Jean Pearce - The Japan Times

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Jean Pearce

For Jean Pearce's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:

COMMUNITY / How-tos / GETTING THINGS DONE

Mar 24, 1999

A friend of mine, a medical doctor who has spent many years in this country, was here during Japan's recent press spectacular, the first official transplant operation. I asked what he thought of the frenzy surrounding this lifesaving achievement. I think his comments should have a far wider circulation than I can provide, but we do what we can. He said:

COMMUNITY / How-tos / GETTING THINGS DONE

Mar 21, 1999

What a downer! A reader has just looked at his calendar and realized that March 15 has passed -- and he forgot to file his Japanese tax return. While he should do it as soon as possible, he does not need to worry. Japan's bureaucracy tends to be compassionate in such matters, especially when the wrongdoer properly apologizes. So, he can call the Tokyo Regional Tax Office, (03) 3221-4941, apologize, and ask what he should do. In Osaka, the number is (06) 6941-533l.

COMMUNITY / How-tos / GETTING THINGS DONE

Mar 17, 1999

Recently I wrote about my visit to Myanmar (also known as Burma), of how the once-wealthy country is now slipping ever downward, its infrastructure in disrepair. Of Suu Kyi, whose house we were not allowed to see. Of how avidly the people watched her on TV. But mostly, of the beauty of the country and its people. There was much I did not write. I was there as a tourist for 12 days. Several readers have criticized that column. Here is why.

COMMUNITY / How-tos / GETTING THINGS DONE

Mar 10, 1999

Winners and losers

People in the food industry look to Foodex to find out how best to cater to their Japanese and foreign customers. What they see at Makuhari Messe are often more fantasy than fact, things that might be exported to Japan if the proper arrangements can be made. And that's what the foreigners are there for, representatives from some 56 countries with products selected hopefully to please the discriminating taste of the Japanese public. "Everything" is an expansive word, but it seems an appropriate one to describe the extent of the products on display. Think of the world's best wines, designer meats, ethnic specialties from all over the world (the U.S. will introduce American Indian cuisine under its great regional cooking theme), exotic fruit, calorie-conscious/health-oriented gourmet specialties and, of course, much more.

COMMUNITY / How-tos / GETTING THINGS DONE

Mar 5, 1999

Recently the Franciscan Chapel Center, whose volunteer groups are active in many areas of need in our community, has provided a considerable amount of information for this column. Among them are columns that have dealt with providing rice balls for the homeless, exposed Japan as the leading source of child pornography and wrote of visits to foreigners in detention centers. Now, along with a number of other concerned groups, FCC volunteers are asking for your help in moving forward a proposed bill in the Diet by signing a petition, one that asks for immediate passage of a bill that has been proposed to end child prostitution, child pornography and trafficking in children for sexual purposes. Please act now if you can add your support. March 15 is the date when petitions will be collected.

COMMUNITY / How-tos / GETTING THINGS DONE

Mar 3, 1999

Sorry about that

My sympathy is with a reader who used a previous column as a guide when he had his U.S. driver's license translated and took it to his Japanese licensing bureau for the easy exchange I had promised. He had studied the "Rules of the Road" handbook and didn't expect any problems with the required written test. However, he learned that the law had been changed and that now it is also necessary to take a driving proficiency test.

COMMUNITY / How-tos / GETTING THINGS DONE

Feb 28, 1999

Recently I visited a friend who lives in an upscale apartment building, a part of one of Tokyo's massive redevelopment projects. When I saw there was a taxi parked in one of the spaces assigned to her floor, I asked if a neighbor were now commuting by taxi instead of company car. My assumption was incorrect. Her neighbor is a taxi driver.

COMMUNITY / How-tos / GETTING THINGS DONE

Feb 21, 1999

Sunday afternoon

A reader writes about the Saturday edition of The Japan Times and how much she appreciates the listing of what's going on in our city. She especially enjoyed Robert Yellin's Feb. 13 article about Nezu Museum and its current exhibition revealing the elegance of traditional sake drinking, the sake cups and the serving containers, many with long histories and crafted by potters from famous kilns in Japan and other countries as well, mainly China and Korea. She could better appreciate what she was seeing because of his review.

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.

[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Later this month, author Shogo Imamura will open Honmaru, a bookstore that allows other businesses to rent its shelves. It's part of a wave of ideas Japanese booksellers are trying to compete with online spaces.

The story isn't over for Japan's bookstores

By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Prize winner Maki Imoto catches light with glass

Prize winner Maki Imoto catches light with glass

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