Mami Maruko - The Japan Times

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Mami Maruko

Staff writer Mami Maruko writes stories about the international community in Japan, including profiles of Tokyo-based ambassadors and international marriages. She received education in Japan, England and the U.S. She graduated from Goldsmiths College, University of London, with a masters degree in Theater Arts.

For Mami Maruko's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:

CULTURE / Music

Apr 22, 2001

A new drumbeat resounds around the world

The powerful beat of taiko (Japanese drums) of different sizes vibrates the air, while the delicate sound of shinobue (bamboo flute) adds spice to the dynamic rhythm. On stage is taiko troupe Tokyo Dageki Dan: four muscular men drumming and another with the flute.

COMMUNITY

Apr 15, 2001

A yen for thrift

There was a time when Japan prided itself on its thriftiness. Hard times after World War II produced the need to save money and cut every corner. Children were taught that each grain of rice was sacred and not to be wasted. Sardines and mackerel were standard fare, beef reserved only for special occasions. Little Sister got Big Sister's hand-me-downs, and eating and sleeping in the same room was the norm.

COMMUNITY

Apr 8, 2001

Keeping your eyes on the skies

In November 1999, the Leonid meteor storm returned, brighter in the night skies than it had been for 33 years, prompting many to turn out to watch the spectacular celestial show.

LIFE / Travel

Apr 8, 2001

Putting your best foot forward

When the mountains are blanketed with the fresh, green leaves of spring, it's peak hiking season. Hiking has always been a popular activity as it presents a challenge surmountable for most people, regardless of age. It's easy to prepare for and not as risky as rock-climbing or other hardcore outdoor sports requiring skill and experience.

LIFE / Food & Drink

Apr 1, 2001

Tokyo's most wanted: the depachika bestsellers

The capricious tastes of consumers have seen food fads come and go. Remember the short-lived nata de coco boom or Cinnabon craze of last year? Now depachika are the centers of gourmet attention, selling a whole range of foods, among them some old favorites, but also many new items aiming to become the next big thing.

CULTURE / Music

Jan 30, 2001

Kitaro tunes in to a healing vibe

Kitaro, one of few Japanese musicians known internationally, has unshaken faith in his music. With enormous energy counterpointing his calm, modest and easy-going manner, he has handled huge projects in the past and has been called the pioneer of New Age music in Japan.

COMMUNITY

Jan 25, 2001

The kindergartens are all right

Michiko Sonobe (not her real name) was nervous before an interview with authorities at a prestigious kindergarten in Yokohama as part of her 21/2-year-old son's entrance examination last November.

COMMUNITY

Nov 30, 2000

1,000 yen shops offer customers discount-shopping thrills

In response to the continuing economic slump, 100 yen shops have popped up everywhere in the last few years, but their popularity may soon be overshadowed by the emergence of 1,000 yen shops.

CULTURE / Stage

Nov 11, 2000

Art transcends time in 'Julius Caesar' production

A talented theater director can breathe new life into an old play, and David Lan, the new artistic director of the Young Vic Theater in southeast London, has done just that.

CULTURE / Stage

Oct 28, 2000

Cirque du Soleil set to dazzle Japan

There is usually a charismatic man behind any successful entertainment company, and the Canadian circus group Cirque du Soleil has Guy Laliberte to thank for its success.

Japan Times

COMMUNITY

Sep 28, 2000

Birth of a new generation

Turn on the television or flip through any popular magazine, and you're sure to come across gyarumama (gal mamas) -- teenage moms with tanned skin, trendy clothes and towering platform shoes.

COMMUNITY

Aug 10, 2000

Japan's favorite schlemiel goes international

The great manga artist Fujio Akatsuka sits casually, a glass of Chivas Regal in one hand, for all the world as if he were drinking at an izakaya with friends rather than sitting in his hospital room in Tokyo.

COMMUNITY

Jul 27, 2000

A social clash of old values and new rules

The number of divorces in Japan, especially among couples who have been married for 20 years or more, has been increasing. According to a survey carried out by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, in 1999 there were a total of 250,538 divorced couples.

CULTURE / Art

Jul 15, 2000

Singapore seeks its own artistic future

Singapore is known for being a clean country full of sunshine, greenery and delightful people. But although it offers great shopping, gourmet dining and sightseeing, it is not frequently associated with the art world.

COMMUNITY

Jun 26, 2000

It's true! Chocolate is good for you!

The academic name for cacao beans is Theobroma cacao, which means "God's food." They are said to have first been found in pre-Columbian Mexico, where they were valued as an elixir of life among the royalty. The native Mexicans believed that with one block of crushed chocolate, one could work five to six hours without stopping. They carried it when traveling in the mountains as emergency food in case of accident. This is because chocolate is nutritious, full of such minerals as iron, potassium, magnesium and zinc.

CULTURE / Stage

Jun 16, 2000

A ghost brings actress back into the spotlight

"I was deeply impressed by the beauty of the words," says actress Keiko Matsuzaka, 47, breathless with enthusiasm as she talks about the play she's producing: "Tenshu Monogatari."

COMMUNITY

May 11, 2000

Young women study up for the future

A high attendance in classes ranging from aromatherapy, beadwork and flower arrangement to exotic languages and cooking, offered at department stores and community centers all over Japan, is a sign of a new trend among women in their late 20s and early 30s.

CULTURE / Art

Apr 29, 2000

Life springs eternal in oshibana creations

Using one's own garden flowers to create oshibana (pressed-flower arrangements) and thereby eternally preserving the flowers' beauty is a joy many nature lovers would relish.

CULTURE / Art

Apr 22, 2000

World of freeze-framed flowers at Mitsukoshi

Despite a long history dating back to the 16th century, when botanists in England and Italy began systematic collection of specimens, the art of flower pressing still tends to be treated as a mere hobby or handicraft in many countries. In Japan, too, although the number of oshibana (pressed flower) artists and enthusiasts has increased in recent years to about 400,000 (perhaps due to the surge of interest in gardening), oshibana has not yet been acknowledged as a legitimate art form.

CULTURE / Stage

Apr 18, 2000

Festival of fools makes its Tokyo debut

In Europe, clown and mime performances have always been acknowledged as respected forms of entertainment, with some countries even establishing national circus schools. These types of entertainment have never enjoyed the same level of recognition in Japan, however, where clowning and mime have traditionally taken a back seat to most other genres of comic performance. Producer Keiichi Nishida's undertaking will hopefully change that by bringing an entire "festival of fools" to Tokyo for the first time.

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

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

By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Live like a lord or lady for a night at Ozu Castle

Live like a lord or lady for a night at Ozu Castle

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