Mystery in the mountains: Piecing together the fate of a downed American aircrew in rural Japan
A resident of Kawakami, Nara Prefecture, retraces what happened to the survivors of a B-29 ‘superfortress’ that went down over Kansai near the end of World War II.
Free weddings on offer in Japan for couples ambushed by virus-doomed venues
A bridal firm in Nara is offering free wedding facilities, outfits and planning to those whose venues were put out of business by the coronavirus.
‘Now is not the time’ for Go To Travel as virus spikes, say Japan local leaders
Despite the concerns, some leaders are welcoming the campaign as a needed economic boost.
Guesthouses in Nara renting rooms for local 'telework refugees'
The service, launched in mid-May, is a way to counter plunging tourist demand due to the pandemic.
IoT and AI help Japan's nursing care sector cope with labor crunch and virus
Sensors are monitoring the lifestyle habits of the elderly, while AI-initiated phone calls are checking on seniors daily.
Magazine faces 'Big Issue dilemma' as Japan's homeless ranks shrink
Teruo Irishima, a homeless man from Nara Prefecture, earns a living by selling The Big Issue Japan, a magazine published around the world to give people in situations like his a leg up in life. Irishima, 56, started selling the magazine around 10 years ago. ...
Kansai businesses suffer as COVID-19 alarm hurts tourism
The Japanese expression "kankodori ga naku" (literally, "the cuckoo sings") is frequently used to describe a business slump. "Kankodori" appears in a headline in Flash (Feb. 18) concerning Nara Park. Not only are visitor numbers to this destination way down, but the famous deer that ...
After devastating Shuri Castle fire, World Heritage temple in Nara holds drill
A fire drill was held Monday at the World Heritage-listed Yakushiji temple in the city of Nara. The practice was held following a blaze that destroyed several buildings at Shuri Castle in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, last year. Ahead of the country's Cultural Property Fire Prevention Day, ...
Japan expands swine fever vaccinations to seven more prefectures
The government said Friday it will expand vaccinations of pigs against hog cholera to cover Tokyo and seven prefectures adjacent to the 12 prefectures with confirmed cases of the deadly virus. The vaccinations may start later this month in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Niigata, Kyoto and Nara, ...
Japan Times 1944: Kamikaze Attack Corps lives up to its name
Determined to follow in the footsteps of the First Special Kamikaze Attack Corps, the men of the Second Special Kamikaze Attack Corps hopped off from their base at 10 a.m. on Oct. 27 and successfully fulfilled their glorious mission of crash-diving on the enemy ...
Can you ever really understand Japan? Pico Iyer offers help
Despite living in the country for over 30 years, Pico Iyer is a self-described "Japan beginner." His new book, "A Beginner's Guide to Japan," is full of often contradictory musings and vignettes that invite readers to expand or refute.
Is Nara's future tied to a proposed maglev shinkansen route?
Although Nara has become a favorite of international tourists in recent years, the city, which served as the nation's ancient capital from 710 to 784, has historically been a bit off the beaten path. Heijokyo, or Heijo Palace, as Nara was then known, was the ...
