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.
Lifestyle | CHILD'S PLAY Aug 6, 2013
Let your babies get loud at karaoke
by Danielle Demetriou
It’s Friday evening in Shibuya. The sun is setting, the neon is flashing and the crowds are swelling. And so with beginning-of-the-weekend fever in the air, it is perhaps little surprise that Madonna is already blaring in one karaoke room on the second floor ...
Reference | FYI Jul 1, 2008
Low key, off key, but anyway it's your way
by Hiroko Nakata
Born in Japan three decades ago, karaoke has evolved into a global fixture. Since the beginning, karaoke (empty orchestra) has manifested itself in myriad ways. Following are questions and answers about the popular entertainment system: How did karaoke come about? The prototype machine originated ...
Commentary | COUNTERPOINT Apr 9, 2006
Who out there cares about 'Cool Japan'?
by Roger Pulvers
These days the government is jumping on the bandwagon. The Foreign Ministry is singing in tune. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has hopped on, with a conductor’s baton in his hand and a spring in his step that you don’t even see when he’s ascending ...