Community

VOICES

Voices | FOREIGN AGENDA

Some people may not mind a scaled-back Olympics

by William Lang

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

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
Voices | FOREIGN AGENDA

Up for a chat? Clubhouse is proving helpful in sparking cross-cultural discussions with the locals

by Austin Freeman

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

Gift of gab: Wake up, it's time for a chat with Odairi.

Our Lives

Listen up, Odairi the cat has something to say

If you were around in the early 1960s, you will surely remember a doll named Chatty Cathy. The way she worked was that you would pull a string in her back and she would chat with you, saying things like: “Let’s play house,” “Please change my dress” or “Tell me a story” — all in a sweet lilting ac...

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....

Much disrespect to Tokyo: Logan Paul drops his pants on the streets on his recent trip to the capital.

Issues

The Japan vlogger’s gospel, not according to Logan Paul

by Patrick St. Michel

American YouTuber Logan Paul's January trip to Japan demonstrated everything not to do when filming a video in Tokyo. Paul made international headlines in the first week of 2018 after posting a video of what appeared to be a dead body in a forest near Mount Fuji infamous for suicides. While me...