author

 
 

Meta

Kimio Ida
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 12, 2002
Boatmen boast of Biwa's bounty
OMIHACHIMAN, Shiga Pref. -- Among the many tours available for enjoying the beauty of Lake Biwa is a ride aboard a small wooden boat rowed by a skilled sculler who also serves as a guide.
Japan Times
JAPAN / KANSAI BEAT
Jun 14, 2002
Shiga town offers city-slickers way to taste farm life, work firsthand
IMAZU, Shiga Pref. — Grabbing a firsthand taste of Japanese country life for a few days is proving to be a popular pursuit here, especially among children from the city.
Japan Times
Events
Apr 2, 2002
Self-serve food, drink outlet lets finicky buy by measure
OSAKA -- The Japanese diet has evolved in recent years to the point that almost any food from any country is available. But one shortcoming of this burst in variety has been waste, as curious consumers find themselves stuck with half-empty bottles of seasonings and drinks.
Japan Times
Events
Feb 5, 2002
Artificial jellyfish find niche market with aquarium hobbyists
NARA -- Jellyfish swimming up and down inside a water tank may be a comforting sight to see, but keeping them alive is another matter entirely. Help, however, is on the way, said Hideaki Okuda, a maker of artificial jellyfish.
Events
Jan 22, 2002
Exhibit of dwarf 'ume' gives preview of spring
NAGAHAMA, Shiga Pref. -- An annual exhibit of dwarf "ume" (plum) trees at Keiunkan Hall here is giving visitors a glimpse of early spring. Of 300 bonsai trees prepared for the event, about 100 will be shown till March 10.
Events
Jan 8, 2002
Contractors seek green image, recycling
OSAKA -- Amid rising environmental awareness across the business spectrum, the construction sector is often hit for lagging in this regard.
Events
Oct 16, 2001
Ecotourism campaign spotlights Shiga area
MAIHARA, Shiga Pref -- In an effort to draw more visitors to this area, the Shiga Prefectural Government is running a one-month ecotourism campaign.
Events
Sep 18, 2001
Shikoku has 1,400-km path to spirituality
OSAKA -- People often go to great lengths for spiritual enlightenment, and a 1,400-km pilgrimage to 88 key temples on the island of Shikoku is certainly no exception.
Events
Sep 4, 2001
City of Moriguchi turns back to historic roots
MORIGUCHI, Osaka Pref. -- Other than the odd rice paddy, the city of Moriguchi now has little evidence of its pre-1960s days as a farming area.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
May 20, 2001
Yoshimoto's talent for comedy
There was a time when parents in Osaka used to scold their kids by threatening, "I will send you to Yoshimoto!" if they were fooling around. Today, though, Yoshimoto Kogyo Co. has become Japan's largest entertainment agency, and most parents would be happy if their children worked for it. Its tarento...
Events
May 1, 2001
Uprooting shoots is rite of spring
YAWATA, Kyoto Pref. -- Although most varieties of vegetables are now available regardless of season, freshly picked bamboo shoots remain a true sign that spring has sprung.
COMMUNITY
Mar 29, 2001
The bubble rises skyward again, carrying a doughnut
This balloon's gondola is 6 meters in diameter and shaped so passengers can move around freely.
JAPAN
Feb 18, 2001
Unusual body shop fills in the blanks
OSAKA -- After dealing with the usual prewedding chores of choosing venues, flowers, dresses, menus and guests, the young bride-to-be was faced with one final task: find a finger to go with her ring.
JAPAN
Jan 7, 2001
Book of Allied surrender fliers proves hot draw for publisher
OSAKA -- The publisher of a book reproducing a series of "rakkasan" (parachute) news leaflets that were dropped on battlefields in Japan and Southeast Asia by the U.S. military toward the end of World War II is excited over the high demand for his book.
JAPAN
Nov 12, 2000
Osaka man's barber shop is his castle
HIGASHI-OSAKA, Osaka Pref. -- It's the usual shopping arcade stretching from a train station, a sight seen anywhere in Japan, except that a castle comes into view between arcade ceilings. Kosaka Castle.
JAPAN
Oct 29, 2000
Collectors go cuckoo for Choco Eggs
KADOMA, Osaka Pref. -- Chocolate eggs are an integral part of Easter celebrations in the West. Although they have yet to catch on in Japan, one particular egg-shaped variety has become a hit here.
JAPAN
Oct 15, 2000
BOJ tour aims to educate the public
KOBE -- Some words of advice for those who dream of laying their hands on 100 million yen -- don't spend money on lottery tickets, just join a tour organized by the Bank of Japan's Kobe branch.
JAPAN
Jun 11, 2000
Eco-friendly taxis ply Kyoto
KYOTO — Kyoto has long been a mecca for school excursions, especially in May and June, but only recently have environmentally friendly taxis been gaining popularity as a means of touring the city.
COMMUNITY
Apr 2, 2000
Museum strives to keep kanji alive
KYOTO -- With the spread of word processors and computers, more and more Japanese are forgetting kanji. In an effort to curb this trend and increase interest in the characters, the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation in Shimogyo Ward here will open a kanji museum Monday.
JAPAN
Sep 16, 1999
Stag beetle hunter casts doubt on reported 10 million yen deal
Staff writer

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?