For Hidetoshi Takada's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Thailand emerged as the top importer of Japanese steel products for the first time in 2018, as major Japanese makers of cars, home appliances and machinery have moved into Southeast Asia's biggest production hub. Japan shipped 5.9 million tons of steel products to Thailand last ...
Japanese and Chinese logistics firms are paving the way for an alternative route to ship cargo from Japan to Europe faster than by sea by exploiting China's "Belt and Road" initiative designed to improve regional cooperation and connectivity. Major Japanese logistics firm Nissin Corp. and ...
The operator of the popular beauty and cosmetic products portal site @cosme is rapidly gaining a foothold in Asia thanks to brisk demand for high-quality Japanese cosmetic brands. The cosmetics retailer, Istyle Inc., opened its second brick-and-mortar @cosme store in Hong Kong earlier this month ...
As Japan's government clings to nuclear power even after the Fukushima crisis, the private sector is moving ahead with greater use of renewables to power their operations amid growing international awareness of climate change. For instance, in March Daiwa House Industries Co. became a member ...
Takamitsu Yoshino, 57, a former curator at the town's historical museum, collects loads of items like makeshift tables and changing rooms made of cardboard boxes, along with counseling notices and even a volunteer reception sign. At first glance, they appear to be a jumble of ...
The company has renovated 13 outlets across the country to cater to seniors, offering earlier opening hours and services that encourage asatomo (morning friends) get-togethers.
Japan has long been one of the world's most reliable markets for luxury brand Louis Vuitton, with only New York matching Tokyo in number of stores. But smartphone apps have caused an evolution in the industry, with many consumers increasingly inclined to borrow luxury items. ...
With more foreign travelers keen on renting Japanese private homes amid an inbound tourist boom, residents in high-rise condominiums are doing the opposite of what one might expect: forbidding vacation rental website services due to concerns about security and living conditions. Daisuke Shimada, 54, leads ...
Katsura Sunshine has come quite a way from his days listening to Japanese rakugo comic tales at a local yakitori skewered chicken restaurant where he was introduced to the ancient traditional art form almost 20 years ago. One might never guess that the 47-year-old Canadian ...
Convoys of go-karts reminiscent of Nintendo Co.'s "Mario Kart" video game series have been turning heads in Tokyo's traffic, but the rental companies behind them, which cater mostly to foreign tourists, are facing growing scrutiny over their safety records. Tourists dressed as Mario and other ...
