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Japan Times
GLOBAL INSIGHT / Mauritius report 2019
Aug 29, 2019

Cultural charms create memories to last a lifetime

As a dream vacation destination popular for decades, Mauritius was once as famous for its high-profile guests as its incredible scenery and hospitality. That has changed in recent years, and rising tourist figures will thrill investors chasing big returns on tourism projects
COMMENTARY / Japan
Aug 18, 2019

A better way to teach kids foreign languages

To get results, language learning should be fun, eye-opening and meaningful.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Aug 14, 2019

Trade spat sees K-pop caught in the middle

The Japanese debut performance of Korean pop group Stray Kids planned for next month should be an unquestionably good thing. The fledgling male outfit has been gaining steam since emerging in 2017, with its nine members having already played shows in Southeast Asia, Australia, the United States and Europe....
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Society
Aug 11, 2019

Via language, song and nature, young Taiwanese reconnecting with indigenous roots

The Truku elders of Taiwan still dream about their mountain home four decades after bulldozers tore it down — a classic symptom of trauma as community members struggle to accept their loss.
Japan Times
CULTURE
Jul 20, 2019

Mane attraction: Coastal parts of Fukushima Prefecture have a long-standing love of horses

Hundreds of armor-clad participants on horseback parade through the streets of Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, during the Soma Nomaoi festival on a typically blistering hot day at the end of July every year.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / TELLING LIVES
Jul 14, 2019

An American ninja in Nagoya

A gig as a ninja isn't what most dancers have in mind when they go out for an audition, but John Patrick Jandernoa is finding a perfect fit for his particular skill set.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / The Big Questions
May 19, 2019

Ardent drive to promote Poland-Japan exchanges

As a scholar of Japanese law, Polish Ambassador Jacek Izydorczyk brings a distinct cultural understanding to the diplomatic world, where he works day in and day out to deepen ties between Poland and Japan.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
May 7, 2019

Miwa Komatsu: An artist's vision of Shinto and its divine beings

'When I was in elementary school, I was taking a nap under a tree in my garden. Then I had a dream, that would later come true, of having an exhibition as a painter and being an artist. That felt very real, and I realized this was foreshadowing my future. I felt that if I continued on the same path,...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Apr 6, 2019

Getting to the bottom of Chicano subculture coverage on Japan

Over the past month and a half, a number of Western media outlets have revisited a topic that has long been a hit for online publications.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Mar 23, 2019

Hiroki Ogasawara: Looking for a truly multicultural Japan

From the Olympics to English education, sociology professor Ogasawara has plenty to say about the state of Japan today.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / The Big Questions
Mar 10, 2019

Passion nurtures growth and innovative floristry

Dawn breaks over Tokyo. The streets surrounding Ota Shijo market are still dark and the air is quiet, but inside the Tokyo Bay market's expansive hangars, a different story emerges.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / G20 host cities special
Mar 5, 2019

Premium produce, delicious dishes

Niigata, which will host the Agriculture Ministers' Meeting on May 11 and 12, is known for many things, but premier Koshihikari rice is likely the prefecture's most notable product.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos
Jan 30, 2019

Thinking of working in Japan? It's good to know what you're in for

So you're thinking of working for a Japanese firm. You might be wondering whether what you've heard about working in Japan is true. Or, if you're already working here, you may wonder if what you're experiencing is typical.
Japan Times
Austria report 2019
Jan 28, 2019

An excellent bilateral relationship celebrates 150 years

In 1869 Austria and Japan concluded the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation. One hundred and fifty years later, diplomatic relations between the two continue to flourish.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / FOCUS
Dec 10, 2018

Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei survived a famine. Can he weather Trump?

At the sprawling Huawei Technologies Co. campus in Shenzhen, the food court's walls are emblazoned with quotes from the company's billionaire founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei. Then there's the research lab that resembles the White House in Washington. Perhaps the most curious thing, though, are three black...
Japan Times
Spain report 2018
Nov 12, 2018

150 years on, Spain and Japan strengthen their commitment to one another

To mark the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Spain, Synergy Media Specialists (SMS) interviewed Masashi Mizukami, the Japanese Ambassador to Spain.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
Nov 1, 2018

A blond Swedish landscape artist flexes for NHK — remember his name ... Tatsumasa Murasame

Who's that hunk of blond beefcake crunching his abs on NHK's workout program "Minna de Kinniku Taiso"?
COMMUNITY / Voices / FOREIGN AGENDA
Oct 7, 2018

Gaijin Day: How an event in Hamamatsu about unity proved to be divisive

Referring to Nikkei Brazilians and Peruvians as 'gaijin' was at the very least inaccurate and, at most, deeply offensive.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Sep 18, 2018

Japan and China: Forging ties in the electronic underground

WWWβ — a subterranean space under Shibuya's WWW and WWWX venues dedicated to "club alternative" — is a frequent stop for DJs and producers at the cutting edge of electronic music. But when a large crowd packed itself into the venue on April 20 for an evening of dark, experimental and at times abrasive...
CULTURE / Stage
Aug 8, 2018

Manga and kabuki collide in an action-packed 'Naruto'

Here's a sight you may not expect at a kabuki performance: A blue-haired boy bolts toward a massive snake that writhes menacingly on stage. He brings his sword down on the beast, slicing it into sections that fall apart dramatically. I thought a kabuki performance would've been a bit less extravagant,...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / The Big Questions
May 21, 2018

Greece's outbound ambassador passes torch

Loukas Karatsolis, the outgoing Greek ambassador, met with The Japan Times at the embassy in April to share upcoming developments. He predicted a busy time ahead, with Japan and Greece celebrating 120 years of diplomatic ties in 2019.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHY DID YOU LEAVE JAPAN?
Apr 21, 2018

Naoyuki Kawahara: Helping Sudan heal with medicine and more

Naoyuki Kawahara quit his job as a medical attache for the Embassy of Japan in Sudan to set up a non-profit organization, Rociantes, and provide much-needed medical care in Sudan.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHY DID YOU LEAVE JAPAN?
Mar 17, 2018

Miki Bartley: A guiding spirit for Japanese tourists

After 27 years in the United Kingdom, Blue Badge tourist guide Miki Bartley still loves to show visitors around.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / TELLING LIVES
Feb 28, 2018

Florian Busch, the architect who floated the Tokyo 2020 Olympic stadium

Japan-based German architect warns that Tokyo risks squandering a historic chance to offer an ambitious, sustainable vision in 2020.
COMMUNITY / Voices / COMMUNITY CHEST
Dec 18, 2017

In case you missed them: a year of responses to Community stories, part 3

The last in a series of selections of unpublished letters about Community stories from the previous year.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
Sep 24, 2017

Japanese fashion goes pop

Cast your mind back to the giddy days of 2010, when the group of subcultural artists Chaos Lounge issued its first proclamation. While its stated goal was earnest and postmodern, the output was seen as a shock to the art world as it brought the dregs of Japanese pop culture to "white cube" galleries....
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 17, 2017

Students taking part in annual SKIP exchange program say more Japanese need overseas work experience

To better expose Japan to global perspectives and work culture, a group of students from Keio and Stanford universities participating in an two-week exchange program said more Japanese students need to gain work experience abroad.

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