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Donican Lam
For Donican Lam's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Kazumi, lead dancer and producer of Asakusa Kaguwa, brought the “neo-Japanesque” show back from the verge of disappearing after the coronavirus pandemic.
CULTURE / Stage
Mar 14, 2024
'Neo-Japanesque' dance show finds new life in Asakusa after pandemic
Kaguwa, which reimagines the courtesans, geishas and samurai of Japan's red-light districts, was once a major draw for overseas visitors.
A team of volunteers from the Non-Resident Nepali Association in Japan serves curry to evacuees in Suzu, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Jan. 13.
JAPAN / Society
Feb 6, 2024
Support helps lift spirits of foreign residents in quake-hit areas
Ishikawa Prefecture is home to around 16,500 foreign residents, and multilingual hotlines were set up shortly after the quake to provide vital information.
DJ Natsumi after playing a set at Ultra Japan 2019
CULTURE / Music
Dec 30, 2023
Female DJs beat the odds in Japan's boys' club EDM scene
Performers such as DJ Natsumi, DJ Eri x2 and DJ Mai-My say that while there is a tendency for women to be objectified based on their appearance, perseverance is key.
Rakuten Viber CEO Ofir Eyal says the messaging app has found favor with microbusinesses, which can use it for engaging with customers.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 31, 2023
Rakuten Viber on course to become the Philippines' 'super app'
In Japan, messaging app Viber trails far behind the Line app, but in the Philippines it boasts a user penetration of 71%.
The basement of the new Anime Tokyo Station facility houses the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's archives of anime production materials.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 31, 2023
New anime facility opens in Tokyo showcasing capital's archives
Anime Tokyo Station, spanning a total area of around 1,300 square meters, aims to promote anime-based industry, culture and tourism in the capital.
The possibility of tourists being able to skip the Tokyo traffic and get to Mount Fuji in 30 minutes, by private helicopter to Kawaguchiko in Yamaguchi Prefecture, has been suggested.
BUSINESS
Oct 17, 2023
Japan targets ultrarich travelers to boost regional revival
Luxury travelers offer an opportunity for lesser-known destinations to showcase their unique culture, some in the industry have said.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / FOCUS
Jul 23, 2023
Markets skeptical whether BOJ will change ultraloose policy
After decades fighting deflation, the BOJ wants robust wage growth and a stable inflation rate of 2%, fearing that tightening monetary policy too soon could backfire.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Jun 16, 2023
Tokyo stocks end at 33-year highs after BOJ keeps ultralow rates in place
The 225-issue Nikkei stock average ended up 220.59 points, or 0.66%, from Thursday at 33,706.08, its highest close since March 9, 1990, when Japan was experiencing an asset price bubble.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Feb 4, 2023
U.S.-led moon exploration project cannot succeed without Japan, NASA says
As part of the Artemis program, the United States is aiming to return humans to the moon for the first time since NASA's Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Jan 8, 2023
Japanese influences reimagine Australia's lamington dessert
'To be honest, Tokyo Lamington builds on nostalgia. So it's a lot of memories of traveling, things we've eaten, things we've tried.'
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 1, 2022
Skating rink opens in Tokyo's iconic Marunouchi district in Christmas first
The temporary skating rink in front of Tokyo Station was officially opened Thursday on Gyoko-dori, an avenue linking Tokyo Station with the Imperial Palace.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 15, 2022
Iranians in Japan plead for change as unrest shakes their homeland
The killing of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, by Iran's morality police has rocked some of the approximately 4,000 Iranians who live in Japan.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Aug 23, 2022
Full-size replica of Shibuya crossing helps bring film and TV to life
The set features copies of some Shibuya ground-level structures including entrances to the subway network, working traffic lights, and even a set of public toilets.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jun 25, 2022
French-Lebanese film wins top award at Asia short film festival
'Warsha' by Dania Bdeir received the George Lucas Award, also known as the Grand Prix award, at this year's Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, which concluded its two-week run in Tokyo.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Apr 30, 2022
AI bot takes movie-making to a new level
The Short Shorts Film Festival and Asia, one of the region's biggest film festivals, is set to feature 'Boy Sprouted,' the first short written by the Japanese AI system 'Furukoto.'
Japan Times
PARALYMPICS / Winter Paralympics
Mar 11, 2022
Japan-made sit-skis giving Paralympic athletes high-speed edge
By using state-of-the-art computer analysis software developed by Toyota, Nissin was able to create the 'Hayabusa' sit-ski model, which is 15% lighter than conventional models.
Japan Times
PARALYMPICS / Winter Paralympics
Mar 8, 2022
Warm temperatures and man-made snow challenge Paralympians in Beijing
While many top-tier Paralympians competing at Yanqing have commented on the hardness and different texture of man-made snow, it has not proven a problem to those who enjoy such conditions.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
Mar 1, 2022
Thailand brings 'boys' love' back to Japan with homegrown dramas
Thai tourism officials hope the current popularity of the country's 'boys' love' genre of TV shows will spur eventual tours to Thailand by fans.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Dec 29, 2021
The case of the missing Japanese role players
Chinese youth living in Tokyo are spending weekends solving whodunits. Did the pandemic stop murder mystery games from taking off with the Japanese?
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Nov 21, 2021
Tokyo luxury hotel offers lantern-inspired dining for COVID era
Hoshinoya Tokyo came up with the rather bright idea to place some customers in lanterns for a stylish COVID-era dining experience.

Longform

Later this month, author Shogo Imamura will open Honmaru, a bookstore that allows other businesses to rent its shelves. It's part of a wave of ideas Japanese booksellers are trying to compete with online spaces.
The story isn't over for Japan's bookstores