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CULTURE / Books
Aug 11, 2018

'The Penguin Book of Haiku': Morsels of poetry from the mountaintop to the gutter

According to author and translator Adam L. Kern, there's a pervasive myth that haiku is only nature poetry, that it is always serious and connected to Zen, that there are hardly any women haiku poets. But haiku covers far greater ground.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Aug 5, 2018

Ding! Alibaba office app fuels backlash among some Chinese workers

In the cramped former home of Jack Ma, founder of the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, about 30 young engineers sit elbow to elbow, working to attract the next million users for DingTalk, Alibaba's workplace communication software.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 1, 2018

Waseda University student's show fuses Arabian and Japanese fashion

When Waseda University student Eri Tamazawa ran into a couple from the United Arab Emirates dressed in traditional attire on campus three years ago, she was astonished at how beautiful the clothes were and it made her realize how little she knew about Arabian culture.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 31, 2018

Japan is going global as America looks inward

A new book explores how the country can be a bigger player on the world stage.
COMMUNITY / Issues / LABOR PAINS
Jul 30, 2018

Japan's courts don't share Mio Sugita's views on supporting LGBT people, precedents show

The country's courts are drawing a line in the sand over discrimination against LGBT people, even as far-right LDP lawmaker Mio Sugita slams support for 'unproductive' members of society.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Deep Dive
Jul 26, 2018

Dining out in Tokyo in the age of gastro-tourism

Tokyo: It's the world's greatest dining city. Twenty years ago this assertion — one I delighted in dropping into conversations whenever possible — would have been met with bemusement if not ridicule, especially among the gourmets of Paris or New York. These days, few seriously dispute it. In terms...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jul 24, 2018

Jomon art: Japan's prehistoric charm

Fertile periods of artistic endeavor are not hard to come by in Japanese history. Many would cite the Edo, Muromachi or Heian periods. The Tokyo National Museum, however, reminds visitors of one era often forgotten — the ancient Jomon Period.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Reconstruction of Tohoku
Jul 24, 2018

Multifaceted support for recovering communities

"Arigato" Host Town for Supporting Reconstruction is a government project where towns in three disaster-stricken prefectures in the Tohoku region will host people and Olympians and Paralympians taking part in the 2020 Tokyo Games from various countries and regions, in addition to the conventional Host...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / The Big Questions
Jul 22, 2018

Tata Consultancy CEO's latest multinational foray

In the world of business, any metaphorical reference to games — gambling games, at that — might seem less than ideal.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
Jul 19, 2018

Cultural immersion through dance, festivities

The Shiba Park Hotel, located near Tokyo Tower in Shiba Park, Minato Ward, is inviting overseas guests to enjoy Japanese culture and customs at a Bon odori festival that will be held at Zojoji Temple on July 27 and 28.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Jul 18, 2018

Drum Tao aims for blockbuster grandeur in its latest production

Based in mountainous Oita Prefecture in northeastern Kyushu, the privately owned and run Drum Tao company has barely paused from pounding away at the international entertainment market since it launched its overseas ambitions with a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2004.
Japan Times
WORLD / Society
Jul 18, 2018

Migrants in Lebanon seek to break stereotypes with new radio show

Since arriving in Lebanon, Sudanese migrant worker Abdallah Afandi has been turned away from beach resorts, mistaken for a cleaner and prevented from renting an apartment — all because of the color of his skin.
Japan Times
France report 2018
Jul 13, 2018

Japonismes 2018: les âmes en resonance

The “Japonismes 2018: les ames en resonance” (“Souls in resonance”) festival was successfully launched yesterday (July 12) in Paris. 
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 10, 2018

New British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, fluent Japanese speaker, drew on years in Japan to become one of U.K.'s richest politicians

Hunt reportedly pocketed u00a314.4 million from the sale of a company he got the idea for after spending two years teaching English in Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Jun 30, 2018

Celebrating the memes the 2018 soccer World Cup has created

Japan’s surprising success at the 2018 World Cup in Russia has dominated headlines and morning shows domestically. News organizations abroad, however, honed in on a very different topic — trash.
Japan Times
CULTURE / CULTURE SMASH
Jun 24, 2018

Can Japanese 'light novels' remain publishing heavyweights?

Two years ago, light novel publisher Kadokawa added Thailand to its list of foreign publishing investments, which already includes Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia and the United States. Now there are signs that English-language readers are catching on.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Deep Dive
Jun 17, 2018

Medical institutions offering treatment in multiple languages make Japan a haven for foreign patients

For foreign residents and tourists who don't understand Japanese, seeking medical attention can be stressful because few doctors are proficient in English.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / The Big Questions
Jun 17, 2018

Unforeseen detour leads back to Japan, dream job

Somehow, Japan just seems to keep pulling Salem al-Marri back into its orbit. As the recently appointed country manager for the United Arab Emirates' flagship airline, Emirates, al-Marri is making himself at home in Tokyo.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHY DID YOU LEAVE JAPAN?
Jun 16, 2018

Haruka Kuroda: Taking advantage of stereotypes

Best-known for her role voicing Noodle in Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett's virtual band Gorillaz, Haruka Kuroda has been working in the British entertainment industry for nearly two decades.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Jun 16, 2018

The trials and tribulations of the self-published zine

From the modern ukiyo-e prints of the Edo Period (1603-1868) to contemporary du014djinshi (self-published) fan comics, there has always been an outlet in Japan for artistic self-publishing. But where do zines slot into this system?
CULTURE / Art
Jun 12, 2018

'Rock: Power, Spirit & Love'

June 9-July 1
Japan Times
JAPAN / GENERATIONAL CHANGE
Jun 11, 2018

Panasonic employee drives innovation by connecting young, enterprising new entrants to Japan's workforce

It's often difficult for people to maintain the enterprising spirit they had when they first entered the workplace, fresh out of university.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Jun 9, 2018

Instagram rules and food trends flourish in Shin-Okubo, Tokyo's Koreatown

Move over, Harajuku. Although the Instagram-ready 'rainbow hot dog' might bring the crowd to Shin-Okubo, Korean food is well on its way to becoming a true culinary staple.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Jun 9, 2018

Anthony Bourdain drew endless inspiration from Japan

Anthony Bourdain — who was found dead in his hotel room Friday in France — had a knack for discovering the best of each country he visited over the course of his colorful career, but always seemed to have a special place in his heart for Japan.
JAPAN
Jun 7, 2018

Former interpreter for Empress guides Japan House in Los Angeles

A former diplomat is promoting Japanese cultural strengths as the head of Tokyo's Japan House facility in Los Angeles.

Longform

Ichiro Suzuki, one of the most iconic players in NPB and MLB history, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame with 99.7% of the vote.
With Hall of Fame induction, Ichiro makes himself heard loud and clear