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February 2020
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JAPAN

JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Feb 1, 2020
Shinjiro Koizumi's paternity leave raises a few eyebrows
Shortly before Shinjiro Koizumi’s wife, Christel Takigawa, gave birth to a baby boy last month, the environment minister told reporters during a regular news conference he would be taking time off for paternity leave. It was a revelation that surprised some because after the pair had revealed she was...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Feb 1, 2020
Dispatches from the front line of Japan's retail sector
Since October, business media have focused on two topics at the near-exclusion of numerous others: the economic repercussions of the consumption tax hike and how that increase has influenced, or accelerated, a shift from cash to electronic payments.
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Feb 1, 2020
Social media in Japan fumes over Studio Ghibli's Netflix omission
Anime fans will now be able to enjoy a night in with Studio Ghibli after Netflix began streaming 21 films from the animation firm’s catalogue on Feb. 1. However, there’s a catch.
Japan Times
Japan Times 1970: NHK broadcasts first sex education show
The Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK) was deluged with phone calls from mothers Monday morning after it presented a 45-minute television program on sex education, the first of its kind ever shown on the public broadcasting station's channel.
Japan Times
What's in a name? For the yakuza, quite a lot
The Yamaguchi-gumi is one of the most feared crime syndicates in Japan and yet its name may become a relic of the past in 2020 if recent reports are to be believed.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Feb 1, 2020
Japanese lawmaker held in casino bribery scandal allegedly demanded luxury goods from Chinese firm
Investigators are believed to be speeding up their probe ahead of the Monday deadline for the detention of Lower House member Tsukasa Akimoto.

ASIA PACIFIC

Japan Times
China virus cases may be undercounted even as numbers skyrocket
The number of confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in China has skyrocketed to almost 12,000 as of Saturday, surpassing the official count during the SARS epidemic. But the true number of infections may be even higher, as health workers struggle to catch up with the disease.
Japan Times
Wuhan coronavirus' mild symptoms open a path for spread of infection
Ebola kills half of the people who get it. China's last worrying viral outbreak, SARS, killed 10 percent.
Japan Times
Coronavirus case in U.S. treated with Gilead drug may spur wider tests
The first reported use of an experimental Gilead Sciences Inc. drug to fight the novel coronavirus has encouraged doctors to support further testing of the medication.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Feb 1, 2020
For $193, a flight between Hong Kong and New York — with a six-hour stopover in virus-hit Wuhan
Bargain flights between Hong Kong and New York have emerged in the wake of the new coronavirus, as long as travelers are willing to stop in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, in just a few months.

WORLD

Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Feb 1, 2020
Coronavirus garners headlines, but there's another virus stalking America
A second wave of seasonal influenza is taking hold in the U.S. and elsewhere, just as health officials are on high alert for new cases of the novel coronavirus. Many of the symptoms are the same, but when it comes to immediate risk, people should fear the flu more.

BUSINESS

Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Feb 1, 2020
Japanese firms preparing for prolonged economic hit from coronavirus outbreak
Japanese companies that do business in China are starting to consider measures to cope with the possibility of a prolonged coronavirus outbreak.

Opinion

Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 1, 2020
No, we don't have a natural lifespan of 38
A cool new study on longevity got distorted by the popular press.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 1, 2020
Could robots whip up the perfect pizza?
The smartest people in the world are working hard to automate the much-loved meal.

Sports

Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
Feb 1, 2020
Alvark edge Brave Thunders, earn series split
The visiting Alvark Tokyo avenged their Friday defeat by outplaying the Kawasaki Brave Thunders in Saturday's marquee rematch.

LIFE

Japan Times
Swe Myanmar: Sharing the flavors of home in Tokyo's 'Little Yangon'
The popular Swe Myanmar is one of many Myanmar restaurants in Tokyo's 'Little Yangon,' Takadanobaba. But one aspect makes it unique: Its owner, Than Swe, is a foreign national who was granted asylum in the 1990s.
Japan Times
Folk fun: Reverence for life-giving soil and agriculture
Reverence for the soil that nourishes life has always been deeply rooted in Japan, where agriculture was central to daily life, and many folk toys and bells were made of clay.
Japan Times
Tsuta: The original Michelin-starred ramen shop returns, better
Yuki Onishi is clearly not a chef who is ready or able to rest on his laurels. His flagship ramen restaurant, Japanese Soba Noodles Tsuta, is one of the best-known in the city, drawing legions of fans from near and far. He has won accolades, grabbed global media attention and opened several overseas...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Feb 1, 2020
Japanese chefs reflect on the chaos of Gelinaz!
Three Japanese chefs reflect on their experiences participating in last December's The Grand Gelinaz! Shuffle: 2019 Stay In Tour event, a giant recipe swap spanning 38 countries and featuring 148 chefs.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH
Feb 1, 2020
KitKat kicks it up a notch with its Valentine's-limited Cacao Fruit Dessert
Have you ever wanted to know how cacao fruit tasted? Now you can, with Nestle Japan's new cacao fruit-flavored KitKat. (Spoiler: It's zesty!)
LIFE / Travel
Feb 1, 2020
A month of ice and fire: Japan's best winter festivals
Winter this year may have been relatively warm, but February brings a host of festive events across the country for snow-lovers and heat-seekers alike.

CULTURE

CULTURE
Feb 1, 2020
Back to the future: The world celebrates the 50th anniversary of Doraemon
As the blue robot cat turns 50, we examine the past, present and future of a Japanese icon.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Feb 1, 2020
'The Magical Language of Others': A Korean-American memoir that will shatter stereotypes
With its evocative prose and personal and historical honesty, 'The Magical Language of Others' traces a Korean-American family's story of trauma and survival across several generations and continents.
Japan Times
'Untangling my Chopsticks': Searching for the origins of Japanese fine dining
Engagingly written and well-researched, Victoria Abbott Riccardi's culinary memoir, 'Untangling My Chopsticks,' traces her year immersed in Kyoto's kaiseki culture.
Whet your appetite with 'A Complete Guide to Japanese Cuisine'
Food writer Akiko Katayama's bilingual washoku primer, 'A Complete Guide to Japanese Cuisine,' covers everything from regional dishes to dining customs and bento.

COMMUNITY

Japan Times
Yumi Matsuo: It's a different picture in the United States
New York-based lifestyle photographer Yumi Matsuo wants to see personalities shine through her work.
COMMUNITY / Voices / OVERHEARD
Feb 1, 2020
Life lessons
'You can copy my answer to that problem if you don't know the answer.'

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji