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Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional voices: Chubu
Oct 11, 2019

Gifu women turn plastic waste found on beaches into accessories

Four women in Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture, are creating accessories made from plastic fragments collected at beaches in Aichi Prefecture, selling them amid growing global concerns over the microplastic waste in the ocean.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
Oct 10, 2019

Chocolate defined by decadence

Chocolate defined by decadence
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Oct 9, 2019

Tackling writer's block at the Japan Writers Conference

Now in its 13th year, the Japan Writers Conference aims to provide a place for creative thinkers to meet their peers, learn a few tricks and get motivated to finally start on that novel.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Oct 8, 2019

Hiromi Uehara drops the band and steps out alone

The pianist returns to solo work for her latest album, 'Spectrum,' 10 years after her last solo release
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / NBA
Oct 7, 2019

Raptors to defend crown in post-Leonard era

The Toronto Raptors' magic-carpet ride last season lifted the franchise to new heights of popularity throughout Canada.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
Oct 6, 2019

Defending champions Alvark win second straight to open season

The Alvark Tokyo improved to 2-0 on the new season with a hard-earned 94-84 victory over the visiting Niigata Albirex BB on Sunday afternoon.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Oct 6, 2019

The white rose that blossoms in the rain

White Rose Co. invented the plastic umbrella in the 1950s when Mitsuo Sudo was inspired by vinyl tablecloths brought to Japan by occupation forces. Now it's just one of few makers weathering the storm of cheap, mass-produced imports.
CULTURE / Film
Oct 6, 2019

Film director Hirokazu Kore-eda steps out of his comfort zone

Award-winning director makes rare move overseas with latest release in a bid to experience various types of filmmaking.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH
Oct 5, 2019

Floresta's doughnuts get a (sort of) spooky spin for Halloween

'Nature doughnuts' chain Floresta is getting into the spooky Halloween spirit with a corporate tie-up with Sanrio's kawaii My Melody characters.
WORLD / Politics
Oct 5, 2019

Iranians tried to hack Trump's re-election campaign, sources say

A hacking group that appears to be linked to the Iranian government attempted to break into U.S. President Donald Trump's re-election campaign but were unsuccessful, sources familiar with the operation told Reuters on Friday.
JAPAN / Regional voices: Chubu
Oct 4, 2019

Sixty years after deadly Ise Bay typhoon, experts say Chubu disaster prevention needs an update

The Ise Bay typhoon, a killer storm that swept through the Chubu region on Sept. 26, 1959, claiming more than 5,000 lives, became an opportunity for the nation to make great progress in disaster prevention efforts, including the construction of seawalls and river levees, as well as the enactment of the...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Fukushima
Oct 4, 2019

Fukushima Prefecture to conduct survey to better understand foreign residents' needs

Amid a growing number of foreign residents, Fukushima Prefecture is set to initiate a survey in October that will look into their needs and concerns.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 3, 2019

England ready for Argentina clash

England head coach Eddie Jones on Thursday paid tribute to Japan's "outstanding" Rugby World Cup win over Ireland, before turning his attention back to his team's crunch match against Argentina this weekend.
Japan Times
Special Supplements / Niseko Winter Special
Sep 27, 2019

Visitors invited to experience winter sports mecca

When it comes to winter sports, one would be hard pressed to find a resort area more impressive than Niseko in Hokkaido. Renowned for its high-quality powder and varied runs, Niseko has become an international mecca for winter sports enthusiasts who flock to its resorts every year to get their fill of...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Sep 27, 2019

Morimoto Kyoto: Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto opens second restaurant in Japan

In an alternate reality, Masaharu Morimoto would be fielding questions from sports journalists. He might even be talking about his transfer from Japan’s top-flight baseball league to Major League Baseball in the United States.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Sep 27, 2019

How a sanctions-busting smartphone business thrives in North Korea

North Korea is evading U.N. sanctions by profiting on the soaring domestic demand for smartphones, according to defectors, experts and an analysis of North Korean-made phones.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional voices: Chubu
Sep 27, 2019

Aichi illustrator shines light on local moon-viewing tradition called 'Japan's Halloween'

There is a tradition in Japan of holding moon-viewing parties to celebrate the harvest on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, believed to be the best time of the year to watch the full moon, and this year it fell on Sept. 13.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / Wide Angle
Sep 26, 2019

Escape the usual TV snoozefest with season three of 'The Bachelor Japan'

The latest season of The Bachelor has dropped on Amazon Prime Video, bringing with it all the drama and absurdity of a Western reality show
Japan Times
Thailand report 2019
Sep 25, 2019

Honda Thailand moves ahead, reflecting its commitment to growing in step with Thai society

For over 36 years, Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd.’s commitment to the country and its people has driven the company’s business growth, both in terms of sales and the scale of Honda’s operations in Thailand.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Sep 24, 2019

'Okayama Art Summit 2019: If the Snake'

Sept. 27-Nov. 24
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
Sep 22, 2019

Kengo Kuma: Seeing the forest for the trees in Eskisehir

Nestled between the traditional buildings of Turkey's city of Eskisehir, Kengo Kuma & Associates' design of the new Odunpazari Modern Museum is a love letter to Seljuk, Ottoman and Turkish history.
Japan Times
CULTURE
Sep 21, 2019

Signs of life: Urban renewal in Nakamachi

The oldest surviving quarter of Toba, Mie Prefecture, pins its hopes on crafts and small businesses to stay afloat.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Sep 21, 2019

Student succeeds at failing to start work on his summer homework

For elementary school children in Japan, their weeks-long summer vacation isn't entirely a time for leisure. Instead, it's overshadowed by a stack of homework that features, among other things, an assignment known as jiyū kenkyū (independent project).
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional voices: Chubu
Sep 20, 2019

Mie city's outreach to struggling residents in public housing pays off

Officials in the city of Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, are working to reduce rent delinquency among low-income residents of municipal housing, by visiting defaulters individually and compiling custom payment plans.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Hokkaido
Sep 20, 2019

Sapporo group to equip emergency shelter for people with special needs

A Sapporo-based association providing support to people with rare and intractable diseases is planning to establish its own shelter early next year allowing people with special needs to find a safe place in the event of an emergency.
Japan Times
JAPAN / History / Regional Voices: Okinawa
Sep 20, 2019

Exhibition traces history of Okinawa tattoo tradition that became a mark of shame

Back when Okinawa was the Ryukyu Kingdom (1429-1879), tattooing the back of women's hands was a common practice, with the tattoos admired by men and women alike for their elaborate designs.

Longform

Figure skater Akiko Suzuki was once told her ideal weight should be 47 kilograms, a number she now admits she “naively believed.” This led to her have a relationship with food that resulted in her suffering from anorexia.
The silent battle Japanese athletes fight with weight