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May 17, 2024
 

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Masako Tsubuku
For Masako Tsubuku's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Apr 9, 2010
Where's the (cheap) beef?
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack might be heartened to hear the gyudon (beef bowl) battle is more ferocious than ever.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Apr 6, 2010
Annals of Cheap: Super Hotel
The Super Hotel chain ranked high in yearly survey of customer satisfaction, and for good reason. As business hotels go, these are super.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Apr 2, 2010
The Mujirushi house: Fans finally get total immersion
Fans of Mujirushi can now live in the no-nonsense, customizable house that Muji built. Simple functionality will cost you, though.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Mar 30, 2010
Food cooperatives offer peace of mind for a price
Food cooperatives offer guilt-free groceries delivered to your doorstep, but that peace of mind will cost you a pretty penny.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Mar 27, 2010
Before Obamacare: Japan's national healthcare system saves some for private insurers
Even though Japan enjoys the benefits of national health care, private insurers are doing a booming business.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Mar 22, 2010
Old eco points vs. new eco points: Where's the savings?
A new eco-points standard for TVs means buying before March 31 could be the ticket to a bargain.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Mar 18, 2010
Driving schools cope with an auto-immune generation
Driving schools used to be on easy street but they're struggling these days and trying to get control of the wheel.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Mar 12, 2010
The road to nowhere leads to Ibaraki Airport
Rumors of a third airport in Tokyo have been greatly exaggerated. It's two hours away, in Ibaraki.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Mar 8, 2010
Tax deductions and the myth of the "no-donation culture"
With few incentives to give to charities and few that qualify as NPOs, it no surprise that Japan has a bum rap as a 'no-donation' culture.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Mar 4, 2010
Annals of cheap: Tokyo Metro kaisuken
Smart cards such as PASMO and Suica are convenient for traveling in Tokyo but there's hidden value in the Metro's kaisuken (multiple tickets).
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Mar 1, 2010
Do your part and take a vacation
Japan tends to vacation en masse at the same times annually, which isn't great for an ailing tourism industry.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Feb 25, 2010
Soccer lottery BIG in Japan
The payout of the BIG soccer lottery promises to be a biggie: u00a5600 million to the lucky ticket owner.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Feb 22, 2010
Government housing allowance ignores market realities
To aid laid-off workers, the government has been offering rent subsidies, but clearly the money isn't reaching the right people.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Feb 18, 2010
Tracking the recession with the Moyashi Index
The Moyashi Index: When bean sprout consumption goes up, it means grocery spending is down. And yes, families are eating more moyashi these days.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Feb 15, 2010
Getting paid for doing the right thing
Spurred by the death of a child-abuse victim, police have begun offering incentives for anonymous tip-offs.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Feb 10, 2010
The other New Year: Can Chinese prop up J-retail?
Inbound tourism has taken a hit recently, with the exception of Chinese tourists who collectively spend a lot of yen.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Feb 8, 2010
Consumer finance regroups: Promise to be good?
Dinged with lawsuits and government scrutiny, the consumer loan business is having to play it a bit cautious.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Feb 3, 2010
Kids are all right at Softbank
If Japan wants to reverse the declining birthrate then maybe more companies should start following the Softbank model of family benefits.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Jan 31, 2010
Notes on the end of the department store (as we know it)
Seibu department store has called it quits in Yurakucho. Should we be surprised?
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Jan 27, 2010
The art of boro: rags to riches
A Tokyo museum takes a look at the time-honored tradition of boro, rag-like hand-me-downs that rise in value as time goes by.
Japanese stripper bids to have her porn movies taken off internet
Plaintiff Miyuki Ariga (left) speaks at a news conference along with her lawyer, Yoshitomo Morohashi, after filing a lawsuit at the Tokyo District Court on Monday.
Kishida defends planned rule to revoke foreigners' residency
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a meeting of the Lower House Judicial Affairs Committee on Wednesday.
Human bone-like objects found at Nippon Steel plant’s molten iron pot, with one worker missing
Police believe it’s highly possible that human bones found in a molten iron pot at Nippon Steel's Oita factory belong to a missing male employee.
Was Onosato's defeat of Terunofuji an era-defining bout?
Onosato (right) defeats Terunofuji at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on May 12. While nothing in sumo is guaranteed, it seems almost inevitable that Onosato is destined for the top of the sport's pyramid.
Japan to review romanization system for first time in 70 years
An advisory panel to the education ministry will consider how the Japanese language should be transcribed into the Latin alphabet, including unifying different romanization styles currently in use.
Japanese rap creates its mecca in Pop Yours
Tokyo-based artist Jumadiba says he forgoes the label of simply “rap” for his music because the Japanese rap scene isn’t confined to a particular sound.
Who’s toughest on China? Biden’s tariff tactic ups ante as election looms.
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about new actions to protect American workers and businesses from China's "unfair" trade practices, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on Tuesday.
Was Onosato's defeat of Terunofuji an era-defining bout?
Onosato (right) defeats Terunofuji at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on May 12. While nothing in sumo is guaranteed, it seems almost inevitable that Onosato is destined for the top of the sport's pyramid.
Ishin struggles to set itself apart from other parties
Nippon Ishin no Kai Secretary-General Fumitake Fujita (right) speaks beside Yui Kanazawa, the party's candidate in the Tokyo 15th district by-election on April 28. Nippon Ishin lost in this by-election as well as another in Nagasaki held on the same day.
In Japan, 68,000 people over 65 projected to die alone at home this year
As Japan grapples with its population's rapid aging, supporting people who live and age alone is looming larger on the policy agenda.

Podcast

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

Longform

Things may look perfect to the outside world, but today's mom is fine with some imperfection at home.
How 'Reiwa moms' are reshaping motherhood in Japan
By Mai Yoshikawa

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Vol. 35: Travel in time — and stay there
Vol. 35: Travel in time — and stay there

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