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Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 15, 2020

COVID-19 pandemic prompts a digital revolution

Even as the novel coronavirus pandemic throws the global economy into turmoil and as commercial activities are paralyzed in Japan under the state of emergency declared by the government, at least one sector is seeing an expansion in demand — “virtual” business models and online transactions that...
Reader Mail
Apr 15, 2020

The government's questionable priorities

Regarding the April 9 story "Tokyo and central governments clash over what should shut in emergency," I find it absolutely amazing that the economic revitalization minister, Yasutoshi Nishimura, said during a videoconference that barbershops and beauty salons are "vital in maintaining lives."
Reader Mail
Apr 15, 2020

'Amabie' — an eerie coincidence

Regarding your April 2 story “Japanese monster goes viral on hopes for end to coronavirus pandemic,” permit me to indulge in conjecture. Despite the media attention the amabie mythical creature has been garnering over the last few weeks (The Guardian and The New Yorker have also run stories on this...
CULTURE / Film
Apr 14, 2020

For filmmaker Nobuhiko Obayashi, freedom was the most important thing of all

Director Nobuhiko Obayashi, who died on April 10 at the age of 82, was incredibly prolific during his six-decade career. A pioneering experimental filmmaker in the 1960s, he went on to direct 2,000 television commercials (by his own estimate; no exact count exists) and 43 theatrical features.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Apr 14, 2020

Let's discuss memes

This Japan Times article looks at a recent meme spawned by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's recent mask policy, but what's a meme?
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Apr 13, 2020

Pikotaro turns viral hit into anti-virus anthem

During tumultuous times, sometimes the best advice comes from toddlers.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 10, 2020

Virus pandemic pushes Japan’s shoppers to finally buy online

Now that the government is urging consumers and businesses to step up efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak, shoppers may finally have no excuse but to embrace e-commerce and wean themselves from brick-and-mortar stores.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / FOREIGN AGENDA
Apr 9, 2020

'The swab goes really deep into your head': What it's like to take the test for coronavirus in Japan

Have you wondered what it's like to get tested for COVID-19 in Japan? With little Japanese, Joe Oliver learned the hard way after being sent by his doctor to head straight to the hospital.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Apr 9, 2020

Smartphone industry headed for virtual reality check as Japan gets 5G

With speedy data transmission and low latency, the advent of 5G networks means users of mobile communications devices will have access to more elaborate augmented and virtual reality apps.
WORLD
Apr 9, 2020

U.S. senators told to avoid Zoom over security concerns, FT reports

The U.S. Senate has told its members to not use Zoom's video conferencing app due to data security concerns, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, even as the company attempts to stem a global backlash against its fast-growing app.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / NBA
Apr 9, 2020

Kevin Garnett yearns to see NBA return to Seattle, has big plans for future

Kevin Garnett always found Seattle to be a difficult place for opponents. He played in 27 games there during his NBA career, leaving the court as a winner only eight times.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 8, 2020

Setting ‘simple’ standards is critical diplomacy

China is trying to put its stamp on “standard setting,” a little understood and even less appreciated dimension of international engagement.
JAPAN / Politics / EXPLAINER
Apr 8, 2020

What changes under Japan's state of emergency declaration?

After weeks of intense pressure Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has declared a state of emergency in seven urban areas, but what does that change?
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Apr 7, 2020

Let's discuss panic-buying at the supermarket

An English lesson looks at what you do to prepare for a weekend at home.
PODCAST / deep dive
Apr 6, 2020

Episode 45: Ken Shimura — Japan loses a comedy legend

On March 29, Ken Shimura, one of Japan's most celebrated comedians, passed away after testing positive for COVID-19. JT entertainment writeru00a0Patrick St. Michelu00a0discusses Shimura's life and death with host Oscar Boyd.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 6, 2020

Jobs destroyed worldwide as coronavirus triggers deep recession

The world’s workers are reeling from the initial shock of the coronavirus recession, with job losses and welfare claims around the globe already running into the millions this week.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 5, 2020

Shut the door on the North’s cyberarmy

The world needs to wake up to North Korea's ability to launch cyberattacks on nuclear facilities.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Apr 5, 2020

New U.K. Labour leader Keir Starmer to work with Johnson on coronavirus

Britain’s opposition Labour Party elected Keir Starmer as leader, putting a moderate lawyer with an eye for detail in charge as Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s handling of the coronavirus comes under fire.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
Apr 4, 2020

NPB has to be flexible in approach to opening day

Former NPB Commissioner Ryozo Kato used to joke that Japanese baseball was similar to a large boat in the middle of the ocean.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Apr 3, 2020

Ep. 38 'Case of The Costume Incident'

We at The Japan Times have described “Terrace House” on multiple occasions as the ultimate show to help you unwind after a long day. That's mostly because there's none of the intense, emotionally triggering drama that other reality TV shows tend to rely on.
Japan Times
WORLD
Apr 3, 2020

Poorer nations least prepared for pandemic lockdowns

As countries around the globe try to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, nowhere is the task more challenging and the risk greater than in the developing world.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 2, 2020

Policy goal: How to get from good to great

As Japanese and global policymakers are rushing to design policies to counter the looming economic depression, advice from one of my favorite economists, Jean-Baptiste Say, comes to mind. In 1803 he wrote: “In policy as well as in morality, the grand secret is not to constrain the actions, but to awaken...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Apr 2, 2020

The unstoppable rise of Regal Lily

Regal Lily is supposed to be on tour at the moment. But instead of enjoying what the band’s members like about touring — eating hotel breakfasts, trying local dishes or simply exploring new towns — they’re staying put. There will be no early April show at Mynavi Blitz Akasaka, Tokyo, wrapping...
Japan Times
WORLD
Apr 1, 2020

The mask middlemen: How pop-up brokers seek big paydays in a frenzied pandemic market

Brian Kolfage, a Florida military veteran, recently convinced Americans to donate millions of dollars for a privately built wall on the U.S. southern border. Now he has jumped into a new venture: hawking millions of protective face masks that are in critically short supply during the coronavirus pandemic....
LIFE / Language / NEWS IN NIHONGO
Mar 31, 2020

Local governments short on volunteer interpreters in emergencies

A Kyodo story looks at the lack of multilingual volunteers that would be able to help Southeast Asian communities in Japan in an emergency.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Mar 31, 2020

Let's discuss the cherry blossoms

An article by Alex Martin looks at the history of Japan's iconic cherry blossoms, serving up new English terms in the process.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / OLD NIC'S NOTEBOOK
Mar 30, 2020

We live in neither East nor West

With COVID-19 pulling the world apart, it's the people, from healthworkers to thoughtful neighbors that can bring it back together.

Longform

A small shrine perched atop rocks braves the waves hitting the shoreline during a storm in Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture. The area is under threat of a possible 31-meter-high tsunami if an earthquake strikes the nearby Nankai Trough.
If the 'Big One' hits, this city could face a 31-meter-high tsunami