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Philip Brasor
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Apr 3, 2011
Japanese antinuclear voices are still struggling to be heard
On March 26, NHK covered an antinuclear power demonstration in Germany that attracted thousands of protesters. The report pointed out that the demonstration was sparked by the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear reactor. The next day, there was a march by Japanese antinuke protesters in Tokyo. Though...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Apr 2, 2011
Small businesses ask for restraint with the self-restraint
People are being asked to restrain themselves for the sake of the victims of the earthquake/tsunami, but some are questioning if it's a good idea.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Mar 28, 2011
Tales of reconstruction: How do you assess damage of this magnitude?
Before Japan's devastated northeast areas can receive relief compensation, private property has to be assessed; a process that could take months.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Mar 27, 2011
Japanese officials dress the part but fail to address the issues
During the March 19 broadcast of TBS' "Newscaster," comedian Beat Takeshi complained about the work clothes (sagyogi) that Japan's politicians changed into after the earthquake-tsunami of March 11, saying that instead of trying to give the impression that they were working they should go up to the afflicted...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Mar 26, 2011
Tepco blackouts roll only so far
Everybody is being asked to conserve electricity but when it comes to rolling blackouts, Arakawa and Adachi Ward have been forced to bear the burden.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Mar 22, 2011
Yen surge not as strange as it sounds
What the yen surge really points to that the world has confidence in the Japanese economy based on its underlying strength.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Mar 20, 2011
Local broadcasters remain calm during the quake crisis
More than a week after the massive earthquake and tsunami of March 11, Japan's commercial broadcasters are still weighing the crisis as it develops. The weekend following the catastrophe, all planned programming was canned for round-the-clock coverage of the tragedy, and whatever you want to say about...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Mar 18, 2011
Power to the people: TEPCO at economic cross-purposes with blackout strategy
If the current energy crisis is not a more convincing argument for the development of the so-called smart-grid system, we don't know what is.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Mar 15, 2011
Are Japanese people hard-wired to hoard?
In the wake of the Tohoku-Kango earthquake, consumers can't help but help themselves to everything in sight.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Mar 13, 2011
Cheat tests the exam system
A funny thing happened on the way to jail for the 19-year-old boy who was arrested Mar. 3 for allegedly cheating on a Kyoto University entrance exam: The media suddenly became all reflective of its coverage and sympathetic of his situation. Some may see this turnaround as a defensive reaction to the...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Mar 11, 2011
Annals of cheap: Tsume-hodai
Food retailers looking to get more consumers through the door by inviting them to stuff it all they like.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Mar 8, 2011
Childless Japanese couples look for bargains in Asia
More couples are turning to surrogacy in Japan, but the legal gray zone and exploitation of overseas surrogates is giving birth to a host of issues.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Mar 6, 2011
Illegitimacy is in the eye of the beholder
Case 1: Kabuki stars are different.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Mar 4, 2011
Is the pension waiver for full-time housewives unfair?
Are full-time housewives entitled to full pensions? That's up to a Diet debate.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Mar 4, 2011
Ke$ha
When she emerged in 2009 fully developed as a club-kid pop diva, Kesha Rose Sebert was seen as a trashier version of whatever it is Lady Gaga is supposed to represent. But if you have to resort to comparison for the sake of description, it would be more accurate at this point in time to call Ke$ha the...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Feb 28, 2011
University entrance fee system profits from unstable job market
Students are being held hostage by the convoluted nyugakkin (entrance fee) system. Parents either pay up now, or the kid doesn't get in later.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Feb 27, 2011
Skipping the ads gets harder as shows become infomercials
In the late 1990s, I did piece work for a public relations company, translating achievement reports into English for its non-Japanese clients. The reports outlined how and where the company had secured mentions of its clients' products in various media, and included equivalent advertising value amounts...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Feb 25, 2011
Western Union charges into the money transfer breach
After a new law governing foreign currency exchange takes effect in Japan, Western Union is first through the door.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Feb 22, 2011
Consumers have last word on fate of rice farming
When it comes to the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement, what's bad for rice farmers could be good for consumers.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Feb 20, 2011
The sticky subject of Japan's rice protection
Twenty-five years ago, Japan was a very competitive manufacturing country, and much of its economic policy since then has been in response to trade friction with the United States, which demanded greater access to Japanese markets for American agricultural products in order to offset Japan's trade surplus....

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