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The consumption tax increase next April will hit every household in Japan hard, with many people's financial future hanging on whether their wages rise enough to offset the impact of the hike, experts say.
Every parent is all too familiar with The Tantrum. The screaming, the flailing arms, the angry head butting — and the timing (normally in the most inconvenient public place possible).
International events undermine Japan's democracy. Shame on the International Olympic Committee for being a party to it.
Tucked away behind the main museums in Ueno, the Tokyo University Art Museum may not be on most people’s radar, but it is definitely one of the city’s top museums in terms of curatorial quality. Whenever I go there, I am always delighted by ...
Francisco Liriano showed up at PNC Park on Tuesday afternoon in a suit with his suitcase packed for a trip St. Louis. The message reverberated through the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse. After 21 years away from the playoffs, it was time for the best story ...
The town of Oirase, Aomori Prefecture, seems like a good place for homesick Americans to settle down. It’s known for its own Statue of Liberty — bigger than the one that sits at the edge of Tokyo Bay. This weekend, the town will also host one of the northern region’s ...
Oktoberfest comes a few days early in Odaiba this weekend. Modeled after the German celebration, patrons can drink a variety ...
In today’s world, cultural exchange has become increasingly important — and fun. The nation’s biggest Indian festival will do its ...
Think global; act local. Kyoto residents have a chance this weekend to act on this aphorism, joining a global cultural event without even leaving Japan. The Japan International Poetry Society (JIPS), a group of bilingual poets founded in 2009, will host a poetry reading ...
News media continue to report on the disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, but it’s important to remember that people across the Tohoku region are still recovering from the Great East Japan Earthquake that happened there two years ago. One way of ...
Every year, nearly 100 of the films produced in Japan are said to “go into storage.” Such films — even those featuring big-name actors — are never screened at theaters, or they disappear after a very short run with no budget prepared by producers ...
This weekend, the residents of Nagaokakyo, Kyoto, will get the chance to hear music from every nook and cranny of the city. The third annual Nagaokakyo Music Shotengai festival will be held at different venues located around the shopping streets near Hankyu Nagaoka Tenjin ...
Recycling doesn’t have to be unfashionable. In fact, the Tokai Eco Festa in Nagakute, Aichi, places emphasis on the theme of “eco-stye,” a continuing trend where fashion combines with environmental awareness. Patrons can visit more than 130 booths that feature clothes, art and handmade ...
Asakusa was the capital’s main entertainment district during the Edo Period (1603-1867) and the charm of old Tokyo still remains there. This weekend, Asakusa and close-by Ueno will host the sixth annual Old Town Taito International Comedy Film Festival, which is abbreviated in Japanese ...
The eighth annual Sapporo Short Fest received 3,746 submissions from 94 countries. Organizers have whittled that number down to 99 films that will screen during the competition. Featured directors for the Filmmaker’s program hail from Canada, Italy, New Zealand, Greece, South Korea and Japan. ...
While the phrase “Cool Japan” seems to only get used for things that are kawaii (cute) and technologically forward, people tend to overlook the cool in handcrafted products. On Sept. 15, the self-described design and sewing duo 38_works will present the 22nd edition of ...
One of Japan’s most popular manga and anime series, Lupin III gets the exhibition treatment at the Kawasaki City Museum this month. “Lupin III — 40th Anniversary of the Anime” coincides with the 25th anniversary of the museum and, somewhat belatedly, the 40th anniversary ...
It’s more than a month before Halloween, but you can get in the spooky spirit at the Cinderella Yume Matsuri (Cinderella Dream Festival), where you’ll get a rare chance to gawk at hundreds of pumpkins of various sizes and carved into different characters. The ...
Kyoto is well-known for temples, geisha and other pieces of Japan’s past. This weekend, though, the city will be abuzz with the country’s present treasured artifacts. The annual Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair (also known as KYOMAF) will be held Sept. 7 and 8 ...
Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood is one of the capital’s top tourist destinations. Sensoji Temple and the shopping arcade nearby offer visitors a glimpse into traditional Japan. This coming weekend, though, the area will be full of Brazilian energy and the passionate rhythm and music of ...