author

 
 
 Minoru Matsutani

Meta

Minoru Matsutani
For Minoru Matsutani's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NET NEWS WATCH
May 13, 2014
Fujitsu harvests low-potassium lettuce grown in semiconductor plant
Electronics maker Fujitsu Ltd. has begun selling low-potassium lettuce, which is grown in a special clean room at its semiconductor plant in Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / SYMPOSIUM ON SOUTH KOREA
May 11, 2014
S. Korea's economy and the elderly
The South Korean economy has shown positive signs recently, but prospects may not be so bright due to the increasing costs of handling an aging society, five South Korean think tank researchers met at a recent symposium in Tokyo to discuss issues facing South Korea.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 23, 2014
Garuda Indonesia to boost flights to Japan
Garuda Indonesia will continue to expand operations in Japan as the country's increasing business interests in Indonesia boost traffic between the two countries, Emirsyah Satar, the president of the airline, said Tuesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / SYMPOSIUM ON ASEAN AND GLOBALIZATION
Mar 28, 2014
Opening labor market key to globalization
In order to move forward with globalization, Japanese companies must open up their closed labor market, an undertaking equivalent to a "cultural revolution" to overturn Japan Inc.'s human resource management style, a German scholar specializing in Japan said at a symposium in Tokyo.
Japan Times
JAPAN / SYMPOSIUM ON ASEAN AND GLOBALIZATION
Mar 28, 2014
ASEAN works to overcome challenges
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations will continue to accelerate integration while it works to overcome challenges such as disparities in the levels of development among member countries, academic experts of some ASEAN countries said at a symposium in Tokyo.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 13, 2014
Air France to start Haneda-Paris run
Air France will launch direct flights between Haneda airport in Tokyo and Paris on March 30, aiming to provide a more convenient alternative with business travelers particularly in mind.
Japan Times
JAPAN / DAVOS SPECIAL 2014
Jan 23, 2014
Japan's economy strong enough to weather tax hike storm
Last year Japan's economy finally refound some backbone, with strong growth, better company earnings, falling unemployment and the key stock index soaring by a half to a six-year high, thanks mainly to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic measures, the so-called "Abenomics."
Japan Times
JAPAN / DAVOS SPECIAL 2014
Jan 23, 2014
Impact of 2020 Olympics, Paralympics being felt
The scheduled 2020 Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo have had a tremendously positive impact on Japanese people's mind-set, playing a large part in the return of a brisk economy, said a government official in charge of preparations for the games.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 22, 2014
Reforms open SE Asia's 'last frontier'
Newly democratizing Myanmar is a suitable destination for Japanese direct investment as it is Southeast Asia's "last frontier," two researchers based in Singapore said at a symposium in Tokyo.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jan 5, 2014
Impress your hosts with osechi meanings
Shōgatsu (正月, New Year) is the time when most Japanese carry out certain religious rituals, though many of them may not realize what they do has religious significance.
Japan Times
JAPAN / GERMAN JOURNALIST SYMPOSIUM
Jan 3, 2014
Germany's role in EU divides bloc
Does Germany hurt or help Europe?
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Dec 1, 2013
Some illuminations on the red lantern
Last month, the chōchin (提灯, a Japanese traditional lantern) at Kaminarimon (雷門, the gate of Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, in Tokyo's Taito Ward) was replaced with a new one, the first time it has been renewed since 2003.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 1, 2013
U.S. may scale down its global policing: experts
Political, demographic and diplomatic changes in the U.S. during the past decades suggest the country will probably continue to be polarized into Democrat and Republican extremes, and the superpower will probably continue to rely on immigrants for economic growth and will likely play the global policeman role to a lesser extent, five academic researchers said at a symposium in Tokyo.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 26, 2013
Hyogo lawmakers bent on U.S. diplomacy boost
Liberal Democratic Party members of the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly began periodic meetings this month with representatives of the U.S. Consulate in Osaka-Kobe to enhance diplomacy with the U.S. through better communication, an assembly member said.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Nov 3, 2013
This is the year of the typhoon
We have never had more taifū (台風, typhoon)-related news than we have had this year. Japan has had at least 28 typhoons so far in 2013 and the number is likely to surpass 30 — the first time this will have happened in 19 years.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 30, 2013
Japan can learn from British experience on reform
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe can learn from Britain's experience of economic reform in order to ensure Abenomics takes Japan on a course to long-term growth, four journalists from British media organizations said at a recent symposium in Tokyo.
JAPAN
Oct 20, 2013
Abe 'arrows' to fall short: professor
A Stanford University professor has criticized Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic strategy, saying it will be impossible for the government to speedily execute all of the items in his "Abenomics" policy package.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Oct 6, 2013
Female novelist says pregnant women should quit work
The plight of Japan's working women is a subject that often pops up in the media. Female politicians and company executives voice the opinion that it would be good to harness the power of women in Japan, and that the garasu no tenjō (ガラスの天井, glass ceiling) needs to be smashed. But meanwhile, the majority of both men and women still seem to support the idea that a mother's place is in the home.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 27, 2013
S.T. Dupont logs doubled sales on revamped lineup
French hand-made luxury goods maker S.T. Dupont's president said Thursday that sales in Japan have doubled over the past three years after the company reduced its product lineup to mainly pens and lighters.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 18, 2013
India envoy stresses Japan's stature
India's special envoy to Japan said Wednesday the world's second-most-populous country is ready to make the visit by Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko in November successful and bilateral ties stronger.

Longform

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