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 Shusuke Murai

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Shusuke Murai
Shusuke Murai was born in Japan and spent his teen years in central Ohio. He graduated from New York University with a M.A. in Communication. His interests include the activities of virtual communities, intercultural interactions in the information society and futuristic gadgets.
For Shusuke Murai's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 29, 2015
Online school aims to help students find their calling as they prepare to enter university
Former teacher Hirokazu Okuhira is concerned that the current education system in Japan is more about rote learning than helping students find career paths and nurturing human resources with the professional skills truly needed in today's society.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 22, 2015
Design by architect Kengo Kuma picked for Tokyo's new Olympic stadium
Kengo Kuma's blueprint prevails in the contest to redesign the new National Stadium after the initial plan was scrapped amid a national uproar over cost and other factors.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Dec 18, 2015
4D introduces new viewing option for 'Star Wars' fans
In preparation for the much-anticipated worldwide release of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” Toho Cinemas Ltd. has tripled its so-called 4D motion effects theaters to nine stretching from Tokyo, Yokohama, Kawasaki and Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture, to Nanba in Osaka.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 15, 2015
Leafy designs for new National Stadium seen as posing security headaches
The greenery-rich design proposals for the main stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics could pose security headaches, an expert said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Dec 10, 2015
Foreign students and workers back life in Japan, but say work for local firms 'unappealing'
Japan is overwhelmingly an appealing place to live, but the experience of working for Japanese companies is not as alluring, according to a new survey of foreign students and workers.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 9, 2015
Smog from Beijing may reach northern Japan
The ongoing pollution "red alert" in Beijing may affect northern Japan, a model of weather patterns suggests, although pollutants will be well within safe limits when they arrive.
JAPAN
Dec 8, 2015
Tokyo's Ota Ward allows temporary condo rentals to tourists
To help meet rising demand for accommodations in Tokyo, the Ota Ward Assembly has passed an ordinance allowing condominium owners to rent vacant units to the record numbers of international travelers coming to Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 1, 2015
'Bakugai,' 'toripuru suri' share top honors as year's most memorable buzzwords in Japan
This year's most memorable buzzwords in Japan were announced Tuesday, with the words bakugai (explosive shopping spree carried out by Chinese tourists) and toripuru suri ("Triple Three" achievements in baseball) jointly taking home the top honors.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 1, 2015
Tokyo, central government reach deal on Olympic stadium cost
After months of dispute, the central and metropolitan governments reach a deal in which Tokyo will shoulder u00a539.5 billion of the estimated u00a5158.1 billion cost to build the main stadium for the 2020 Olympics.
JAPAN
Nov 27, 2015
Niigata editor suspended after pseudonymous, slanderous tweets come to light
A head of the news section at a regional newspaper has been punished with unpaid, indefinite suspension after slandering a lawyer and other people on a social network service website, the newspaper revealed Friday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 20, 2015
Keidanren flips again on recruitment drive
The outcry over Japan's annual student recruitment drive takes another twist as Keidanren makes a second change to the starting date, shifting to June instead of August.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Nov 16, 2015
'Proactive pacifism' makes Japan a target for Islamic terrorists: experts
The terrorist attacks Friday in Paris highlight the need for Japan to be on high alert as it prepares to host such high-profile events as next year's Group of Seven summit and the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 15, 2015
Delivery failures dog parcel firms
Missing a package delivery is usually not a problem when one can easily go online or call to request redelivery.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 13, 2015
Nationwide curriculum to end free-for-all in English teacher training
Fed up with the low English proficiency of the many educators who teach the language, the education ministry decides to standardize the curriculum for training courses in universities.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Nov 5, 2015
Tokyo's Shibuya and Setagaya wards issue first same-sex partnership papers
Eight couples in Tokyo's Shibuya and Setagaya wards were on Thursday issued with certificates recognizing their same-sex partnerships as equivalent to marriage on the first day of the long-awaited policy change.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Nov 4, 2015
High school student launches product to deter train gropers
Packed rush hour trains, delays and unpleasant odors — all familiar headaches for seasoned rail riders. Yet for some, the daily commute includes a more sinister threat: gropers.
JAPAN
Nov 2, 2015
Waseda University strips Obokata of Ph.D.
Tokyo's Waseda University will revoke the doctorate of cell scientist Haruko Obokata, because she failed to correct inaccuracies in her thesis as requested.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Nov 2, 2015
Does biometric authentication hold the key to a bright future or Pandora's box?
Forgot your password? Maybe that won't be an issue in the near future.
JAPAN
Oct 26, 2015
Bookstore's Twitter account supporting 'pro-democracy book fair' ignites online controversy
An "unofficial" Twitter account operated by a Tokyo bookstore employee that promoted a "pro-democracy book fair" has sparked an online controversy, resulting in cancellation of the event by the chain's head office.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Oct 23, 2015
Shibuya Ward to accept applications for certificates to recognize same-sex partnerships
Ken Hasebe, mayor of Tokyo's Shibuya Ward, announced Friday that the ward will start accepting applications Wednesday to issue certificates of recognition for same-sex partnerships, a landmark step for the city to protect the rights of sexual minorities.

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