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July 08, 2025
 

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Tom Hanaway
Japan Times
PODCAST / deep dive
Jun 7, 2023
Is Japan going to legalize same-sex marriage?
A series of court cases is helping to shape the debate over whether or not Japan will act on legalizing same-sex marriage.
Japan Times
PODCAST / deep dive
May 10, 2023
Kishida’s close call, Kyoto’s dual festivals and the now not-so-novel coronavirus
Deep Dive is back with updates on the attack on Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, COVID-19 and all the partying that Kyoto has been doing.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
Jul 24, 2020
Get chills and thrills with binge-worthy miniseries on streaming
Summer heat and self-isolation got you down? Cool down with these six miniseries that you can stream in Japan.
PODCAST / deep dive
Jun 5, 2020
Episode 52: Can 'Terrace House' continue after Hana Kimura's death?
Alyssa Smith and Tom Hanaway have been writing recaps of 'Terrace House' and join Deep Dive to discuss Kimura's death, and what it might mean for the show going forward.
CULTURE / Entertainment news
May 27, 2020
'Terrace House' season canceled following death of Hana Kimura
Producers at Fuji TV announced on Wednesday evening that its hit reality show “Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020” has been canceled following the death of one of its young stars, 22-year-old pro wrestler Hana Kimura.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
May 22, 2020
Ep. 42 ‘Woman Who Makes Everyone Dream’
I enjoy a good cliffhanger as much as the next person, but I wasn’t eager to see how Toshiyuki and Yume’s night in Sapporo would unfold. When we last saw these two, they were sitting close to each other in a dark bar. Toshiyuki was urging Yume to drink more alcohol as he mustered the courage to express...
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
May 10, 2020
It’s time to talk about 'Terrace House' and consent
The behavior of some of the housemates is only part of the problem, however.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
May 1, 2020
'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' best moments so far
After 40 episodes, “Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020” has gone on hiatus to protect the cast and crew amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s still unclear when, if or even how the show will return, but we’re filling the “Terrace House” void by looking back at this season and selecting some of the...
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Apr 21, 2020
Ep. 40 ‘Never Forgive Luigi’
"Terrace House" is shutting its doors, for now. The big news this week was that, according to the show's official Twitter account, production would be shut down due to the current outbreak of COVID-19. That means this week's episode is the last new one we'll be seeing for a while, so savor each sip of...
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Apr 3, 2020
Ep. 38 'Case of The Costume Incident'
We at The Japan Times have described “Terrace House” on multiple occasions as the ultimate show to help you unwind after a long day. That's mostly because there's none of the intense, emotionally triggering drama that other reality TV shows tend to rely on.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / ADOPT ME!
Mar 25, 2020
An old dog makes for a solid companion
Chibikoro arrived at ARK some 13 years ago when he was just a young pup. He’d been rescued from a place in Tokushima where dogs lived and bred at will with no real human contact. Sadly, this quiet, gentle dog is still at the shelter. Described as a “real sweetie,” Chibikoro is slow to engage with...
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Mar 13, 2020
Ep. 36 'Angel'
It looks like romance is in the air for the “Terrace House” housemates, and just in time for the new year! A few of them, including Yume and Shion, already have some dinner plans, but Toshiyuki Niino isn’t wasting any time and squeezes in one last date with Yume before 2019 ends.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Feb 28, 2020
Ep. 34 'Case of The Bottled Beer Incident'
Our newsfeeds lit up this week about something rather sickening. Was it COVID-19? No. We’re talking about the titular “Bottled Beer Incident.” But before we dive into that, we have to welcome some new faces.
Japan Times
Places
Feb 12, 2020
Best ume (plum blossom) spots to visit across Tokyo
If you're in the Tokyo area in early spring, check out our list of the best plum blossom viewing spots.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Feb 7, 2020
Ep. 32 'I Hate You'
Multiple plot lines came to their messy conclusions this week as the housemates opened up and let their emotions flow. And boy, there were a lot of tears.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Jan 31, 2020
Ep. 31 'Publicity Stunt'
After weeks of eavesdropping, listening to second-hand accounts of conversations and dropping very obvious signals, Hana and Vivi finally come face to face with some harsh truths about their respective crushes on Ryo. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like there's going to be a happy ending for either one...
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Jan 24, 2020
Ep. 30 'Not Guilty'
I'm sorry to tell you that the latest episode reached new depths of discomfort.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Jan 10, 2020
Ep. 28 'Starving for Affection'
This week's episode of "Terrace House" was all about love — showing it, fighting for it and accepting it — and it marked quite a change from previous kitchen table talks that revolved around mundane topics like Instagram or making carbonara.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Dec 21, 2019
Ep. 26 'Internationalization at Once'
It’s a small world after all. No stranger to keeping the mix of personalities and backgrounds interesting, “Terrace House” continues to invite people from around the world into its little televised bubble. Before we meet the fresh new faces replacing Haruka and Ruka, however, we have to say one...
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Nov 29, 2019
Ep. 24 'Pink Rose'
This week's episode of 'Terrace House' treated us to two roommate pairings, two dates and two very different outcomes.
Heatstroke alert issued for 19 prefectures as Japan enters 'once-in-a-decade' heat wave
Japan will experience a heat wave through mid-July on a “level only seen once in a decade,” the Meteorological Agency said on June 30.
Japan braces for more quakes as authorities dismiss doomsday hype
Evacuees from Akuseki Island, located in the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecuture, arrive at Kagoshima Port on Friday.
Foreign nationals' presence in Japan emerges as key issue in Upper House poll
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivers a campaign speech next to a Liberal Democratic Party candidate for the Upper House (top center left) in Yokohama on Sunday.
Hidden AI prompts in academic papers spark concern about research integrity
Waseda University is one of 14 institutions in eight countries found to have used hidden prompts in research papers.
China’s housing crisis is worse than it seems
Residential buildings under construction in Shanghai in July 2022. The Chinese government risks long-term decline by repeating Japan’s policy mistakes in handling its real estate and demographic crises.
Lawson to let visitors use larger parking lots as paid car campsites
A Lawson convenience store in Yachiyo, Chiba Prefecture. A new service from the company comes amid the rise in inbound tourists, making hotels and inns harder to book and more expensive.
The future is bright inside the visionary mind of architect Sou Fujimoto
The exhibition of Fujimoto’s architecture surveys his career to date, as well as looks ahead as shown in his proposal of a future floating city designed in collaboration with data scientist Hiroaki Miyata.
A tiny mountain hamlet keeps traditional log rafting afloat
Once a way to transport lumber from the mountains to the coast, log rafting is now Kitayama's biggest attraction.
A furever friend: Tips for responsible dog ownership in Japan
Dog ownership may seem daunting in Japan, but with the right tools and logistical knowledge, you can ensure a healthy, happy life for your pet.
Ainu land rights in crosshairs as Hokkaido communities debate nuclear waste
A street in Suttsu, Hokkaido, with a sign put up by an anti-nuclear organization. The small community is considering hosting a facility that would hold nuclear waste.

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

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