Community

VOICES

Voices | FOREIGN AGENDA

Online harassment is all a part of Japan’s ‘post’ racism

by John G. Russell

Public figures in Japan have been making headlines by talking about the amount of racialized abuse they receive online. However, such bullying has been around for a long time.

Voices | FOREIGN AGENDA

Some people may not mind a scaled-back Olympics

by William Lang
Voices | FOREIGN AGENDA

Moving house in a pandemic: Meeting the neighbors and readying your child for their 'playground debut'

by Andreas Neuenkirchen
Voices | FOREIGN AGENDA

Moving house in a pandemic: The move isn’t the hardest part, the packing is

by Andreas Neuenkirchen
Voices | FOREIGN AGENDA

Moving house in a pandemic: As our 6-year-old got older, we realized it was time for an upgrade

by Andreas Neuenkirchen
Voices | FOREIGN AGENDA

So long, bus No. 99 from Shinagawa. Thanks for the memories.

by William Lang
Voices | FOREIGN AGENDA

I survived the March 11 tsunami. Here's what it taught me about the people of Tohoku.

by Matthew Ketchum

ISSUES

Issues | THE FOREIGN ELEMENT

Celebrating Ramadan during a pandemic: ‘As Muslims in Japan, we have to make the vibes by ourselves’

by Kirsty Bouwers

This year, iftar meals were again a homebound affair for many Muslims in Japan, and what used to be grand, communal gatherings changed into much smaller celebrations.

OUR LIVES

Our Lives

Susan Mercer’s 15-year quest to educate on pet adoption in Japan

by Rebecca Saunders

Canadian Susan Mercer founded HEART Tokushima 15 years ago. Amid a rise in pet ownership due to the pandemic, she's asking people to get educated before committing to a new furry friend.

HOW-TOS

Community / How-tos

Foreign Residents Support Center: A place to turn when you need assistance

by Zanete Zujeva

In need of support and professional advice during the pandemic? Foreign Residents Support Center in Tokyo wants to help.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE READING

Going gluten-free: Takako Iino of Gluten Free T's Kitchen in Tokyo learned about the dietary problems surrounding gluten from a friend with celiac disease in California. Ever since, she has aimed to offer gluten-free Japanese dishes.

Issues

Bringing gluten-free concepts and cuisine to Japan

Autumn Widdoes landed a pretty good posting when the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme placed her on a remote island in southern Okinawa in 2013 to work there as an English instructor at a school. Part of the job means going out with coworkers to welcome parties at which they will tr...

Double trouble: Given the present "don't ask, don't tell" attitude of the Justice Ministry, it would be highly unusual if Naomi Osaka was forced to relinquish her U.S. citizenship at the age of 22.

How-tos

What does Japan’s Nationality Act really mean for its dual citizens?

by Cory Baird

Almost immediately after Naomi Osaka's victory at the U.S. Open, speculation began to swirl in both traditional and social media about the 20-year-old's reported dual-national status, given that dual citizens of Japan by birth are supposed to decide upon one or other nationality by the age of 22....

First steps: At an event in January 2013, former Tokyo Immigration Bureau chief Hidenori Sakanaka presents Indonesian Dewi Rachmawati with a prize for an essay she wrote about her struggle to become a nurse in Japan.

Voices

Japan’s ‘no immigration principle’ looking as solid as ever

by Chris Burgess

Hidenori Sakanaka's message is very clear: Only immigration can save Japan. Sakanaka, a former Justice Ministry official and director of the Tokyo Immigration Bureau, proposes bringing in 10 million migrants over 50 years. In making his case for opening up the country, he cites a mountain of demo...