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 Jul 3, 2013
Homecomings' harmonies help them stand out in a twee herd
by Patrick ST. Michel
All a university really needs to get its students to come out to an event is the promise of free food. However, Kyoto Seika University enlisted four students from the school’s folk-music club to entice a crowd to a welcome party in April 2012, ...
CD Review | FOR DOWNLOAD Mar 21, 2013
Various Artists "Upwards and Onwards" (Ano(t)raks)
by Patrick ST. Michel
Fledgling online-only label Ano(t)raks takes a somewhat needless risk with their second compilation album, “Upwards and Onwards.” Founded late last year, Ano(t)raks highlighted bedroom-made indie-pop, a style defined by simple guitar playing and equally basic lyrics about love. Indie-pop has been going strong since ...