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May 02, 2024
 

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Martin Laflamme
For Martin Laflamme's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Jul 7, 2018
'City of Devils' review: Reliving the heady days of gangster land Shanghai
The space was bare. Except for a dirty mattress, there was no furniture. Bugs were crawling on the walls, the chamber pot reeked. Unshaved, unwashed and alone, Jack Riley had only a few benzedrine pills left to feed his addiction. Soon, he would be out and the trembling would start again. Perhaps for the first time, he felt desperate.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jun 24, 2018
Masatoshi Naito: 'The other face' of Japan
When Masatoshi Naito first began researching Tohoku folklore, he expected to find places 'haunted with a macabre atmosphere.' Instead, he stumbled into a vivacious traditional society 'filled with elderly women who throw boisterous bashes all night long.'
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books / ESSENTIAL READING FOR JAPANOPHILES
May 5, 2018
'Japanese Tales from Times Past': One thousand years later, the 'Konjaku' is still educating its readers
The 'Konjaku Monogatari' is one of Japan's oldest collection of stories. Many are supernatural folktales that warn against foxes and demons. All are meant to educate.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Apr 21, 2018
Ian Buruma's 'A Tokyo Romance' captures the beating heart of avant-garde Japan
Landing in the Japanese capital in 1975 was a bit of a shock. 'The crowds, the noise, the visual excess' — everything seemed over-the-top.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
Oct 29, 2017
Tadao Ando: When every single building is a passion project
A few simple lines on paper — that's all it was. But there was something extremely alluring about it that intrigued Tadao Ando.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Aug 19, 2017
Ryunosuke Akutagawa: Writing in the shadows of Japan's literary giants
How a short but fruitful relationship with Natsume Soseki led to the most productive years of Akutagawa's tragic life.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Jun 18, 2017
Japan’s 'kanban' are still hanging in there
Little information remains about the personal life of the artisan Kojiro Shimizu. His personality and interests, his passions and motivations — all are shrouded in mystery. What we know is that he worked in Kyoto in the late 19th and early 20th century and that he appeared to be on good terms with members of the business community. He also happened to be a master carver of kanban, the traditional shop signs of Japan, and on rare occasions, when he produced a particularly elaborate piece, he marked it with his seal, perhaps succumbing to a brief moment of pride. Had he not done so, he would likely be completely unknown to us.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Apr 16, 2017
Ken Domon and the artistry of real life
By 1957, photographer Ken Domon had reached the peak of his creative powers. A picture taken that year in Hiroshima, which he was visiting for the first time to chronicle the lingering effect of the bomb, shows him supremely confident: ram-rod straight on a stool, tripod in one hand, he casts a sideway glance at the viewer. His brow is lightly furrowed; his lips display a slight pout reminiscent of a kabuki actor adopting a mie pose. What we see is an intense, tenacious and uncompromising mind.
'So hot you can't breathe': Extreme heat hits the Philippines
A pedestrian cools himself with a folding hand fan as he waits for a ride along a road in Manila on Wednesday, as extreme heat hit the Philippines.
Did Japan intervene to prop up the yen? Analysts think it did.
A man walks past an electronic board displaying the exchange rate for the yen against the U.S. dollar (right) in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Town to block view of Mount Fuji in response to overtourism
The town government of Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, decided to set up a 2.5-meter-high screen to prevent tourists from taking pictures of Mount Fuji looming behind a convenience store.
Number of vacant homes in Japan hits record high of 9 million
A vacant house in Tokyo is seen demolished in January 2020.
Weak yen fattens tourist wallets in Japan
People visit the Ameya Yokocho market in Tokyo's Ueno district during the Golden Week holiday on Tuesday.
Yellow sand allergy: A health issue made worse by climate change
A screenshot of the Meteorological Agency's satellite image of clouds and yellow sand (in pink) on Sunday.
Climate change, chalky grains and the risks for Japan’s rice farmers
A farmer plants seedlings in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima Prefecture. Japan’s self sufficiency rate for rice is nearly 100%, compared with 38% for food overall, on a calorie basis.
Japan wants you to spend more with ‘luxury tourism’
Performers play a traditional drum unique to Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, in the prefectural capital of Kanazawa on March 16 to mark the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line to Tsuruga Station in Fukui Prefecture.
Theaster Gates’ ambitious ‘Afro-Mingei’ brings Black Chicago to Tokyo
Theaster Gates' “A Heavenly Chord” lines up church pews before seven speakers and a Hammond B3 organ, a type of electric organ prevalent in Black American churches.
Casa del Cibo: A thriving jewel born from Tohoku’s harsh past
When chef Ryohei Ikemi moved to Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, and opened Casa del Cibo in 2011, it was the first proper Italian restaurant in the city.

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

When trying to trace your lineage in Japan, the "koseki" is the most important form of document you'll encounter.
Climbing the branches of a Japanese family tree
By Alex K.T. Martin

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