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May 20, 2024
 

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Alex K.T. Martin

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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.
For Alex K.T. Martin's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 6, 2009
Calls to revise organ law grow as lawmakers debate various plans
When Yasuto Katagiri asked New York's Columbia University in February to perform a heart transplant on Hoku, his 2-year-old son suffering from a rare form of heart disease called restrictive cardiomyopathy, the university had to turn him down because its 5 percent limit for accepting foreign transplant...
JAPAN
May 2, 2009
American missing on volcanic island is award-winning poet, assistant professor
The missing American man last seen Monday on Kuchinoerabu Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, is an award-winning poet and assistant professor at a U.S. university, according to his family and the school.
JAPAN
May 2, 2009
Power struggle rages in North over Kim's heir
As succession speculation abounds amid reports of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's deteriorating health, a recently obtained confidential report has shed new light on a power struggle taking place in the reclusive state.
JAPAN
May 1, 2009
American hiker believed missing on volcanic isle off Yakushima
A man in his 40s has been missing since Monday, when he was last seen at the head of a mountain trail on Kuchinoerabu, a volcanic island 12 km off Yakushima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture, Yakushima police said.
Japan Times
Events / WHERE IT'S AT
Apr 28, 2009
Tokyo 2.0 a buzzing hub for online communities, entrepreneurs
For one night every month, Roppongi's artsy underground event space SuperDeluxe turns into a networking hub for the Internet junkies dwelling in the capital's vast urban sprawl.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Apr 21, 2009
The past, present and future of fortunetelling
From the traditional "omikuji" — sacred lots — people draw at shrines and temples to learn their New Year's fortunes, to the horoscopes displayed on commuter train video screens to distract strap-hangers, Japanese society is immersed in fortunetelling.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 10, 2009
Japan Web site a life-time labor of love
When Stefan Schauwecker first launched japan-guide.com in 1996 while still a student in Canada, the Web site only featured an A to Z section on Japanese culture — "just a basic intro to Japan, a guide to look up cultural stuff and a little bit of history," the Swiss native recalled.
JAPAN
Apr 3, 2009
Launch plan sets off surveillance frenzy
As tension mounts ahead of North Korea's plan to launch a rocket over this country, Japan, the United States and South Korea are deploying several high-tech surveillance ships to monitor what the three allies suspect will actually be a ballistic missile test.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 28, 2009
SDF gets intercept order
Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada ordered the Self-Defense Forces on Friday to shoot down any part of a North Korean rocket that might fall toward Japanese territory.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 27, 2009
When push comes to shove, can Japan shoot down missile?
First of two parts
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 19, 2009
China, tourism feature in huge 'anime' convention
The Tokyo International Anime Fair 2009 kicked off Wednesday to a cheerful start, featuring a mix of both domestic and overseas companies presenting their newest products and exploring new marketing methods ranging from "anime" tourism to online broadcasting.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHO'S WHO
Mar 17, 2009
Headmaster studies layers of the Japan onion
When Timothy Carr arrived in Japan in 2003, the punctuality and caution he saw people investing in the maintenance of order immediately struck him as fascinating.
Japan Times
JAPAN / MIXED MATCHES
Mar 7, 2009
Couple's married life off to auspicious start
When Joyce Lam took Koji Kobayashi to meet her parents in Hong Kong in January 2008, they reminded her that, as the Year of the Golden Pig, 2007 was the most auspicious year to tie the knot in 60 years.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 4, 2009
Future of 'anime' industry in doubt
After graduating from Tokyo Animator College, Yuko Matsui began working at a midscale animation production agency.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 1, 2009
Human Rights Watch coming to Tokyo
Civilians are killed as the Sri Lankan military closes in on the Tamil Tiger rebels.
JAPAN
Feb 21, 2009
Pot crimes hit new record
Cannabis-related crimes have surged to a new record, stoking public interest following a spate of high-profile arrests related to marijuana use.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 12, 2009
Pacifist, cultural critic Kato remembered
There are many labels to describe Shuichi Kato, who died Dec. 5 at age 89.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 11, 2009
Shoe shiner buffs his trade into fine art
The chic, antique-filled interior of his store, the soft jazz playing in the background and Yuya Hasegawa's fancy suit are all there to serve a single purpose: to boost the esteem of his job.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Feb 3, 2009
Bank transfer fraudsters have that grift of gab
Subway posters, newspaper ads, TV commercials and automatic teller machines nationwide bear warnings against "furikome sagi" — remittance fraud — a scourge that bilks the vulnerable out of billions of yen every year.
Japan Times
Events / WHERE IT'S AT
Jan 27, 2009
East of Tokyo grooves to the samba rhythms
Although the weather was cold and cloudy, sweat was pouring from those who made it over to the Barbaros New Year Party 2009, an event hosted by G.R.E.S. Barbaros, 17-time winner of the Asakusa Samba Carnival and one of the largest dance teams in the nation dedicated to the Brazilian musical genre.
America wasn’t made for walking, and it’s killing them
A 2010 study found that U.S. adults averaged 5,117 steps daily and that this was lower than the averages found in similar studies in Switzerland, western Australia and Japan.
Rare sequel to 'My Neighbor Totoro' to play at Cannes
A screening of "Mei and the Baby Cat Bus," which is being billed as a "mini-sequel" to the Studio Ghibli classic "My Neighbor Totoro," is set to take place at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday.
Japanese stripper bids to have her porn movies taken off internet
Plaintiff Miyuki Ariga (left) speaks at a news conference along with her lawyer, Yoshitomo Morohashi, after filing a lawsuit at the Tokyo District Court on Monday.
Saudi crown prince seeks soft power in game hub Japan
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomes Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, last July.
Japan survey finds 30% of student interns experience sexual harassment
The proportion of recent graduates in Japan who have worked as interns have experienced sexual harassment during their internship was 30.1%, according to a labor ministry survey, up 4.6 percentage points from the previous survey in fiscal 2020.
Fuchu Prison adapting to foreign prisoners
From the outside, the light-brown complex that is Fuchu Prison in western Tokyo could easily be mistaken for a city hall.
The politicians moving Japan forward on climate
While not the most outspoken politician on the issue, digital minister Taro Kono has a track record of being serious in his commitment to addressing the climate crisis.
Seoul's eclectic Art OnO shines light on Japan's artists and galleries
Art OnO, which took place from April 19 to 21 in Seoul, featured a modest number of 36 participating galleries from 15 countries.
Want to be a voice actor? Stay 'true to the character'
SungWon Cho is a veteran with more than 10 years of experience portraying characters in anime, cartoons and video games.
Local theater in Japan is more than a hobby — it’s a community
Japan Times contributor Laura Pollacco (front right) was offered the role of one of her all-time favorite heroines, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Bennet, in the Tokyo International Players’ production of “Pride and Prejudice.”

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