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July 07, 2025
 

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Patrick St. Michel
Patrick St. Michel is a Tokyo-based writer with a focus on Japanese music. He runs the blog Make Believe Melodies, which has focused on Japanese independent music since 2009. Besides The Japan Times, he also contributes to MTV 81 and The Atlantic.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / 2010s: Decade in Review
Nov 23, 2019
Social media became part of the mainstream conversation in Japan during the 2010s
Internet culture has changed significantly over the past decade. In the 2000s, sites such as 2chan and Nico Nico Douga sat comfortably on the edges of the world wide web, offering a form of alternate reality from traditional media. The 2010s, however, saw social media platforms such as Twitter and YouTube...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / 2010s: Decade in review
Nov 16, 2019
2010s: The decade Japanese food took over the world
Japanese food experienced an international boom in the 2010s, and now you can find everything from ramen to egg sandwiches across the globe.
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Nov 16, 2019
The grape race: Suntory's Strong Zero chūhai tops the competition
Drink makers are embracing grape-flavored booze this winter, but not all of them hit the mark.
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Nov 16, 2019
Japanese celebrities are using YouTube in new ways to connect with fans
The baseball offseason has arrived and Chicago Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish has taken up a few extracurricular activities. The Osaka-born player has expanded his social media presence, with recent posts on Twitter —  poking fun at teammates and playfully roasting other starters — being picked up by...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / 2010S: DECADE IN REVIEW
Nov 15, 2019
Through scandal and stellar sales, AKB48 dominated the past decade in Japan
Do you know the songs? 'Heavy Rotation,' 'Gingham Check,' 'Ponytail to Shushu' .... Even if you don't, you're likely aware of the sales model that AKB48 has exported to the rest of the world.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH
Nov 9, 2019
Shibuya Scramble Square is a dessert-lover's dream
Don't wait to check out the new desserts on offer at Shibuya Scramble Square!
Japan Times
LIFE / 2010S: DECADE IN REVIEW,2010s: Decade in review
Nov 7, 2019
Mascots: The secret weapon in Japan's soft power arsenal
What makes a good mascot? It used to be that being cute was enough, but 'yuru-kyara' in the 2010s needed storylines and Instagram followings if they want to make a mark.
Japan Times
LIFE / 2010S: DECADE IN REVIEW,2010s: Decade in review
Nov 7, 2019
Animals of all stripes (and spots) found their 15 minutes of fame in the 2010s
What do hamster behinds, a handsome gorilla and cats running train stations have in common? Hours of social media gold!
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Nov 2, 2019
It's Cupke, not cupcake: Lawson's actual cake-in-a-cup lineup
Lawson's newest concoction, dubbed the 'Cupke,' has interpreted 'cupcake' in its most literal form — stuffing a cake inside a cup.
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Nov 2, 2019
Halloween festivities in Tokyo appear to embrace a softer side
Domestic news outlets and social media users love a good scare. Ever since a horde of rowdy Saitama-types turned Shibuya into something akin to “The Purge” last year, many Tokyoites have viewed this year’s Halloween festivities with trepidation.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film / Wide Angle
Oct 31, 2019
'Produce 101 Japan' marks the spread of K-pop diplomacy and offers a journey for J-pop
As the action on talent competition show 'Produce 101 Japan' hots up, we look at its origins in Korean pop music and the original 'Produce 101' franchise
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Oct 26, 2019
Seven-Eleven's Koku Mune onion soy sauce ramen: Almost as good as the real thing
Seven-Eleven's Koku Mune onion soy sauce ramen has been an online hit since its debut. Konbini Watch reviews whether it holds up to the hype.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH
Oct 19, 2019
Don't dread the red of Starbucks's new Halloween Masquerade Party lineup
Starbucks Coffee Japan's new trio of treats brings the Halloween spirit with blood-red berries.
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Oct 19, 2019
Typhoon Hagibis highlights the value of social media in a disaster
There has been plenty wrong with conversations on social media over the past decade and yet it’s hard to argue that online platforms are anything other than essential in an emergency.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Oct 12, 2019
Simple works best for FamilyMart's Earl Grey-themed collab
FamilyMart's new lineup of elegant Earl Grey-flavored desserts aim to spruce up your post-lunch snacking.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Oct 12, 2019
Social media conversation on ID checks in Japan reflects shifting awareness
It’s not unusual for foreign residents in Japan to be asked for identification. 
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Oct 8, 2019
Hiromi Uehara drops the band and steps out alone
The pianist returns to solo work for her latest album, 'Spectrum,' 10 years after her last solo release
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH
Oct 5, 2019
Floresta's doughnuts get a (sort of) spooky spin for Halloween
'Nature doughnuts' chain Floresta is getting into the spooky Halloween spirit with a corporate tie-up with Sanrio's kawaii My Melody characters.
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Sep 28, 2019
Social media conversation on Rugby World Cup reflects concern about 2020 Olympics
Netizens have been anticipating the start of the Rugby World Cup in Japan for months now and not just because of the action on the field. While the online masses closely followed and reacted to the Japanese team’s opening match win over Russia — not to mention anything related to the All Blacks’...
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / Wide Angle
Sep 26, 2019
Escape the usual TV snoozefest with season three of 'The Bachelor Japan'
The latest season of The Bachelor has dropped on Amazon Prime Video, bringing with it all the drama and absurdity of a Western reality show
Japan braces for more quakes as authorities dismiss doomsday hype
Evacuees from Akuseki Island, located in the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecuture, arrive at Kagoshima Port on Friday.
Heatstroke alert issued for 19 prefectures as Japan enters 'once-in-a-decade' heat wave
Japan will experience a heat wave through mid-July on a “level only seen once in a decade,” the Meteorological Agency said on June 30.
Hidden AI prompts in academic papers spark concern about research integrity
Waseda University is one of 14 institutions in eight countries found to have used hidden prompts in research papers.
Tokyo and Kyoto feature among top ‘noctourism’ destinations
Tokyo ranked second after New York and ahead of Dubai and Singapore in a ranking of the top global cities for nighttime tourism.
Elon Musk says he has created a new U.S. political party
Elon Musk looks on during a news conference with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on May 30.
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

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Muji has been sustainable from the beginning
Muji has been sustainable from the beginning

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