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 ...
Makoto Tsuji Social worker, 35 (Japanese) At first, I thought I preferred Japanese women based on looks, but now I am actually married to an American woman. I was attracted to her as a whole — her personality as well as her looks. Rachel ...
For me personally, early 2012 and the same period this year are much the same all-round as far as work, private life and everything else goes. No big differences. But I will change my job later this year, so that's something to look forward ...
"I don't see any benefit in corporal punishment, whether at the hands of teachers or parents."
Chris Glenn Radio DJ / talent, 40s (Australian) I can understand their handlers want to keep the girls potentially available, just as I’m sure they want their stable to concentrate on their performances, not boys. It works to prevent any scandals too, while maintaining ...
Rikiya Sakurai Student, 20s (Japanese) If tolls were eliminated, gasoline and car taxes would have to go up to make up the difference. At the moment the economy is bad and not everyone can afford to pay the extra taxes. Once it gets better, ...
Tomomi Morita Waitress, 21 (Japanese) I attended my coming of age ceremony, which was a big event for me, even though I actually turned 20 the year before. I wore a kimono, and after the ceremony near where I live I went to Senso-ji ...
Kuniko Sano Housewife, 69 (Japanese) 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 ...
George Ianus Rocket science Ph.D., 29 (Romania) For me it is a case of family — and snow. It’s a time to remember your home and family. Now, we are all in different parts of the world but, in my mind’s eye, I can ...
Daniel Dumas English instructor, 53 (American) The first thing I’d like to see is a rethink of policy regarding bicycle transportation. The use of bicycles should be encouraged and more parking areas should be created. As we learned on 3/11, bicycles can be very ...
Eva Wyatt Student, 28 (American) I think that something should be done to prevent further incidents (such as the alleged Oct. 16 rape of a Japanese woman by two U.S. servicemen and Nov. 2 home intrusion and assault). At the same time, as the ...
Ian Ruxton, 56 Kitakyushu resident (British) Send Self-Defense Forces right now to defend the Senkaku Islands and build on them, taking a leaf out of South Korea’s book; repair and restore good relations with the U.S., which have dipped recently; and encourage more Japanese ...
Kohei Yoshimura Salesman, 27 (Japanese) He did shirk his responsibility as governor of Tokyo but he has big ideas on how to improve the national government and Japan. If he waited until the end of his term as governor he would be too old, ...
