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 ...
Kinue Watanabe ‘Izakaya’ ownerI’m not sure, but I wouldn’t stand. Students and teachers shouldn’t be forced to stand. We shouldn’t think it’s wrong that teachers don’t stand for a song with so much history. Nobutaka Gappa Sales representative, 32It depends on the person. If ...
Helen Hedger Speech therapist, 26 (U.K.)If I go back to my home country I think things with money will be very tight, but I may be in a better situation than friends who own their homes and/or have families. Mariko Fukuda Book import company, ...
Atsuko Fukuda HomemakerRecently there have been some grim crimes, and I’m afraid Japan is changing for the worse. This is because the wealth gap is widening, and if you are poor it’s difficult to change your situation. Imma Romano Teacher, 30 (Italian)I think Japan ...
Reiko Shimizu Office worker, 29 (Canadian)Global warming has been the biggest story this year, which people are just starting to take seriously. It affects everyone no matter where you live and has made me adjust many of my habits. Natsuki Ando HousewifeGlobal warming, because ...
Sayaka Kamata Student, 21The elections were a turning point for the opposition. They showed that if politicians focus on personality, and their opinions are shallow, they won’t win. Change won’t come soon, but I think it has started. Melky Nainggolan Ex-teacher, 24 (Australian)The protests ...
Masaharu Ito Salesman, 42From the point of view of foreigners’ human rights, I cannot accept this system. However, it’s a fact that foreign crime is increasing, so for national security I think the system is necessary. Yumi Oguri Student, 22I had to get fingerprinted ...
Alun Thomas Teacher, 34 (English)I was asked by a policeman standing outside a “koban” to show my gaijin card. However, I feel like being English and white I don’t have the problems other foreigners must have. Shannon Johnston Teacher, 24 (Australian)I was stopped by ...
Aiko Tanaka Film editor, 28I’ve been invited to join those kinds of sites but I don’t use them — they’re too much trouble. Sometimes strange people will try to contact you. MySpace is good for hearing bands and DJs, though. Tomohisa Hirano Ring-tone programmer, ...
Jisu OhStudent (South Korea)Nova’s closure has made me think that it is better to just make friends so I can exchange culture as well as language with other people. I can’t pay for another school. Chika MezakiHousewife, 44 I asked staff to pay back ...
Stephanie CittarelliTeacher, 22 (Australian)Chinese and Koreans are worst off. I’ve heard Japanese people say bad things about them in conversation. However, they also say they love Chinese and Korean food. Jesse JohnsonEditor, 28 (American) Black people are discriminated against due to negative stereotypes. Also, ...
