Issues | THE FOREIGN ELEMENT Jun 27, 2020
Asylum seekers in Japan face battle for survival in time of coronavirus
While the Japanese have been individually donating to the Japan Association of Refugees, the NGO is bracing for a decrease in funds.
Mariko Tamura
For Mariko Tamura's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
National / Crime & Legal Mar 13, 2020
Japan's Flower Demo movement takes aim at sexual violence
On the 11th of every month since April 2019, groups of sexual violence victims and their supporters have gathered throughout Japan in public spaces to protest against unjust acquittals of sexual crimes and seek changes to the law. Holding flowers in a show of solidarity ...
Food & Drink Jan 11, 2020
Spreading the joy of marmalade across the sea from Ehime
Three businesswomen who sell award-winning marmalades made using Ehime's citrus fruits are determined to further raise the fruits' profile abroad while also helping revitalize their hometowns.
National Oct 17, 2019
JICA and Kumamoto team up to better cope with prefecture's burgeoning non-Japanese population
The Japan International Cooperation Agency and Kumamoto Prefecture will launch a project next year to train young Japanese to help the prefecture handle its ever-growing population of foreign workers. The project will enlist those who volunteered for the state-backed aid program in the past to ...
Books Mar 30, 2019
Enter Bunkitsu, more like a gallery than a bookstore
With its pay-to-enter system, eclectic lineup of books and artsy vibe, Bunkitsu shakes up the typical bookstore business model.
National Dec 29, 2018
Traditional handmade mochi brings New Year's cheer
"Try our mochi," calls out Nao Sakai at a Tokyo market as she sells rice and rice cakes made at her family's shop in Yamagata Prefecture. Mochi, or glutinous rice cake, is a popular treat eaten especially during the New Year's holidays and holds a ...
Food & Drink Dec 22, 2018
More than merely matcha, tea marries science and culture
After falling in love with the science and culture behind Japanese tea, Marie Roux made it her goal to impart a deep appreciation for the drink among Japanese youth.