author

 
 
 Kazuaki Nagata

Meta

Twitter

@kzinagata

Kazuaki Nagata
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Aug 1, 2014
New store set to bring duty-free buyers to Ginza
An airport terminal, duty-free shops and a department store chain are teaming up to open an airport-style duty-free store in Tokyo's ritzy Ginza district.
JAPAN
Jul 31, 2014
Tokyo assembly nominated as 'Most Evil Corporation' over sexist heckling
The Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly is nominated as a candidate for 'Most Evil Corporation of the Year' as the sexist heckling scandal continues to sully the capital's reputation.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 25, 2014
Docomo takes hit in first quarter but slows loss of customers
NTT Docomo Inc. said Friday that sales and profits dropped in the first quarter compared with the previous year, on slumping voice call revenue and discounts for two-year contracts.
JAPAN
Jul 24, 2014
Fukushima No. 1 chief admits using used parts for water tanks
The manager of the Fukushima No. 1 plant admits some of the tanks storing its radioactive water were built with used parts.
JAPAN
Jul 22, 2014
Government's tourism efforts ineffective, report says
The government probably can't take credit for the increase in the number of foreign tourists. Many of its projects to attract visitors, such as inviting foreign travel agencies to Japan, participating in trade shows overseas and various advertising campaigns, are ineffective.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 17, 2014
Ymobile touts simplicity, low fees in smartphone war
New mobile phone entrant Ymobile Corp. unveiled monthly fixed-price service plans Thursday that include voice calling and Internet access to woo newcomers to smartphones with simpler and cheaper contracts.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 16, 2014
Sendai nuclear plant gets first restart OK
Japan is a step closer to resuming suspended nuclear power operations, after the Sendai plant in Kyushu becomes the first to meet strict new safety standards.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 16, 2014
Disaster plans outstanding issue in Sendai plant restart, critics say
Anti-nuclear groups warn that the Sendai plant's reactors are far from ready to go online, despite Kyushu Electric Power Co. clearing a major hurdle toward their restart.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 15, 2014
Robots can solve labor woes: Son
Employing all-purpose robots endowed with artificial intelligence as a workforce in the manufacturing industry is the solution to staving off any impending labor shortage in Japan, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son said Tuesday.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jul 14, 2014
Budget phones challenge the majors
Smartphones may be convenient, but there's one thing about them that bugs many people: their costly monthly data plans.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ADVANCES IN PROGRESS
Jul 13, 2014
Cyberdyne's HAL suits give lift to mobility-challenged
Robotics engineer Yoshiyuki Sankai, 56, has been driven by his passion for innovative technology for about half a century.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 11, 2014
Public asked to help build moving giant Gundam
The life-sized Gundam figurine in Tokyo's Odaiba district is an impressive sight as it towers a full 18 meters above its visitors and has grown into a popular tourist attraction since it was erected in 2009.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Jul 9, 2014
Tokyo firm to launch DNA testing service for cancer, other conditions
Mobile video game provider DeNA Co. said Wednesday it will launch a DNA testing service in mid-August in partnership with a unit at a leading research laboratory.
ASIA PACIFIC / Society
Jul 4, 2014
SNS apps blocked amid massive democracy rally in Hong Kong
Line and other popular messaging apps are apparently being blocked in China to censor a pro-democracy rally.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 30, 2014
Tour bus offers solution to foreign tourists' gripes
A free tour of Tokyo by double-decker bus that covers such landmarks as Roppongi Hills, the scramble crossing in Shibuya and the National Diet Building kicks off Wednesday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 28, 2014
Smartphones drive new headphone boom
You might think the world of high-end earphones and headphones is only for audiophiles, but the smartphone boom has drastically expanded the market, if the turnout at the Portable Audio Festival in Tokyo was any indication.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 27, 2014
Manga seek digital ground as print magazines languish
It wasn't too long ago that you couldn't ride a train or bus without seeing many of your fellow passengers engrossed in manga magazines.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 26, 2014
Tepco shrugs off activist investors
Tokyo Electric Power Co. shot down a bevy of anti-nuclear policy proposals lobbed up by irate shareholders at its annual meeting Thursday in Tokyo and vowed instead to restart its idled reactors.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Jun 24, 2014
Humanoid robot exhibit opens in Tokyo
The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) on Tuesday unveiled three humanoid robots that are to be put on display so visitors can interact with them.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 23, 2014
Abe hopes to roll out red carpet for foreign startups
Japan wants to lure more foreign entrepreneurs by easing visa requirements only in special zones, but experts doubt that will be enough incentive to make a difference.

Longform

Professional cleaner Hirofumi Sakurai takes a moment to appreciate some photographs in a Gotanda apartment whose occupant died alone.
The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan