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Claire Williamson
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Nov 23, 2019
Can a shared cup of tea revitalize aging Takao?
Want to experience Japan's 'mountain way of life'? At the Ochanomi Sanpo ('Tea-drinking Walk') event in Takao, Niigata Prefecture, residents open their homes to visitors for conversation and good food.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Nov 23, 2019
Joetsu: A historic town braces for the first snowfall of winter
Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture, might be most famous for its snowfall and skiing, but it also has a long history of local sweets, sake and even samurai.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Nov 2, 2019
Shibuya Scramble Square shakes up the depachika
On Nov. 1, the latest gem in an ambitious multiphase plan to redevelop the Shibuya area — Shibuya Scramble Square — opened its doors.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books / 2010S: DECADE IN REVIEW
Nov 2, 2019
Our critics' favorite Japanese books of the decade
As 2020 approaches, The Japan Times' book reviewers look back at a decade of literature and their favorite and most impactful books written about Japan or by Japanese writers.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Oct 26, 2019
Mieko Watanabe is ready for any challenge
Architectural designer Mieko Watanabe on how she designs an inviting hotel space, the challenges of owning her own firm and how everyone can be a little more eco-friendly at home.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Sep 28, 2019
Yuki Hirose: Exploring the cognitive basis of language
Psycholinguistics professor Yuki Hirose on why she can't read your mind, getting children to sit still for academic studies and the qualities she looks for in a mentor.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Sep 6, 2019
Top 10: The best of Tokyo's concrete architecture
'Concrete Tokyo Map' outlines the most iconic concrete buildings in Tokyo. Here's The Japan Times' pick of 10 you should definitely visit on an architectural tour of Tokyo.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Aug 24, 2019
Tiny Peace Kitchen: Lunch like mom used to make it
Although Tokyo has one of the best restaurant scenes in the world, sometimes you'd rather eschew the high-end for simple, nourishing food, the kind you'll find at Tiny Peace Kitchen.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / THE HIGH GROUNDS
Aug 10, 2019
10 coffee shops in Tokyo that are worth the buzz
This past year, The High Grounds has covered some of the most innovative coffee in Japan. This final entry in the series is only one fanatic's list of 10 places to get your coffee fix in the capital.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Aug 10, 2019
Masatoshi Takami: Uniting choirs in beautiful harmony
Choral conductor Masatoshi Takami on how he prepares pieces for performance, what surprised him about the American Midwest and which movie has the best soundtrack.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Jul 27, 2019
Walk 997 kilometers in Craig Mod's shoes
Name: Craig Mod
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books / RECENTLY PUBLISHED BOOKS ABOUT JAPAN
Jul 27, 2019
'Waste: Consuming Postwar Japan': Japan's approach to waste is trash
In 'Waste: Consuming Postwar Japan,' Eiko Maruko Siniawer traces the evolution of Japanese values and aspirations from 1945 to the present through the lense of waste and waste consciousness.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / THE HIGH GROUNDS
Jul 13, 2019
Raising the brewing bar at Barista Training Lab Tokyo
Barista Training Lab Tokyo offers classes in brewing, roasting and tasting coffee, covering all the skills a professional barista — or interested amateur — needs to know.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / THE HIGH GROUNDS
Jun 8, 2019
Great coffee makes for a better shopping experience
Though many shops still have a 'no food or drink' rule, there are a growing number in Tokyo that offer high-quality coffee alongside curated retail products, so you can keep your shopping energy up.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books / ESSENTIAL READING FOR JAPANOPHILES
Jun 1, 2019
'Shoe Dog' review: A 'crazy idea,' a multibillion dollar company
For runners and nonrunners alike, 'Shoe Dog' is an invaluable glimpse into one of the world's most recognizable companies and its groundbreaking founder.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Jun 1, 2019
68 restaurants awarded stars in inaugural Michelin Guide to Aichi, Gifu and Mie prefectures
On May 17, Michelin published the Michelin Guide Aichi-Gifu-Mie 2019, the company's inaugural guide to Aichi, Gifu and Mie prefectures in Japan's central Tokai region.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
May 11, 2019
Hideo Furusawa: Toward the shining light of French cooking
Hideo Furusawa talks about why he became a chef, his admiration of Alain Ducasse and food sustainability.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / THE HIGH GROUNDS
May 11, 2019
Yard Coffee & Craft Chocolate: It's all about the bean
At Yard Coffee & Craft Chocolate, father and son team up to bring bean-to-bar chocolate desserts and specialty coffee to Osaka's Tennoji neighborhood.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Apr 27, 2019
Konbi: Offering a refined take on the classic konbini sandwich
Of the many konbini (convenience store) classics available on store shelves — from onigiri rice balls to ready-to-eat paper cups of fried chicken — you can't go wrong with the quintessential konbini sandwich.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Apr 13, 2019
Vaughan Allison: Transforming nonessentials into essentials
Vaughan Allison on why his blood is black, his best concert memory and the most underrated area in Tokyo.

Longform

Dul Saroth (left) and Soeum Samrach, deminers with the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, practice using the Advanced Landmine Imaging System in Cambodia’s Siem Reap province in August.
The Japanese tech that could one day make Southeast Asia landmine-free