Jul 2, 2012

Recovery of Japan tourism

The 2012 white book on tourism endorsed by the Cabinet on June 15 shows that foreign tourists are once again visiting Japan. The Japanese government has a plan to attract 18 million tourists from abroad by 2016. To ensure its success, it will be ...

Apr 15, 2012

A step in the right direction

Junior high school students will be dancing up a storm under new guidelines from the education ministry that require dancing, along with martial arts, as compulsory subjects at schools this year. These new subjects will be required for all Japanese middle school students from ...

Jan 22, 2012

Keep casinos out of Japan

Agroup of lawmakers is now considering a bill that would allow resorts to combine their hotel, shop and restaurant complexes with gambling. If the bill passes, casinos could become a Japanese industry worth several trillion yen. With the government facing an expensive reconstruction bill ...

Dec 18, 2010

Freedom of expression under fire

In June, the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly voted down a bill that stipulated that manga and anime must be sold in the “adult corner” of stores if they “recklessly” and “positively” depict sexual activities of characters presumed to be 18 years old or younger in ...