, Louise George Kittaka is a bilingual writer based in Tokyo. She contributes to a wide range of news and information media, as well as Japan’s educational publishing sector. When she isn’t at her computer, Louise loves exploring waterfalls, going to cake buffets and collecting anything related to the Aliens movie franchise.
For Louise George Kittaka's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Alex “Rami-chan” Ramirez
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / The Big Questions
Mar 1, 2024
Baseball star Alex Ramirez’s NPO helps special kids
Founder of Vamos Together, Venezuelan Alex Ramirez played for Yakult Swallows and Yomiuri Giants, then became manager of the Yokohama DeNa BayStars
A single mom in Kobe moonlights as a sleuth in Simon Rowe’s “Mami Suzuki: Private Eye.”
CULTURE / Books
Jan 21, 2024
'Mami Suzuki: Private Eye': Kobe sleuth's colorful mysteries take readers around Japan
Simon Rowe’s straight-talking detective cuts a sophisticated figure as she solves matters the police won’t touch, all while looking after her young daughter and mother.
The natural attractions and the friendly locals convinced Norihiro Kanzawa and his wife, Zoe, to set up a business, Niyodo Adventure, in Kochi Prefecture.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Jan 13, 2024
Norihiro Kanzawa: 'Smiles are always a great source of inspiration'
An adventure tourism professional and soon-to-be father shares his journey into making canyoning and packrafting his full-time job.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Dec 29, 2023
20 Questions: The best answers of 2023
Our interviewees this year gave a lot of advice for living a good life and paying attention to the things that matter most.
Vintage bicycle enthusiast and property manager Eric Knight shipped his high-wheeler from his home in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, to Japan for the cross-country trip.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives
Dec 4, 2023
32 days, one big wheel: Duo re-creates historic trans-Japan trip
The pair were inspired by pioneering cyclist Thomas Stevens (1854-1935), who traveled the same route through Japan in 1886 on a high-wheeler.
Michiko Aoyama’s “What You are Looking For Is in the Library” centers on a local library where five Tokyoites are gently guided through personal issues by kindly librarian Sayuri Komachi.
CULTURE / Books
Nov 13, 2023
‘What You are Looking For is in the Library’: A tender tale with a touch of whimsy
Five readers discover comfort and direction at their local library in Michiko Aoyama’s novel, which offers a believable take on modern life in Tokyo.
While inaka sushi still uses dashi broth to flavor some ingredients, it's possible to make this sushi 100% vegan.
LIFE / Food & Drink
Oct 29, 2023
Sushi sans fish: How rural traditions led to vegan-friendly rolls
Leave the salmon behind with “inaka sushi,” which trades raw fish for mushrooms, ginger and other fresh veggies.
Vagaries in Japanese law mean single mothers are sometimes left without financial support from their former partners.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives
Oct 23, 2023
Documentary shines a spotlight on Japan’s single mothers
"The Ones Left Behind" explores the successes and struggles of single mothers in modern Japan.
Diane Hawley Nagatomo at her home office in Chiba. Born in the U.K., Diane has called Japan “home” for more than 40 years.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Sep 23, 2023
Diane Hawley Nagatomo: ‘The only way to improve writing is to write’
After retiring from her position as a professor in 2022, Diane Hawley Nagatomo has just released her first novel, “The Butterfly Cafe.”
Kurara Okuno first encountered mermaiding in 2020, not long before she jumped into the deep end of the aquatic subculture.
LIFE / Lifestyle
Aug 19, 2023
Move over Ariel: Meet Japan’s professional merpeople
While mermaiding is still a niche activity in Japan, it is possible to slip on a tail and dive in.
Oliviero Morelli
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / The Big Questions
Aug 8, 2023
MSC Cruises' Morelli aims to sail the ocean green
We grew up with Japanese anime and manga in Italy. Many companies found it cheaper to buy the rights from Japan than from the USA
L'aube's new restaurant in Roppongi offers 50% more floorspace than its previous Akabanebashi location.
LIFE / Food & Drink
Jul 29, 2023
A new day dawns for Michelin-starred L'aube
The French restaurant has a new home in Roppongi, but everything that brought it culinary acclaim remains.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues
Jun 8, 2023
Amnesty International Japan wants your help in supporting human rights
Looking to test your knowledge, get out the house and do good for charity? Amnesty"s pub quiz nights are back and a fun way to raise funds.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
May 13, 2023
In the world of tatami, one Kyushu variety is a cut above
Shichitōi rushes can be difficult to harvest and weave, but many consider them the superior ingredient for unparalleled tatami.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / The Big Questions
May 8, 2023
H&M’s Pokucinska seeks something for everyone
Name: Aneta Pokucinska
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Apr 17, 2023
Traditional Japanese homes are the focus of weekend-long Minka Summit
Amid a movement toward sustainable living, old Japanese farmhouses are getting a second look from the non-Japanese population.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Feb 19, 2023
Kiwi cafe culture goes down smooth at Iki’s coffeehouses
In the unassuming Kiyosumi Shirakawa neighborhood, two coffeeshops pride themselves on recreating the experience of a morning out at an Auckland or Christchurch cafe.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Dec 29, 2022
Answers in 2022 encouraged activism, recommended books and provided advice
The 20 Questions section discusses people's experiences of Japan in their own words. As we emerge from the pandemic, an underlying theme in 2022 was fighting for change.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
Dec 10, 2022
Deep in Yamagata's mountains, rural artisans pull on history's threads
A spell of financial insecurity during the Edo Period gave rise to one of Japan's strongest textile traditions.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Dec 4, 2022
Firebrand poet Rin Ishigaki speaks for modern women in 'This Overflowing Light'
Poet Rin Ishigaki may not have been as prolific as some of her contemporaries such as Makoto Ooka and Shuntaro Tanikawa, but she occupies a unique space in Japanese poetry with her affinity for elevating the familiar and her pragmatic take on the human condition.

Longform

A statue of "Dragon Ball" character Goku stands outside the offices of Bandai Namco in Tokyo. The figure is now as recognizable as such characters as Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man.
Akira Toriyama's gift to the world