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.
Music | Strange Boutique Jun 27, 2013
Summer's best festivals are off the beaten path
by Ian Martin
For the past 10-15 years, Japan’s festival season has been dominated by four main events: Fuji Rock, Summer Sonic, Rock in Japan and Rising Sun. Of these, Fuji Rock is by far the best, with its mountain setting in Niigata Prefecture, and dependable lineup ...
Music Jun 7, 2013
From Björk to Kyary, festival season has arrived
by Mike Sunda
Summer means a lot of things in Japan: stifling heat and humidity, fireworks and the Bon holidays, nagashi-sōmen noodles and chilled barley tea. For music fans though, the season brings a different kind of to-do list: booking cheap train tickets in advance, stocking up ...