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July 04, 2025
 

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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.
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.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society / Longform
Apr 10, 2021
The changing face of medical care for Japan's older residents amid COVID-19
The prolonged state of social isolation amid the ongoing pandemic is deteriorating the mental and physical health of Japan's seniors.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society / Longform
Mar 20, 2021
Leap of faith: Japan’s religious institutions get innovative in pandemic
Temples and shrines nationwide are experimenting with new ways of meeting the spiritual and emotional needs of parishioners.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Remembering 3/11
Mar 11, 2021
Olympic torchbearer aiming to remind the world of 2011 disaster
Kenichi Kurosawa survived the earthquake and tsunami, and has been constantly encouraging his neighbors to stay strong ever since.
PODCAST / deep dive
Mar 10, 2021
Episode 85: Ishinomaki — A tsunami-ravaged city, 10 years on
Alex Martin and Mari Saito bring us two stories from Tohoku, a decade after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
JAPAN / Remembering 3/11
Mar 6, 2021
A decade on, real challenges lie ahead for communities devastated by March 2011 disaster
With the government poised to significantly reduce the subsidies handed out to areas recovering from the catastrophe, will the city of Ishinomaki be able to stand on its own?
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Feb 7, 2021
Suicides in Japan dropped for a decade. Then the pandemic hit.
Economic insecurity, social isolation and the lingering dread that those you love can suddenly fall victim to the pathogen have stirred a toxic mix of stress and anxiety.
BUSINESS / Economy / Longform
Jan 30, 2021
Japan’s hospitality sector creaks under the weight of a second state of emergency
Restaurants, bars and karaoke parlors are bearing the brunt of restrictions placed on their operations, a move that could have a long-lasting impact on the nation's culinary landscape.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle / Longform
Jan 9, 2021
Insects: The future of food?
A thriving industry looks promising if consumer aversion can be overcome.
JAPAN
Dec 28, 2020
Shut that window! Open that window! Coronavirus in winter presents new challenge
The dry and often freezing climate is proving to be challenging as restaurants, shops and other facilities scramble to keep their facilities safe.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Dec 12, 2020
Escaping COVID-19: When you can’t see the virus for the trees
Individuals are replacing forestry companies and large corporations in efforts to buy plots of affordable forestland — but for a very different reason.
CULTURE
Dec 1, 2020
Amabie: Folklore apparition generated a big buzz in 2020
The long-haired, beak-faced amabie, which forecasts bountiful harvests and killer epidemics, has found itself in Japan's spotlight in recent months.
Magnitude 5.5 earthquake jars Tokara Islands amid flurry of seismic activity
A strong quake struck off the Tokara Islands on Thursday afternoon, with the island chain having recorded around 1,000 earthquakes since a burst of seismic activity first began on June 21.
Onosato's yokozuna promotion causes rare quirk in new sumo rankings
Newly promoted yokozuna Onosato holds a copy of the latest banzuke ranking in Anjo, Aichi Prefecture, on Monday.
A prophesied disaster (likely) won’t strike Japan this weekend
A viral manga prediction of a July 5 disaster has gripped Japan with anxiety and triggered an economic impact, but experts warn that while such dates are unreliable, the threat of a massive earthquake remains real. 
Over 900 earthquakes strike Tokara islands in space of two weeks
A screenshot shows many quakes occurring in the Tokara islands over the past 30 days, in this image taken from the U.S. Geological Survey website.
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Flag football facing challenges and opportunities ahead
Japan’s women’s flag football team at the 2025 International Bowl in Los Angeles in June. The sport is enjoying continued growth in the country.
From Hokusai’s Great Wave, shinkansen to One Piece: a cultural treasure box for Lego Japan
Michael Ebbesen, general manager of Lego Japan, says Lego bricks based on Japanese culture have a rich global appeal and are sellable around the world.
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
Chef Hideaki Matsuo (middle) and the staff of Oseto Suisan Fisheries prepare to check on their sustainably farmed fish.
As Southeast Asia heats up, a Japanese cooling giant sees a major opportunity
An employee of Daikin Cambodia explains the use of different tools during an air conditioner installation training session in Phnom Penh. Daikin is one of Japan’s oldest air conditioning companies, but as Japan’s population falls, the firm is keying in on overseas growth.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji
By Alex K.T. Martin

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