Voices | FOREIGN AGENDA Jun 28, 2021
Osaka: The world’s ‘second city’ … but by whose metrics?
The Economist Intelligence Unit has declared Osaka the second most livable city in the world. Does a former resident remember it being so wonderful?
William Lang
For William Lang's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Voices | FOREIGN AGENDA May 10, 2021
Some people may not mind a scaled-back Olympics
Nobody likes a pandemic, but some people may be a little relieved that they won't have to deal with larger crowds come the Olympics.
Voices | FOREIGN AGENDA Mar 29, 2021
So long, bus No. 99 from Shinagawa. Thanks for the memories.
As Japan prepares to make immigration services available online, our writer waxes nostalgic on the positives of making the trip out to the physical space itself.
Voices | FOREIGN AGENDA Feb 1, 2021
You can't get anything past the neighborhood watchers
The eyes of the nation are upon you, and they are making sure that you put the trash out correctly.
Voices | FOREIGN AGENDA Jan 18, 2021
Perhaps it's time to un-discover some of 2020
We discovered a vaccine for COVID-19 in record time, but there are a few things that writer William Lang would like to un-discover about the pandemic if possible.
Voices | FOREIGN AGENDA Dec 24, 2020
Making way for a new kind of Christmas
Writer William Lang’s previous Christmases were all about excess — the more presents and food, the better. But this year, he’s celebrating the holidays with a minimalist approach.
Voices | FOREIGN AGENDA Oct 19, 2020
My bicultural child is starting to reveal his two faces
When my son switches from speaking English to Japanese, it seems like his personality changes as well.
Voices | FOREIGN AGENDA Sep 28, 2020
Masks, noisy TVs and the lessons my students have learned from Corona-san
With language lessons on hold for many English teachers due to the pandemic, William Lang catches up with some of his own Japanese students.
Voices | FOREIGN AGENDA Jul 19, 2020
Appreciating Japan’s little details in a time of restricted travel
The travelers among us may want to get into an old state of mind to satisfy their wanderlust.