author

 
 
 Alex K.T. Martin

Meta

Alex K.T. Martin
Alex K.T. Martin is a Tokyo-based journalist and senior writer at The Japan Times, primarily focusing on feature stories. Previously he was a Tokyo correspondent for The Wall Street Journal.
JAPAN / Society / Longform
Aug 7, 2021
Tokyo tomorrow: What comes after the 2020 Games?
Rebuilt from the war and continually building back stronger, the 1964 Olympics gave Tokyo an identity. Will the 2020 Games do the same?
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society / Longform
Aug 2, 2021
Tokyo today: A city in a state of perpetual rebuilding
When you think of Tokyo, what do you think of? Is it the chaotic commercialism of Shibuya or the temples nestled in the city's backstreets?
JAPAN
Jul 21, 2021
The 'Recovery Olympics' take a back seat amid COVID-19 concerns
The Games were supposed to showcase Japan's recovery efforts following the devastating 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster. Such efforts have been thwarted by the pandemic.
Japan Times
LIFE / Longform
Jul 10, 2021
In search of Japan's lost wolves: Enduring legacy
In the final chapter of our five-part series, we look at how the mythos and mystery of the wolf continue to captivate and inspire.
Japan Times
LIFE / Longform
Jul 9, 2021
In search of Japan's lost wolves: Territorial threat
Industrialization and deforestation played a part in the Japanese wolf's supposed demise in the early 20th century. More than 100 years later, the ecological crisis is still with us.
Japan Times
LIFE / Longform
Jul 8, 2021
In search of Japan's lost wolves: Zoological mystery
The true identity of the Japanese wolf has attracted much research, and yet the elusive carnivore remains one of Japan's greatest zoological mysteries.
Japan Times
LIFE / Longform
Jul 7, 2021
In search of Japan's lost wolves: Chance encounter
Hiroshi Yagi has devoted most of his life trying to prove the existence of the Japanese wolf, a saga that began with a series of piercing howls he heard more than half a century ago.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Jul 7, 2021
Trouble stirs amid the quest for gold and glory
Was it an ominous premonition or just another blunder by a gaffe-prone politician?
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Jul 7, 2021
About that ancient Japanese curse that looms over the Tokyo Olympics…
The “phantom” 1940 Olympics, a haunted tunnel and scandals that rocked Tokyo 2020 — are the games cursed by the ghosts of Japan's feudal lords?
Japan Times
LIFE / Longform
Jul 6, 2021
In search of Japan's lost wolves: Primal howl
In the first installation of a five-part series, we track a four-legged enigma that some believe might still be roaming the nation's mountains and forests.
OLYMPICS / Longform
Jul 5, 2021
Twists and turns: Retracing Tokyo’s tumultuous path to the Olympics
Games organizers have been forced to confront ballooning costs, accusations of plagiarism and bribery, and — to top it all off — a crippling global pandemic.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy / Longform
Jun 14, 2021
Rethinking housing priorities in Japan in the wake of COVID-19
With remote work likely to remain as one of the pandemic's lasting legacies, developers are coming up with innovative new ways of meeting people's expectations toward accommodation and living spaces.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 7, 2021
'Nihonbashi Valley': Tokyo’s old trade quarters transforming into a startup hub
The financial district home to the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Bank of Japan is undergoing a makeover, luring dozens of life science and space technology startups.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 26, 2021
Japanese firms double down on online sales in China amid tourism halt
Demand for Japanese cosmetics is rising as Chinese consumers unable to travel abroad accelerate purchases on e-commerce platforms.
BUSINESS / Economy / Longform
May 24, 2021
How COVID-19 is altering consumer behavior in Japan
The coronavirus has changed the way we all shop, but which habits are likely to stay with us when the pandemic subsides?
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 13, 2021
As Olympics near, Tokyo flagged as among most disaster-vulnerable cities
When looking solely at natural disasters and the impact of earthquakes and typhoons on economies, populations and infrastructure, Tokyo and Osaka were listed as high-risk.
BUSINESS
May 12, 2021
Japanese hotels and travel agencies struggle as virus hits bookings
According to a Japan Tourism Agency survey, more than 40% of respondents in the hotel business said reservations dropped by over 70% between January and May this year.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / Longform
May 3, 2021
New frontier: The future of tourism in Japan
Japan's travel industry has introduced new ways of attracting visitors amid COVID-19, but will any of these initiatives stick?
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 30, 2021
Hit by restaurant closures, Japan's beer-makers double down on canned beer
With the state of emergency dealing a further blow to on-site sales, tapping into the growing market of home drinkers and health-conscious consumers has become essential.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 13, 2021
Fishing and boating lure more enthusiasts in pandemic-hit Japan
Sales of fishing gear and used boats are up, and 2020 saw an increase in the number of Japanese people obtaining boating licenses.

Longform

Eme-Ima Kitchen is one of over 10,000 kodomo shokudō in Japan. A term first used in 2012 to describe makeshift eateries offering free or cheap meals to disadvantaged kids, it now refers to a diverse range of individuals, groups and organizations working to provide not only food but a sense of belonging to both children and adults.
Japan’s ‘children’s cafeterias’ are booming — but is that a good thing?