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 Louise George Kittaka

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Louise George Kittaka
Originally from New Zealand, Louise George Kittaka is a bilingual writer based in Tokyo. She contributes to a wide range of news and information media, as well as Japan’s educational publishing sector. When she isn’t at her computer, Louise loves exploring waterfalls, going to cake buffets and collecting anything related to the Aliens movie franchise.
For Louise George Kittaka's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Jun 29, 2016
How to address the foreign elephant in the room — in Japanese?
For some long-term residents, how they are referred to in Japanese is a bone of contention.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Jun 5, 2016
Landmark dyslexia event in Yokohama aims to educate and inspire
The Asia Pacific Dyslexia Festival & Symposium in Yokohama will be the first major event focusing on dyslexia ever held in Japan.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
May 1, 2016
Fathers seek advice about visas for divorced dads and scholarships for dual-national kids
This week's column deals with two inquiries from American fathers of bicultural children.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Apr 3, 2016
Seeking Japanese courses for mature students; reconnecting with a lost mother
A British reader is keen to come to Japan and learn the language, and a woman in the U.S. hopes to get in contact with her Japanese birth mother.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Mar 13, 2016
Saga of lost Rikuzentakata tsunami boat forges pan-Pacific friendship
A new children's book recounts events following the 3/11 disasters that have led to a forging of bonds and cross-cultural exchange between young people in Tohoku and the U.S. West Coast.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Mar 5, 2016
Explaining the unexplainable to children with 'The Extraordinary Voyage of Kamome'
This month marks the fifth anniversary of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami. A number of books aimed at children and young adults have appeared in the ensuing years based on those tumultuous events. In "The Extraordinary Voyage of Kamome," a bilingual picture book suitable for children...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LEARNING CURVE
Feb 17, 2016
Developing confidence in English through Skype and scarecrows
Innovative classes in Shikoku hone students' cultural sensitivity as well as their communication skills.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Jan 31, 2016
Bank remittance case suggests My Number may be tough to opt out of
A reader asks about the relationship between the My Number registration system and sending money abroad.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Jan 27, 2016
Simulated patients pitch Japan's medical students cultural curve balls
An innovative program matches foreign volunteer 'patients' with Japanese medical students for role-play.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LEARNING CURVE
Jan 17, 2016
Bringing art — and Super 8 — to students in the sticks
An American teacher seeks to bring out students' creativity and help keep Super 8 medium alive through project at university in Tochigi.
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Jan 13, 2016
Mothers want a word with the LDP's old guard over paternity leave slap-down
After LDP bigwigs took a young politician to task over his intention to take paternity leave, mothers vent their anger.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Jan 3, 2016
Readers hoping for a reunion in the new year
Does anyone have any information that might help these readers reconnect?
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Dec 20, 2015
More on pensions: what to expect and when you can get it
Following up on the Lifelines special on the Japan pension system, here are some more questions from readers.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Dec 2, 2015
Life after work in Japan: tackling readers' pension questions
Among the questions that Japan Times readers send to the Lifelines column, a perennial topic is navigating the Japanese pension system. Here are some answers.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Nov 4, 2015
Different strokes: navigating the Japanese school system with a learning difficulty
Japan's schools can be ill-prepared for dealing with bicultural children with learning problems.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Nov 1, 2015
Medecins du Monde brings health care to Tohoku, Tokyo and the world
Now marking its 20th year in Japan, MdM works with local partners to develop medical practices with the aim of providing universal access to health care.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Oct 18, 2015
Residents upset over condominium overhaul
It is a common sight in Japan to see houses or condominiums undergoing a spruce up. Covered in tarpaulins and wrapped in a steel cage of scaffolding, this state of affairs can last from just a few weeks to several months, depending on the scale of the renovations.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Oct 14, 2015
Animal advocates divided over shelter practices
Foreign volunteers break off contact with Tokyo NPO over conditions at dog facility.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Sep 6, 2015
Tourist disturbed by treatment of horses on Mount Fuji courses
This week's query comes from an overseas tourist who was concerned at the condition of some horses she saw on a recent visit to Mount Fuji.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Aug 9, 2015
Desperately seeking visas: a mixed bag of queries
One of the perennial topics that crops up regularly in reader inquiries is visas. Here are some answers that cover fairly common situations.

Longform

Things may look perfect to the outside world, but today's mom is fine with some imperfection at home.
How 'Reiwa moms' are reshaping motherhood in Japan