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July 16, 2024
 

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Alex K.T. Martin

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Alex K.T. Martin
Alex K.T. Martin is a Tokyo-based journalist and senior writer at The Japan Times, primarily focusing on feature stories. Previously he was a Tokyo correspondent for The Wall Street Journal.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle / Longform
May 30, 2022
Is Japan happy? Exploring the nation’s evolving views of well-being
Why does a prosperous nation known for its efficient transportation networks, accessible education and universal health care rank so low when it comes to personal views of happiness?
Japan Times
JAPAN / History / Longform
May 15, 2022
Documenting Okinawa's changing identity over the past half century
A photographer captures the changes that have taken place in the archipelago since it was returned to Japan 50 years ago.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 11, 2022
Researchers trace the evolutionary origins of the Japanese wolf
A study suggests the now-extinct Japanese wolf originated through the hybridization of ancient, giant Pleistocene wolves and continental wolf lineages tens of thousands of years ago.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Longform
May 9, 2022
Out of the box: Japan's vending machines get a modern makeover amid pandemic
The health crisis has highlighted the merits of the unmanned dispensers, leading to a flurry of new — and sometimes bizarre — products being offered by the electronic boxes.
Japan Times
PODCAST / deep dive
Apr 27, 2022
Japan is losing people, but is it all bad?
Staff writer Alex Martin joins to discuss Japan's declining population, and why one town in Saitama thinks it's not all bad news.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / Longform
Apr 11, 2022
As the crow flies: A bird’s eye view of Japan’s urban ecology
Tokyo's once booming crow population has plummeted amid the COVID-19 pandemic. What does that mean for the world's largest city?
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society / Longform
Mar 28, 2022
For some shrinking towns in Japan, depopulation isn't all bad news
For the first time, more than half of all municipalities in Japan will be designated by the government as wholly or partially underpopulated from April 1.
Japan Times
PODCAST / deep dive
Mar 16, 2022
Where is Japan's Great Resignation?
This week, senior staff writer Alex Martin joins to discuss the changing face of work in Japan, and why so few people seem inclined to switch roles.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy / Longform
Mar 7, 2022
Is Japan on the brink of its own ‘Great Resignation’?
The pandemic has prompted millions across the globe to leave their jobs for more fulfilling, flexible roles. Should Japan's employers be worried?
Japan Times
LIFE
Mar 3, 2022
The game of life, reimagined for a superaging society
In Community Coping, players are tasked with preventing communities from collapsing by connecting troubled residents with the right experts.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society / Longform
Feb 14, 2022
How social norms have influenced Japan’s COVID-19 response
Without any legally enforceable lockdown measures, the watchful gaze of the public eye has kept the nation's citizens in check.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT
Feb 9, 2022
Raging river: Tracing the Arakawa, Japan’s most dangerous water source
While supplying Tokyoites with drinking water, the river has also been prone to deadly floods over the centuries — risks that are now being escalated by climate change.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / Longform
Jan 10, 2022
So close, yet so far: What will travel look like in 2022?
Japan's battered tourism operators are somewhat hopeful that travel will regain its footing this year while incorporating the lessons learned from the past two tumultuous years.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle / Longform
Dec 25, 2021
Child adoption slowly gains ground in Japan, though prospective parents still face obstacles
Child adoption slowly gains ground in Japan, though prospective parents still face a number of obstacles in trying to expand their families.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 19, 2021
Tokyo exodus: Is the capital losing its luster among businesses?
Firms are moving their headquarters out of the metropolis at a record-setting pace amid the proliferation of remote work and growing risks of natural disasters.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 3, 2021
Pair of quakes shake Japan and prompt fears of more seismic activity to come
A magnitude 4.9 earthquake jolted eastern Yamanashi at around 6:30 a.m., which was followed by a magnitude 5.4 temblor in Wakayama three hours later.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / Longform
Nov 29, 2021
On shaky ground: Is Tokyo prepared for the ‘Big One’?
A powerful earthquake that shook the capital in October has fueled fresh fears of an impending temblor that could devastate the world's largest city.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy / Longform
Nov 22, 2021
Deflation generation: Japan’s budget-minded consumers keep price hikes in check
Decades of stagnant wages and low prices have ingrained a “deflationary mindset” into shoppers who are hesitant to spend more, thwarting policymakers' efforts to fan inflation.
Japan Times
PODCAST / deep dive
Nov 10, 2021
Japan's loneliness epidemic
Surveys of the Japanese public show that 1 in 2 people in their 20s and 30s have felt lonely during the pandemic.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / Longform
Oct 29, 2021
Voter apathy looms over yet another election in Japan
Efforts are underway to buoy turnout amid widespread political disenchantment, especially among the young. Will more eligible voters exercise their rights during the Lower House election?
Bloodied Trump survives assassination attempt at political rally
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is surrounded and evacuated by Secret Service agents at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Trump was rushed off stage at the rally after shots rang out.
How to beat Japan’s summer heat in ways better for the planet
Tenugui towels hang up to dry at a dyeing company in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on May 8. The durable and versatile tenugui, which many people have in their homes, can be used in many ways to cool one’s body.
The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'
Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.
Amid same-sex marriage ban, LGBTQ couples opt for 'photo weddings'
A lesbian couple, consisting of a 35-year-old woman (left) and 40-year-old woman, cover their faces with bouquets as they pose for wedding photos in Yokohama on Nov. 1.
China and Russia conduct joint Pacific military patrol
The Russian corvette Gromkiy enters the Chinese port of Zhanjiang as part of a joint China-Russia naval exercise on Saturday.
How to beat Japan’s summer heat in ways better for the planet
Tenugui towels hang up to dry at a dyeing company in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on May 8. The durable and versatile tenugui, which many people have in their homes, can be used in many ways to cool one’s body.
After Trump shooting, U.S. presidential race might take a violent turn
United States Secret Service Counter Snipers stand guard on a rooftop during a campaign rally for U.S. President Donald Trump in Avoca, Pennsylvania, in 2020.
No AC this summer? No problem (for me).
Think air conditioning is a requirement for a Tokyo summer? Think again.
She’s paying ¥1 million to help behind the scenes at the Paris Olympics
Mai Tarumi, who previously volunteered at the postponed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, has a travel budget of ¥1 million for her trip to volunteer at the Paris Games.
How to tweak your diet when temperatures spike
Most people think of hydration as a strictly liquid-based concept, but eating foods with high water content is an essential part of making it through a Japanese summer unscathed.

Podcast

You can often see generations of families enjoying performances together at Fuji Rock Festival.
Japan’s summer music festivals are feeling the heat in more ways than one

Longform

Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.
The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'
By Tomoko Otake

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