Issues | THE FOREIGN ELEMENT Jan 11, 2021
Dealing with a dire diagnosis in a new country
by Iain Maloney
When Niall Breathnach came down with a rare ailment he was sure to get several opinions before seeking a path for treatment.
How-tos | LIFELINES Nov 29, 2020
My bank wants my residence card details to fight terrorism. Do I have to comply?
by Louise George Kittaka
Banks are sending some non-Japanese customers requests to come into their branch and confirm their identities, which they say is part of a broader strategy to combat crime.
Voices | FOREIGN AGENDA Nov 16, 2020
'The bond between a blind person and her guide dog is hard to compare to any other relationship'
by Uyanga Erdenebold
In the pursuit of a truly inclusive society, Uyanga Erdenebold makes the case for attitudinal accessibility in addition to the physical kind.
Lifestyle Jun 21, 2020
The time is ripe to plant a microgarden: Here’s how to get started
by Chiara Terzuolo
Here’s how to use any container you have on hand to start your own microgarden, even in Japan's cramped urban centers.
Lifestyle Jun 14, 2020
Here’s what you need to know before getting a pet in Japan
by Louise George Kittaka
If time spent at home during COVID-19 made you want to get your own furry friend, here are some points to consider before committing to a new pet.
Voices | FOREIGN AGENDA Feb 27, 2020
One day he was teaching English in Japan, and the next day, he was blind
by William Lang
"If you start to feel disoriented, you're getting it," is how one writer describes the process of losing his sight at the age of 29. And after the disorientation comes the process of rebuilding a life in a foreign country.
Our Lives | TELLING LIVES Feb 20, 2020
'Kurly in Kansai' host Ayana Wyse: 'I'm involved in the community, not the society'
by Rebecca Saunders
As one half of the duo hosting the podcast "Kurly in Kansai," Ayana Wyse is doing her part in building a community for the international community in Japan.
Our Lives | JAPAN LITE Sep 25, 2019
Lifestyles on the Seto Inland Sea change with advancements in the fishing industry
by Amy Chavez
When I first came to Japan, I was stunned by the beauty of the Seto Inland Sea. Its thousands of peaked islands look as if they'd dropped straight from the sky and settled like gum drops on the water. Stretching 450 kilometers from Osaka ...
Voices | FOREIGN AGENDA Aug 25, 2019
The subtleties that bedeviled St. Francis
by William Lang
There's a certain script that you need to follow when interacting in Japanese. It's a shame nobody told St. Francis Xavier.
Voices | FOREIGN AGENDA Aug 21, 2019
The odd blunder is OK at your local dad-to-be class
by Patrick St. Michel
Future fathers in Japan get lessons in caring for a baby at their local ward or city office. Yes, pregnancy suits are involved.
How-tos Aug 18, 2019
Plan your response before taking on passive prejudice at the office
by Rochelle Kopp
What should you do when one of your Japanese colleagues makes a problematic comment? Sometimes it's best to keep things light.
Our Lives | JAPAN LITE Jul 21, 2019
Humanity is sure to come through for those on a modern pilgrimage
by Amy Chavez
As I made my way up the steep road to Kakurin Temple — aka Temple No. 20, I realized how foolish I had been to have bought a bicycle. Rising at dawn, I had ticked off temples 18 and 19 of the 88-temple Shikoku ...