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April 25, 2024
 

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Ray Franklin

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Ray Franklin
Ray Franklin is from Colorado, USA and has been teaching English in Osaka for over 20 years. After dabbling in journalism on his high school and college newspapers, he has been revisiting his hobby with Views from the Street contributions to The Japan Times since 2011.
For Ray Franklin's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Sep 16, 2013
Osaka: What on Earth should be done about the deteriorating situation at Fukushima No. 1?
As Tepco plays 'whack-a-mole' with myriad problems at the stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, readers offer their advice to the utility and Abe's government.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Aug 5, 2013
Osaka: What was your dream job as a child, and would you still like to do it now if you could?
As a little girl I dreamed of being a flight attendant, because my aunt was one for Cathay Pacific airlines, and I always thought she looked so beautiful and sophisticated in her uniform. And of course the international travel sounded very appealing. I definitely would do it today if I could, but I think it's not possible now that I have tattoos.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
May 28, 2013
Osaka: What do you make of Mayor Toru Hashimoto’s comments about “comfort women” and his suggestion that U.S. forces in Okinawa use local brothels?
He's a perfect example of why 'diapers and politicians should be changed often, and for the same reason'! He's too incompetent for Osaka, and should be 'promoted' to national government. I've lived here for 30 years; I miss the old days when mayors and governors concentrated on administering Osaka and stayed out of the limelight. Hashimoto should take his showboating to Tokyo and leave Osaka under the radar.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Apr 2, 2013
Osaka: If you could live in any city outside Japan, which would it be?
Amsterdam comes to mind, but on second thoughts, I would choose to live in Maastricht, the Netherlands, because I love the pastoral atmosphere there. It has many of the same benefits as the more famous capital — canals, nice people, coffee shops — but without the tourists, and combined with a wonderful countryside feeling, so for me it is the best of both worlds, combining city and country life.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Jan 1, 2013
Osaka: What are your hopes for yourself, Japan and the world in 2013?
I argue with my husband a lot, so I hope that diminishes next year! And I hope everyone stays healthy, especially my four grandkids and new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, since he previously quit for health reasons. I worry about Japan's conflicts with our neighbors, and hope that the country can use its brainpower and high-tech knowhow to figure out ways to solve the various island disputes. Can't we all just get along nicely?
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Nov 6, 2012
Osaka: Who will win the U.S. presidential election, and what changes will that bring?
Erkki Hietalahti, 53University professor (Finnish)Obama should be re-elected, because he saved a bad situation, even though many initiatives were blocked by the Republicans. Obama is a better choice than Romney, who seems to flip his opinions, so who knows what he'd do in office? Obama cares about people, and will continue to promote equal access to health care and education, like in Finland.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Aug 14, 2012
Osaka: What are your plans for the Obon holidays?
Etsuko Nomura
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Jul 24, 2012
Osaka: Which sports or athletes will you be following during the London 2012 Olympics?
Shoki Kanemoto
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Jun 5, 2012
Osaka: What do you think of Mayor Toru Hashimoto's latest crackdowns on political activities by Osaka employees — and on those city workers with tattoos?
Kim Mangialaschi, 47
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Feb 15, 2011
Osaka: What are your thoughts on the decision to cancel the Osaka sumo tournament due to the match-fixing scandal?
Atsuko Fujimoto
'Sugar Baby Riri' gets nine-year prison term over romance scam
Mai Watanabe, who went by the moniker “Sugar Baby Riri,” dated older men and swindled them out of money by telling them fictitious heartbreaking stories about herself to gain their sympathy.
Tokyo issues strong warning on yen intervention as currency dips further
Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki speaks during a meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and South Korean Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok on the sidelines of IMF and G20 meetings in Washington last week.
Japan’s cannabis market growing rapidly amid regulatory shift
The legality of products that contain cannabinoids, a group of substances derived from the cannabis plant, has been somewhat murky in Japan.
North Korean animators may be involved in Japan anime production, report says
North Korean animators may be involved in the production of some Japanese and U.S. animated shows, according to a report by a website providing analysis on North Korea.
BOJ to hold rates with focus on hawkish signals to buoy yen
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda hasn’t ruled out responding to exchange rates with a policy move if the impact on prices is seen to be "non-negligible.”
New workers name Shohei Ohtani as 'dream boss' for two years running
Shohei Ohtani has been overwhelmingly voted as the “dream boss” for people who started working in April, according to a survey.
A craft beer crawl through Tokyo’s top bars, brewpubs and dives
If all you drink is Asahi, Sapporo and Kirin, you're depriving yourself of some of the best craft beer Tokyo has to offer — and there sure is a lot of it out there.
'Sugar Baby Riri' gets nine-year prison term over romance scam
Mai Watanabe, who went by the moniker “Sugar Baby Riri,” dated older men and swindled them out of money by telling them fictitious heartbreaking stories about herself to gain their sympathy.
Tsukiji 2030s: A stadium, culinary center and transportation hub
A computer-generated image shows redevelopment plans for the former site of the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo.
Hearing the impact of climate change in Okinawa, one bird call at a time
Toshihiro Kinjo (center), a research support technician at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, inspects an audio recording device in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, on April 3 as Masako Ogasawara, a research support specialist at OIST, looks on.

Podcast

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.
[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Longform

Later this month, author Shogo Imamura will open Honmaru, a bookstore that allows other businesses to rent its shelves. It's part of a wave of ideas Japanese booksellers are trying to compete with online spaces.
The story isn't over for Japan's bookstores
By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Prize winner Maki Imoto catches light with glass
Prize winner Maki Imoto catches light with glass

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