Search - features

 
 
Japan Times
BASEBALL / MLB
Mar 19, 2019

Fervent fan revels in Ichimeter Lady fame

The line of fans began by the fence in the right-field stands at Tokyo Dome and stretched all the way to the back wall, snaking up through rows 1-14 and 15-21 and around the corner.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society / Regional voices: Chubu
Mar 18, 2019

Aichi 5-year-old has waist-length hair shorn to help make wigs for sick kids

A 5-year-old girl from Aichi Prefecture decided to have her waist-length hair cut in January so it can be made into wigs for children who have suffered hair loss from cancer or other illnesses.
SUMO
Mar 17, 2019

Sumo 101: Nicknames

All sumo wrestlers have a shikona (ring name).
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / FOREIGN AGENDA
Mar 17, 2019

Non-Japanese people are poorly represented in Japanese media: That needs to change

For almost a decade, the Japanese TV show "Why Did You Come to Japan?" has operated on the premise of finding foreign tourists and asking them the titular question. It might seem like an innocent query at first, but in fact this show and its ilk embody everything that is wrong with the depiction of non-Japanese...
Japan Times
WORLD / FOCUS
Mar 16, 2019

Boeing 737 crashes raise tough questions about automation

Tom Enders just couldn't resist the swipe at the competition. It was June 2011, and the chief executive officer of Airbus SE was on a stage at the Paris air show after the plane-maker won in a matter of days an unprecedented 600 orders for its upgraded A320neo airliner, while Boeing Co. stood on the...
EDITORIALS
Mar 16, 2019

Beefing up our quake defense

Given the certainty of devastating quakes hitting Japan, we must do everything we can to be better prepared.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
Mar 15, 2019

Japan's Netflix contender bets on youth-driven viral hits

On a Friday night at a downtown Tokyo television studio, 12 teen models with cutesy nicknames like "Ayamin" and "Kyokyo" are waiting nervously to find out who has won coveted spots on the cover of Popteen magazine, a Japanese fashion bible.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Fukushima
Mar 15, 2019

As population declines, Fukushima Prefecture to lose 15 of its 96 high schools

The Fukushima Prefectural Board of Education will reduce its number of prefecture-run high schools by 15 by the end of fiscal 2023 as the region continues to struggle with a dwindling number of students due to a declining birthrate.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 13, 2019

Drones retain their buzz at Japanese trade show, with industrial uses expected to bolster growth

With the market for business-use unmanned aircraft looking promising in coming years, a large-scale drone expo that kicked off Wednesday showed more companies are eager to get involved with the industry.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Mar 12, 2019

'Sense of Humor'

March 15-June 30
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Okinawa
Mar 12, 2019

Lose your wallet or cash in Okinawa? It's more than likely you'll get them back, police data shows

Lost wallets or hard cash reported to the Okinawa Prefectural Police last year had a higher chance of being returned than in the preceding four years, earning praise from foreign tourists who got their money back.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional voices: Chubu
Mar 11, 2019

Have Japan's yuru-kyara reached critical mass? Minds behind the mascots discuss

Over the past few decades, towns, cities and prefectures throughout Japan have been churning out mascots to represent and promote themselves, resulting in an annual contest, the Yuru-kyara Grand Prix, that has come to symbolize their popularity.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Mar 10, 2019

A new approach to volunteering in Tohoku

When Angela Ortiz describes what it felt like to return to Aomori Prefecture five days after the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, she uses words like "horror," "incredulous disbelief" and "intense curiosity."
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Mar 9, 2019

Spotify has one eye on untapped podcast market in Japan

Spotify paid nearly $340 million to acquire podcast producer Gimlet Media and services provider Anchor in deals disclosed to the Securities and Exchange Commission last month, prompting analysts to start considering what this all meant for the industry.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / A Weekend In
Mar 8, 2019

A weekend in Osaka: A sensory feast in the nation's kitchen

Osaka will host four games for the Rugby World Cup at its Hanazono Rugby Stadium. Check out our guide to the city to find out what to do when you're in Osaka for the weekend.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Mar 6, 2019

Creating opportunities for 'inclusive dance' with Stopgap Dance Company

"I believe people with almost any kind of physique can do contemporary dance. Yet though there are many courses for able-bodied people, there is almost nothing for people with disabilities," says Sho Shibata, executive producer of U.K.-based Stopgap Dance Company.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Mar 5, 2019

Brexit hasn't triggered a general Japanese retreat from Britain

The headline-grabbing departures are only a tiny fraction of the dozens of Japanese companies in the U.K. and the150,000 jobs that they provide.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Mar 5, 2019

The man bringing classical music to millions through La Folle Journee returns to Tokyo

Instead of explaining the essence of classical music in words, French music producer Rene Martin chooses a piece from an enormous number of musical samples stored in his smartphone.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Mar 5, 2019

'Publicness of the Art Center Phase Ⅰ'

March 2-May 6
Japan Times
Uncategorized / G20 host cities special
Mar 5, 2019

Journey to the 'heart of Japan'

Situated between Tokyo and Osaka, Aichi Prefecture has been a bustling hub for traffic and trade throughout Japanese history, and the region is often referred to as "the heart of Japan" because of its rich culture and flourishing industries.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society / Regional voices: Chubu
Mar 4, 2019

Few foreign residents aware of public nursing care plan but more expected to tap it as Japan grays

The number of foreign people living and retiring in Japan is expected to increase following the overhaul of the nation's immigration control law in April, which will introduce new types of working visas.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Mar 2, 2019

Reaction to Niigata bullying video reflects changing attitudes in Japan

A video of a first-year high school student in Niigata being bullied appeared online in mid-February and quickly became a topic of discussion. The clip shows a group of male students pushing, kicking and eventually striking the victim with a stick, all while throwing insults the victim’s way, too....
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Mar 2, 2019

Uighur restaurants in Tokyo: Finding heaven through food

The Xinjiang region of China goes relatively unnoticed for its distinct cuisine, though it has certainly garnered international attention in other respects.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books / RECENTLY PUBLISHED BOOKS ABOUT JAPAN
Mar 2, 2019

'The Land We Saw, the Times We Knew': An eclectic collection of insightful essays on early-modern Japan

Rich history is woven into each of the essays in 'The Land We Saw, the Times We Knew,' forming a picture of a Japan not unrecognizable to that of today, but one which has not yet made the Meiji Era leap into modernity.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Mar 2, 2019

Easter Islanders seek outside help for iconic statues' 'leprosy'

In just 100 years, the emblematic stone sculptures that guard the coastline of Easter Island could be little more than simple rectangular blocks, conservation experts are warning.

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji