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Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 30, 2020

Kanagawa reports 31 new COVID-19 cases as Tokyo tops 50 for fifth straight day

New cases of COVID-19 infections jumped to 31 in Kanagawa Prefecture on Tuesday, up from seven the previous day, the largest daily rise in a month, while neighboring Tokyo confirmed 54 cases, recording more than 50 for the fifth straight day.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 17, 2020

Host and hostess bars in Japan scramble to adjust to COVID-19 reality

The industry faces an intensifying public backlash after reports emerged that a recent spike in cases stemmed largely from nighttime entertainment districts.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 17, 2020

AT&T is cutting thousands of jobs and it’s just the beginning

With more than $160 billion in debt, AT&T has one of the largest debt loads of any nonfinancial company.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Jun 12, 2020

The summer of our discontent

With the news that this year’s Fuji Rock Festival would be postponed until 2021, summer 2020 became the season of no music in Japan.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Jun 10, 2020

Tencent targets Japanese anime and manga to jump-start global growth

The Chinese firm sees Japan's entertainment exports as being ripe for optimization, with better distribution and marketing generating vastly greater revenues.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 9, 2020

Nightlife districts demonized over infection fears while grappling with coronavirus impacts

Heated media coverage has zeroed in on Kabukicho, catapulting the area to a new level of notoriety.
JAPAN
Jun 7, 2020

Tokyo reports 14 new coronavirus cases as daily average in June hits 21

A growing number of recent cases have occurred in popular nightlife areas such as Shinjuku's adult entertainment district.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jun 3, 2020

Rethinking the world's largest cities in wake of COVID-19

Grammy award-winner Petula Clark famously sang that the "lights are much brighter" downtown, but the coronavirus pandemic may change city centers across the world, as more people choose to work remotely and companies ditch large office towers.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Jun 1, 2020

E-ticketing platform Zaiko's livestream success sees unwelcome imitators

The ticketing company pivoted to livestreaming events when the coronavirus struck, a move that may change how we experience music in Japan.
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
May 23, 2020

Rats, bugs, crooks and trucks share media spotlight amid pandemic

With city dwellers around the world in lockdown, increasing reports have surfaced about wild animals infiltrating urban areas.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
May 22, 2020

Ep. 42 ‘Woman Who Makes Everyone Dream’

I enjoy a good cliffhanger as much as the next person, but I wasn’t eager to see how Toshiyuki and Yume’s night in Sapporo would unfold. When we last saw these two, they were sitting close to each other in a dark bar. Toshiyuki was urging Yume to drink more alcohol as he mustered the courage to express...
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
May 16, 2020

Ep. 41 'Life-Threatening Date'

After announcing that production on “Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020” was going on hiatus and then going quiet on us for a few weeks, Netflix released a brand new episode like a gift from the television gods offering some small relief from the current pandemic.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
May 8, 2020

Live music needs structural change to survive COVID-19

With footfall having dropped dramatically at Japan's live music venues, many are turning to crowdfunding. But whether this will help mid-sized spaces remains to be seen.
Japan Times
WORLD / Society
Apr 20, 2020

People are paying real money to get into virtual Zoom nightclubs

It’s only 5 p.m. on a Saturday in Los Angeles, but the Zone — a 16-room virtual club on the videoconferencing app Zoom — is already in full swing.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / A Weekend In
Apr 18, 2020

A weekend inside: Toy art, 'Tiger King' and a candle-lit bubble bath

Ideas to keep you entertained over a weekend indoors.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Apr 17, 2020

Naoki Kobayashi: A J-pop star jumps to a new stage

Having already tasted success in the world of J-pop, Naoki Kobayashi has now set his sights on an acting career overseas.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 12, 2020

Japan's nightlife entertainers head to cyberspace to dodge virus, host clients online

Hosts and hostesses in Japan's famous nightlife industry are turning to remote entertainment sessions as the COVID-19 pandemic forces them to create a safer environment to survive the public safety crisis.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 11, 2020

Can esports save post-Olympics Japan?

The government recently announced an ambitious plan to nurture Japan’s nascent esports industry. And both gamers and business leaders alike were left with a simple question:
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
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
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Apr 3, 2020

Ensuring live music survives the pandemic

While the COVID-19 pandemic has all but shut down Japan's live music scene, innovative acts and labels are still reaching fans in the country.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Mar 13, 2020

Ep. 36 'Angel'

It looks like romance is in the air for the “Terrace House” housemates, and just in time for the new year! A few of them, including Yume and Shion, already have some dinner plans, but Toshiyuki Niino isn’t wasting any time and squeezes in one last date with Yume before 2019 ends.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Feb 21, 2020

Ep. 33 'Half Blue'

Official couple alert!! It has taken 33 episodes but we finally have our first pairing in Emika and Tupas. I'm not counting Risako and Kenny because ol' Riri insisted they were still in the "talking" phase of their relationship when they moved out of the house together. Yama-chan, the resident cynic...
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Jan 31, 2020

Ep. 31 'Publicity Stunt'

After weeks of eavesdropping, listening to second-hand accounts of conversations and dropping very obvious signals, Hana and Vivi finally come face to face with some harsh truths about their respective crushes on Ryo. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like there's going to be a happy ending for either one...
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / Wide Angle
Jan 31, 2020

Netflix and Hulu unleash Japanese travel shows with improved mileage

Streaming services in Japan offer two very different approaches to travel shows, with 'Ainori Love Wagon: African Journey' and 'Kiko's Infinite Journey'

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.