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May 06, 2024
 

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Matthew Hernon
For Matthew Hernon's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHY DID YOU LEAVE JAPAN?
Nov 25, 2017
Nobuhiro Seki: Espousing the spirit of craftsmanship abroad
'The Japanese manufacturers need new business opportunities from overseas, but are reluctant because they can't negotiate in English or any other language,' says Seki.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Nov 15, 2017
Known for seeking thrills on TV, Daisuke Miyagawa goes for laughs in 'The Stand-In Thief'
Need someone to chase pigs in Thailand? Daisuke Miyagawa's your man. How about punching watermelons in Australia? Miyagawa's your man.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
Sep 26, 2017
'Genderless' model Satsuki Nakayama cashes in on androgyny trend
With the encouragement of her mother, Satsuki Nakayama began modeling when she was just 12 years old. Her first break came with a shoot for Pichi Lemon, a style magazine for girls. She loved wearing dresses, she loved her long hair — but that changed when she caught a glimpse of a Korean model named Kaito on a fashion brand website.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Aug 21, 2017
Podcasts for learning Japanese on the go
We spoke to the founders of two successful, but hugely contrasting podcast shows for Japanese learners.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jul 3, 2017
Tips for nailing that Japanese interview
You've found the right job, sent off your u5c65u6b74u66f8 (rirekisho, resume) and now it's time for the u9762u63a5 (mensetsu, interview).
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jun 6, 2017
High infidelity: Ayumi Ito reprises her role in 'Hirugao'
A Japanese drama that instigated a nationwide debate about female infidelity and societal values, "Hirugao: Love Affairs in the Afternoon" has been made into a heart-wrenching movie that aims to have audiences reaching for the tissues.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Mar 18, 2017
False sense of security? Experts weigh the threat that terrorism poses Japan
Widely regarded as a safe place to live, Japan currently sits in ninth position on the Global Peace Index's list of the most peaceful nations on the planet. The East Asian nation is generally believed to be an orderly society that has incredibly low homicide and assault rates, and it certainly doesn't feel very dangerous walking around the center of Tokyo late at night.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Mar 5, 2017
Actress Haruka Abe balances others' expectations and her own dreams
It can be tough to catch a break in the world of acting, but Haruka Abe got a boost when cellist Grace Chatto of British dance-pop act Clean Bandit sent her a message over Facebook.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Feb 19, 2017
Eddie Izzard proves an irresistible force on tour
To many fans of comedy, the first thing that comes to mind when you mention Eddie Izzard is his cross-dressing. However, if you dig deeper you will find one of Britain's most intelligent comedians.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Jan 8, 2017
Mugi Kadowaki's manga musical tackles love in the time of AI
As an actress, Mugi Kadowaki has been asked to step outside of her comfort zone more than once. Maybe that is how she has found herself currently starring in her first-ever musical.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Dec 17, 2016
Charity in Japan begins at home
Domestic nonprofit organizations face a number of obstacles in their attempts to make a difference in people's lives.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 8, 2016
Ishizaki switches guitars for scripts in his on-screen debut
Making his on-screen debut in Daigo Matsui's multistranded, disorderly and, at times, moving film "Japanese Girls Never Die" ("Azumi Harako wa Yukie Fumei"), singer Huwie Ishizaki admits that he was nervous prior to stepping in front of the cameras. The 32-year-old solo artist is used to putting on intense shows for his fans, but appearing in a movie alongside one of the country's leading actresses, Yu Aoi, was a whole new kind of pressure.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Oct 3, 2016
Takumi Saitoh: Growing up with film
As a former model and in-demand actor, it's no surprise that Takumi Saitoh has a sizeable fan base. A Google image search of the Tokyo native produces a large number of photos in which his smoldering gaze locks eyes with the viewer.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Sep 8, 2016
Actress Nanami weighs the pros and cons of going it alone
It has been estimated that around 1 in 10 actors are working at any given moment. For the other nine, that can make for a constant hustle — a Woody Allen character once described the film industry as being "worse than dog-eat-dog, it's dog-doesn't-return-other-dogs-phone-calls."
