Lifestyle

For a country with a reputation for cleanliness and hygiene, Japan has taken waste disposal in an unsavory direction with parents usually being asked to carry their children's soiled diapers home from day care. To lighten the load on concerned parents, some municipalities are now ...

In the entrance of Nousaku in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture, a group of schoolchildren skip by and point excitedly at an eclectic display of hundreds of brightly colored objects. Other visitors, meanwhile, look down in wonder toward the concrete floor, where a huge golden silhouette ...

The Japan Times presents the first installment of a monthly 12-part series that looks back at the leading issues of the past three decades.

Japan's traditional matsuri (festivals) are great, but it's also important to expose the kids to cultures further afield. Here are a few Tokyo international festival recommendations. They're all fun, free and full of opportunity.

I know that scores of heavily armed people are out there lying in wait to shoot me, but I can't see them. I know for a fact that one of them is carrying an M4 next-generation carbine rifle, Samurai Edge handgun and three nasty-looking Cyclone ...

Despite the advances in awareness surrounding LGBTQ issues, sexual minorities continue to face challenges in disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity.

In the historic Nakasendo post town of Tsumago, fashion designer Jun Obara uses vibrant color and traditional sashiko stitching to create bold fashion statements.

Incense workshops can be a sweet-smelling way to teach kids about a traditional craft of Japan

Myriad spiritual and high-tech options are available to help owners find their missing animals, but human trackers are still the best bet.

Hideki Nakahara, 66, is a retired Japan Airlines employee with years of experience in human resources. He graduated from Kyoto University with a degree in educational sociology. He is a great listener who can offer advice on everything from life and relationships to careers. He is married ...

Ding Dong and Fun Fun, a pair of 12-year-old Yorkshire terriers, know how to enjoy the high life — literally. The pampered pets and their owner, Zoe Man, 43, flew on a private plane from Hong Kong to Japan for a five-day holiday. The terriers ...

A year ago, J-pop star Kyary Pamyu Pamyu released a song with lyrics and a promotional video that were as saccharine as a chocolate bunny. The song was titled "Easta" — a play on Easter and "a good start" in Japanese — and the ...