Alex “Rami-chan” Ramirez
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
Though not wild about other cats (nor impressed at all by dogs), Jewel’s love of people has helped her bear the drastic upheaval in her life.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives
Feb 26, 2024
A purr like a symphony
Jewel's purr rises in a slow crescendo that’s almost lyrical — pure music to a cat lover’s ears.
Director of the Akan International Crane Center, Miyuki Kawase, says tourism is incredibly helpful for the birds, but the people who come to take pictures of the birds have to remember they are still wild animals.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Feb 24, 2024
Miyuki Kawase: ‘Experience, whether happy, sad or painful, makes you grow’
The director of the Akan International Crane Center in Hokkaido tells us how she found herself in a career centered around the symbolic white birds.
Kimiyo Moriwaki and Scallywag (newly christened as just "Wag") have made the most of their new family.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives
Feb 19, 2024
Scallywag has more than enough reasons to wag his tail
Another success story from one of ARK's rescue dogs and the loving family that took a furry friend in.
Laurier needs an active friend or family who’s not afraid of romping around.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives
Feb 12, 2024
Laurier is a big girl with a bigger heart
Laurier also has an endearing way of begging with her front paws — if that doesn’t melt your heart, nothing will.
Kazuyuki and Yuki Shimamoto are the executive chef and head patissier chef at Mimi’s Restaurant and Bar in Hakuba, Nagano Prefecture.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Feb 10, 2024
Kazuyuki and Yuki Shimamoto: 'When you make things you love, you naturally just get better at it'
A culinary couple share their thoughts on a career in the kitchen and how they approach life in one of Japan's major tourist towns.
Once a scared little kitten, Iko has warmed up to any and all comers.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives
Feb 5, 2024
Iko is a scaredy-cat no more
Iko is a gentle girl who will let you clip her claws, brush her, whatever you like — as long as it means she’ll get stroked and fussed over.

Longform

High-end tourism is becoming more about the kinds of experiences that Japan's lesser-known places can provide.
Can Japan lure the jet-set class off the beaten path?