Style & Design | ON: DESIGN May 26, 2019
New brands to delight design fans
by Mio Yamada
From cat beds to toy DJ decks and sleek furniture, plenty of stylish goods are emerging from Japan's new brand lines.
National Jan 8, 2019
'Cat lord' of castle in western Japan boosts tourism after rain disaster
An adorable feline has been installed as the "lord" of an ancient castle in western Japan, drawing tourists and helping the area's recovery from a deadly rain disaster last year. Named Sanjuro, the cat assumed its title on Dec. 16 at Bitchu Matsuyama Castle in ...
Digital | ON: TECH Nov 18, 2018
by Chiho Komoriya
In the past, crowdfunding sites were primarily platforms for startups and individuals short of development funds. Now larger companies are seeing the benefits of allowing consumers to participate in the research and development of new products. Here are a couple of crowdfunded ideas that ...
Lifestyle Mar 18, 2018
A fuzzy tale of Japan's famous cats in hats
by May Masangkay
When Ryo Yamazaki picked up a chunk of one of his cat's shed fur and fashioned it on top of his Scottish fold's head in a Trump-esque quiff, he did it for a laugh. Little did he know that the photo he took and posted ...
National Feb 22, 2018
Japan's big brands go cat crazy for Neko No Hi
by Chisato Tanaka
On Feb. 22, which is Neko No Hi (Cat Day) in Japan, some major Japanese companies have entered into the spirit of the celebration and surprised the public by changing their corporate names to capture the heart of cat-loving potential customers (presumably just for ...
National Sep 25, 2017
Tokyu unveils new tram with beckoning cat livery to mark 110th anniversary of Tamagawa Line
by Daisuke Kikuchi
Tokyu Corp. on Monday unveiled a new tram painted with manekineko (beckoning cat) livery to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Tamagawa Line and promote use of the Setagaya Line to tourists. Upon its completion in March 1907, the Tamagawa Line connected Dogenzakaue and Sangenjaya ...
National / Social Issues Nov 23, 2016
Campaign targets Japan's stray cat problem
by Daisuke Kikuchi
Dogs are a man's best friend, and for many, cats are, too. But the harsh reality is that in 2015, 82,902 dogs and cats were put to sleep nationwide, with cats making up 67,091, or roughly 80 percent, of the total due to their high ...
World / Science & Health Sep 15, 2016
Sell last gasoline car by 2035 to meet climate goals, study says
The last gasoline-powered car will have to be sold by about 2035 to put the world on track to limit global warming to the most stringent goal set by world leaders last year, a study said on Thursday. The report, by a Climate Action Tracker ...
World Aug 14, 2015
Oregon cat Corduroy bags Guinness age record at 26 years, 13 days
An Oregon cat with a fondness for sharp cheddar and catching mice has become the oldest pet feline in the world at 26 years and 13 days, Guinness World Records officials said on Thursday. Corduroy lives in the rural community of Sisters, Oregon, about 100 ...
National Aug 11, 2015
Wakayama Electric Railway Co., which recently mourned the death of its popular feline "stationmaster," has appointed another cat as her successor, hoping the tradition will continue to attract passengers. The railway, which credited Tama with rescuing it from financial difficulties, issued a letter of appointment ...
National Jun 28, 2015
Stationmaster cat Tama mourned, turned into goddess in Wakayama
Tama the stationmaster, the feline star of a struggling Japanese railway, has been mourned by railway officials and fans and elevated to a goddess at a funeral. The calico cat was appointed stationmaster of Kishi Station in Wakayama Prefecture in 2007. In her custom-made cap ...
National Jun 25, 2015
Tama, a cat "stationmaster" of a railway station in Wakayama Prefecture whose immense popularity helped boost the railway's revenues and the local sightseeing industry, died Monday at a local animal hospital aged 16 years and two months, the equivalent of about 80 years in ...