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Spencer Cohen
For Spencer Cohen's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Mar 27, 2021
What happened to Japan’s promised outdoor dining renaissance?
New rules were supposed to make it easier for shops to set up outdoor dining. But the regulations are so convoluted, few can take advantage of them.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Jan 10, 2021
A ‘new wind is blowing’ for Japan’s coffee culture
Japan's kissaten and coffee shops are no strangers to social change. COVID-19 is pushing both shops and their customers into digital-driven habits.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Sep 20, 2020
A digital pivot at Japan’s universities: ‘A lot of us expected to have our worst semesters online’
The COVID-19 pandemic has complicated the fall term, leaving professors and students scrambling to adapt to shifting rules and digital education.

Longform

When trying to trace your lineage in Japan, the "koseki" is the most important form of document you'll encounter.
Climbing the branches of a Japanese family tree