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July 05, 2025
 

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Sakura Murakami
Reuters
JAPAN
Jan 22, 2019
Kei Komuro's family financial trouble resolved? Depends who you ask
Princess Mako's suitor — whose prospective engagement to her is currently up in the air over family financial trouble — claims the issue is resolved.
JAPAN
Jan 15, 2019
Observation deck for Tokyo's renowned tuna auctions opens to public at new Toyosu market site
Visitors formed long lines before daybreak on Tuesday to catch a glimpse of Tokyo's renowned tuna auctions — now at the Toyosu wholesale fish market — as an observation deck opened to the public for the first time since the relocation from Tsukiji in October.
Japan Times
PODCAST / deep dive
Jan 9, 2019
Episode 4: Japan's changing demographics
As Japan becomes a more ethnically diverse and multicultural country, aging communities are grappling with the complexities of how to live with new, young tenants from different cultures.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 4, 2019
Name of Japan's next Imperial era to be announced April 1, Abe confirms
Speaking at the Grand Shrines of Ise, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says the tradition of revealing the name after the era starts will be skipped to minimize the public impact.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Help Wanted?
Dec 31, 2018
As Japan prepares for more foreign workers, Hamamatsu serves as precedent of interculturalism
Step into the municipal office of this city and you'll find pamphlets in multiple languages lining the walls, as people waiting in lines converse quietly in Portuguese.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society / GENERATIONAL CHANGE
Dec 10, 2018
Yuzuriha support center in Tokyo helps abuse victims get back on track
Open the door to a small studio tucked away on a street near Kokubunji Station in western Tokyo on a Friday evening, and you'll find a group of young adults making jam or Japanese ponzu citrus-based sauce as they chat quietly amongst themselves.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 20, 2018
Japan's ruling bloc votes down motion to remove head of judiciary committee amid clash over immigration bill
In the latest political clash over a controversial immigration bill, the ruling parties on Tuesday voted down a motion calling for the dismissal of the head of the Lower House's judiciary committee.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Nov 19, 2018
Wrangling over planned shake-up of Japan's immigration control law intensifies after government admits to data errors
A ruckus in the Diet over erroneous statistics leaves the government's Dec. 10 deadline for passage of new legislation in doubt.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 14, 2018
More than 345,000 foreign workers predicted to come to Japan under new visas: government
Some 345,000 blue-collar foreign workers may join the workforce through the first five years of a new working visa system set to be introduced in April — if it wins Diet approval.
Japan Times
PODCAST / deep dive
Nov 14, 2018
Episode 1: Dual nationality in Japan
Japan's Nationality Act forces young adults with multiple citizenships to choose their nationality by their 22nd birthday. The choice is so tough that many flout the law and instead choose to live in a legal gray zone. Oscar Boyd is joined by Japan Times staff writers Sakura Murakami and Cory Baird to...
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 14, 2018
Abe says government will set 'cap' on number of foreign workers under new visa types
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tuesday that the government will soon reveal estimates of worker shortages that will effectively function as a cap on the number of foreign workers to be admitted under a new visa system currently being deliberated by the Diet.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 7, 2018
With GOP's loss of House, should Japan anticipate a more hard-line Trump?
Tokyo may see President Donald Trump accelerate his war on what he considers “unfair” trade, as he seeks ways to fire up his political base.
JAPAN
Nov 2, 2018
Japan's Cabinet approves bill to introduce new visa categories for foreign workers, to address shrinking workforce
The bill marks a departure from previous policy in allowing foreign individuals to work in blue collar industries for a potentially indefinite amount of time.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 30, 2018
Liberal Democratic Party's General Council approves draft immigration control bill despite members' concerns
The Liberal Democratic Party's General Council approved on Tuesday a government-drafted bill on immigration control, which will introduce new visa statuses for blue-collar and skilled workers, despite concerns within the party over whether the country can properly handle the possible influx of workers...
JAPAN
Oct 29, 2018
Awareness of Aichi Biodiversity Targets found to be lacking compared to climate change
The global community has less than two years to reach the Aichi Biodiversity Targets set for 2020, yet public awareness of biodiversity issues is still relatively low.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 23, 2018
Scandals, immigration and constitutional reform set to dominate extraordinary Diet session opening Wednesday
The 48-day session is likely to include debates on a draft proposal from the ruling LDP to revise the war-renouncing Constitution, among other key issues.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Oct 22, 2018
Can Tokyo's new Toyosu market live up to the Tsukiji brand?
The Toyosu wholesale market opened its doors for the first time earlier this month after relocating from Tsukiji, where it was famed for being one of the largest seafood and fish markets in the world and for catering to the finest restaurants in Tokyo.
JAPAN
Oct 13, 2018
Tokyo's Toyosu market opens doors to eager public
The Toyosu wholesale food market opened its doors to the public for the first time Saturday, allowing tourists to wander the massive complex, browse exhibits and dine at some of the famous restaurants that relocated from the Tsukiji district last week.
JAPAN
Oct 11, 2018
Officials express optimism as Tokyo's Toyosu market opens doors for first time since Tsukiji closure
The noisy clanging of bells that had once sounded at the famed Tsukiji market marked the first tuna auction for fishmongers at the Toyosu wholesale market Thursday at a newly built facility in Tokyo’s Koto Ward.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 6, 2018
History on ice: Workers and tourists say 'sayonara' to Tokyo's Tsukiji market
With scores of plump tuna lining the floor, auctioneers rhythmically called out prices and bidders signaled with their hands. It was before daybreak, and the Tsukiji fish market looked like it was starting a normal business day.
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. 
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.
Japan to require flight passengers to keep power banks within sight
The transport ministry has announced new regulations requiring flight passengers to keep power banks within sight to mitigate fire risks while on board planes.
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."
Residents of Tokara Islands begin evacuation as seismic swarm continues
Details about evacuations from Akuseki Island, located in the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecture, is seen written on a whiteboard in the city of Kagoshima on Thursday.
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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