Thales is 10 years old, but has the vigor and good cheer of a much younger dog.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / ADOPT ME!
Oct 7, 2025
Chipper Yorkie-Maltese mix still young at heart
Ten-year-old Thales, named after a Greek philosopher, is decidedly unserious and will make an energetic companion for the right household.
Kashata will most likely settle in well in a home with another cat companion.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / ADOPT ME!
Sep 30, 2025
Scaredy-cat Kashata is searching for a friend
Believed to be around 3 years old, Kashata is a shy fellow in need of some love and attention.
Originally from Brisbane, Australia, Linda Joyce moved to rural Tochigi Prefecture in 2024 for a career shift from teaching to hospitality and sustainable tourism.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Sep 25, 2025
Linda Joyce: ‘We hope people recognize the benefits of exploring rural areas’
Former teacher Linda Joyce shifted careers to the tourism industry in 2024 and now works at a historic property in rural Tochigi Prefecture.
Bronte is no featherweight at 16 kilograms, but his personality and energy are buoyant indeed.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / ADOPT ME!
Sep 24, 2025
A friendly Kai ken dog with a big heart
Three-year-old Bronte has remained a happy-go-lucky fellow despite the adverse conditions of his upbringing.
"Shake hands with Lima-chan," a statue that shares the name of the Peruvian capital looks in the direction of Peru, where a sister statue, "Sakura-chan," is located. Erected in Yokohama's Rinko Park in 1999, it commemorates Peruvian-Japanese friendship.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / Longform
Sep 22, 2025
The journey of Peru’s Nikkei: Finding identity in Japan
From sugar plantations in Peru to factory floors in Japan, the Nikkei story is one of migration, resilience and identity.
Melos Han-Tani is a game designer of eclectic interests whose upcoming releases, Angeline Era and Danchi Days, are set in alternate-history Ireland and a public housing complex in Japan, respectively.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Sep 12, 2025
Melos Han-Tani: ‘Figuring out what you value is valuable for any artist’
A designer, programmer and composer, Han-Tani draws inspiration from a wide range of sources and channels his creativity through games, music and writing.
Cymbal is a shy but sweet cat with distinctive markings and a gentle demeanor.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives
Sep 9, 2025
Gentle care is the key to Cymbal’s heart
A little patience will go a long way with 5-year-old Cymbal, a shy cat with distinctive markings that was rescued earlier this year.

Longform

The byzantine process for converting a foreign driver’s license into a Japanese one entails mountains of paperwork and significant stamina — unless you're a lucky license holder from a country or region where these requirements are waived.
Driving in Japan isn’t hard. Getting the license is.