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jun 19, 2016
Yuya Uchida on music, media and Madonna
Strolling in late for our meeting, his shoulder-length white hair lightly flowing, trademark cane in hand and sunglasses on, Yuya Uchida may now be in his mid-70s, but he still carries himself with the air of a rock star.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jun 6, 2016
Trilingual actress Yuho Yamashita proves that sheer drive can bring fluency
Yuho Yamashita, who has acted in Japanese, English and German during her career, talks about her approach to learning languages.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
May 19, 2016
Japan's 'gatekeeper to Hollywood' Yoko Narahashi brings a playwright's final tale to the big screen with 'Hold My Hand'
Yoko Narahashi might just be the most powerful Japanese woman in Hollywood thanks to her work in casting blockbusters such as "The Last Samurai" and "The Wolverine." Her new film as a director, however, shuns special effects and battles, and focuses on a more intimate story.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Mar 6, 2016
Silent Siren delivers a dose of idol-pop pep on 'S'
With a proliferation of idol-pop groups in the music scene these days, getting a start in the industry isn't always easy — even for a band made up of former models.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Mar 3, 2016
Ryohei Suzuki beefs up for a kingly role in Mishima-penned play 'The Terrace of the Leper King'
Ryohei Suzuki's body has been put to the test over the past 12 months.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives
Feb 5, 2016
Chiaki Hara reaches out to cancer survivors
Things were looking good for Chiaki Hara at the start of 2005. She was an accomplished actress, having starred in the 1997 tragic romance "Shitsurakuen" ("Lost Paradise") and 2002' drama "Aiki," and her profile as a social commentator was also on the rise. Then, at the age of 30, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer.
Japan says Biden's description of nation as xenophobic is 'unfortunate'
The National Diet building in Tokyo
As visitors surge, Japan seeks ways to make tourism eco-friendly
Much like other hot spots across Okinawa, Onna has diligently strived to captivate both domestic and international tourists, while at the same time grappling with the environmental strain induced by the influx of visitors.
G7 eyes plan on U.S.-led $50 billion aid package for Ukraine
A local resident visits the Lychakiv cemetery in Lviv, Ukraine, on Thursday. The U.S. is in talks with close partners to lead a group of allies that would give as much as $50 billion in aid to Ukraine.
Japan drops to 70th in press freedom rankings
A businessman reads a newspaper outside a train station in Tokyo.
Kishida talks up bolstered Latin American ties as China cements position
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida holds a news conference in Sao Paulo on Saturday.
As visitors surge, Japan seeks ways to make tourism eco-friendly
Much like other hot spots across Okinawa, Onna has diligently strived to captivate both domestic and international tourists, while at the same time grappling with the environmental strain induced by the influx of visitors.
'Monster' Inoue ready to tear down Luis Nery in title defense at Tokyo Dome
Naoya Inoue (left) and Luis Nery following a pre-fight news conference in Yokohama on Saturday, two days ahead of their super bantamweight title fight.
Debate on constitutional revision at a standstill despite Kishida's pledges
With less than two months left before the conclusion of the current session of parliament, any possibility that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida can deliver constitutional reform before the end of his term as Liberal Democratic Party president in late September, as he has promised, appears remote.
Sapporo court ruling on Ainu fishing rights presents tough questions
A traditional Ainu preserved food called <i>satchep</i> (dried fish) being made at the government-run National Ainu Museum and Park, nicknamed Upopoy, in the town of Shiraoi, Hokkaido, on Dec. 25. The Sapporo District Court ruled last month that the Raporo Ainu Nation's rights as an Indigenous people did not extend to having an inherent right to fish for commercial reasons.
With eye on China, defense chiefs agree to bolster interoperability
From left: U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Australian defense chief Richard Marles, Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro hold a joint news conference in Honolulu on Thursday.

Podcast

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

Longform

Rows of irises resemble a rice field at the Peter Walker-designed Toyota Municipal Museum of Art.
The 'outsiders' creating some of Japan's greenest spaces
By Stephen Mansfield

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