Economy | ANALYSIS
Households to take hit from tax hike
by Tomoko Otake
The consumption tax increase will hit every household in Japan hard, with many people’s financial future hanging on whether their wages rise enough to offset the hike's impact.
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CLOUDS AND SUN
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 ...
Think global; act local. Kyoto residents have a chance this weekend to act on this aphorism, joining a global cultural ...
Every year, nearly 100 of the films produced in Japan are said to “go into storage.” Such films — even ...
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 ...
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 ...
Even if you don’t have 80 days to circumnavigate the globe, two days will be enough for a trip to Europe, kind of. The organizer of Ein Open Department, which will be hosted at the Kobe Winery in Kobe on Aug. 31 and Sept. ...
To enhance the taste and healthfulness of local delicacies, residents of Oita are said to dip fish in sauce flavored with a locally grown, mildly sour Kabosu lime juice. This weekend, people in Oita will get a chance to savor the summer abundance of ...
Bad news for some (kids) and good news for others (parents), summer vacation is down to its final weeks. If you haven’t traveled overseas or gone to the beach yet, visiting Enoshima this weekend will let you enjoy a little bit of both. Enoshima ...
When was the last time you yelled? Anyone in Japan knows that being loud in public isn’t something that happens too often. Train cars are usually quiet and even concerts don’t get too raucous. This weekend, an oogoe taikai (shouting competition) will let visitors ...
Tokyo’s Yoyogi Park is known for its various cultural festivals and one of the most popular is its Brazilian one. This weekend, though, people in Yokohama will get their chance to samba. The three-day Brasil Culture Festival (which uses the Portuguese spelling of Brazil) ...