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Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Apr 21, 2020

Ep. 40 ‘Never Forgive Luigi’

"Terrace House" is shutting its doors, for now. The big news this week was that, according to the show's official Twitter account, production would be shut down due to the current outbreak of COVID-19. That means this week's episode is the last new one we'll be seeing for a while, so savor each sip of...
JAPAN / FOCUS
Apr 18, 2020

Hard-to-trace coronavirus cases put pressure on Japan’s hostess bars

In the fantasy world conjured up by Japan's hostess clubs, the coronavirus pandemic has delivered an unwelcome dose of reality.
CULTURE / Film
Apr 9, 2020

Japan’s film and TV industries soldier on despite coronavirus

The death of comedian Ken Shimura on March 29 due to pneumonia caused by COVID-19 sent a shock wave throughout the country. A star on Japanese TV for decades, he was the first major celebrity here to pass away after contracting the virus.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Mar 21, 2020

Tokyology: Inside Tokyo's lesser known neighborhoods

Sick and tired of the Tokyo main drag? Good thing there are plenty of lesser-known neighborhoods. Here are The Japan Times' recommendations for five locales where its possible to both sightsee and get a glimpse of normal Tokyo life.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 12, 2020

Shock 'Parasite' Oscar cements South Korea's status as a cultural powerhouse

South Korea's status as a cultural juggernaut just got a serious shot of international credibility.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Feb 7, 2020

Ep. 32 'I Hate You'

Multiple plot lines came to their messy conclusions this week as the housemates opened up and let their emotions flow. And boy, there were a lot of tears.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Jan 24, 2020

Ep. 30 'Not Guilty'

I'm sorry to tell you that the latest episode reached new depths of discomfort.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Jan 17, 2020

Ep. 29 'About Love'

The cringy antics of the 'Terrace House' members slowly killed my will to watch to the end of this episode.
Japan Times
GLOBAL INSIGHT / Jamaica report 2020
Jan 9, 2020

Jamaica cements its position as the jewel of Caribbean tourism

The vibrant and increasingly accessible island offers a full spectrum of immersive vacation experiences that extend far beyond it being the perfect location for sun, sea and sand.
JAPAN
Dec 26, 2019

Office of Tokyo pachinko operator searched over casino bribery scandal

Prosecutors searched the office of a pachinko chain operator in Tokyo on Thursday in connection with a bribery scandal involving a plan for a casino resort.
Japan Times
SATOYAMA CONSORTIUM
Dec 23, 2019

Hakone geisha events among tech venture’s global tourism efforts

Watching kimono-clad geisha gracefully dance to traditional music and joining in games all the while enjoying Japanese cuisine and sake — for non-Japanese interested in traditional Japanese culture, such entertainment might very well be the pinnacle of traditional experiences.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 21, 2019

Sony in talks to buy stake in Indian TV network

Sony Corp. is in talks to acquire a stake in the Indian television network controlled by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, as the Japanese giant seeks to tap booming demand for content in the South Asian nation, according to people familiar with the matter.
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Nov 16, 2019

Japanese celebrities are using YouTube in new ways to connect with fans

The baseball offseason has arrived and Chicago Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish has taken up a few extracurricular activities. The Osaka-born player has expanded his social media presence, with recent posts on Twitter —  poking fun at teammates and playfully roasting other starters — being picked up by...
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Nov 15, 2019

Ep. 22 'Tip Off'

Last week's episode of "Terrace House" made it look like the housemates were on the verge of pairing off into couples: Emika and Ruka; Haruka and Peppe; and Hana and Ryo. The commentators love how harmonious and lovey-dovey the house has become (with the positive mood making their own lives feel stress...
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Nov 5, 2019

Iconic owner Roger Penske buys Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IndyCar Series

Roger Penske was a car-loving, 14-year-old who regularly listened to the Indianapolis 500 on the radio when his father landed tickets to the 1951 race. They made the trek from Cleveland, and when Penske saw the cars zipping around Indianapolis Motor Speedway at 200 mph (nearly 323 kph) he fell instantly...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Oct 22, 2019

Kuroneko Burlesque: The dancers keeping Kyoto's risque side alive

The burlesque troupe has been staging shows in an around Kyoto, and will soon begin a short residency at a new theater in the city
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 21, 2019

Sumo shows offer new life for retired rikishi

Sumo is an all-enveloping lifestyle.
Japan Times
Aug 21, 2019

Yamaha Motor Partners with Sony to Develop SC-1 Sociable Cart

— Delivering New Low-Speed Mobility Experience Value —
Japan Times
CULTURE
Aug 17, 2019

Game not over: Japan's amusement arcades tap community spirit to stay relevant

"Kana," to call him by the nom de guerre he uses when he is competing in arcade game tournaments, is so good at The King of Fighters '97 that he can beat most other players one-handed.
JAPAN
Jul 21, 2019

Scandal-hit comedians apologize for receiving money for organized crime group event

Hiroyuki Miyasako, a member of popular comedy duo Ameagari Kesshitai, offered an apology at a news conference Saturday for performing at an event hosted by an organized crime group and receiving money from it.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Jul 9, 2019

Japanese comedians turn to yakuza-linked 'underground performances' due to unstable income

Despite mounting criticism over recently revealed "underground performances" for organized crime by some comedians, quitting such work appears difficult, as they are important sources of income for the entertainers, many of whom are apparently not earning enough money from activities through their talent...
Japan Times
CULTURE / CULTURE SMASH
Jun 30, 2019

Why Hollywood doesn't yet get anime

When it comes to Hollywood's versions of Japanese content, most fans return to the originals and wonder: Why can't they get it right? Jeff Gomez, CEO of Starlight Runner sheds some light on the West's cultural misreading of anime and manga.
Japan Times
Special Supplements / G20 Osaka Summit Special
Jun 27, 2019

Enhanced Japan services accompany top-tier service

Providing flights to more countries than any other airline in the world, Turkish Airlines offers travelers comfortable passage to destinations across the globe. As it celebrates its 30th anniversary of flights to and from Japan, the airline continues to enhance services with exciting promotions and luxurious...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 15, 2019

Japan IR Expo opens in Osaka as candidates step up efforts to win integrated casino resort licenses

With the cities of Osaka and Wakayama stepping up their efforts to win a legalized integrated casino resort, the Japan IR Expo opened Wednesday in Osaka.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
May 4, 2019

Talking trash: The sport of collecting as much waste as possible

Thanks to Netflix, many are familiar with Japanese clutter-buster Marie Kondo and her soothing remedies for the melancholy brought on by conspicuous consumption. Kondo is already a superstar in Japan, where closet sizes barely keep up with snowballing affluence, but she wasn't the first in her field,...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 9, 2019

Daniel Loeb's Third Point hedge fund building a stake to pressure Sony, sources say

Daniel Loeb's hedge fund Third Point LLC is building a stake in Sony Corp. to push for changes, the second time in six years it has targeted the electronics maker, according to sources familiar with the matter.

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.