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November 22, 2024
 

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Philip Brasor
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Nov 26, 2016
Where to burn aging Japan's growing numbers of dead?
A sideshow of Japan's demographic crisis is that there aren't enough facilities available to 'process' these bodies.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Nov 19, 2016
Is Japanese pop music losing its relevance?
Shukan Bunshun recently ran some articles describing how last year the talent management company LDH allegedly paid entertainment behemoth Burning Productions to ensure that one of LDH's acts would win the top prize at the 2015 Japan Record Awards (JRA). Accompanying one of the articles was a photo of...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Nov 12, 2016
Poverty coverage reinforces prejudice
In the middle of August, NHK ran a feature on its evening news show about a high school girl as part of its coverage of child poverty. The girl's name and face were revealed in the report, which described how her educational future was at risk because of her financial situation. In one scene, she was...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Nov 12, 2016
Japan's laundromat bubble shows no sign of bursting
Almost every Japanese household has a washing machine, so why are so many of them using laundromats that cost them extra money?
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / HOME TRUTHS
Nov 5, 2016
Earthquake standards are on shaky ground
No one died in the recent earthquake that struck Tottori Prefecture, but the temblor was strong enough to cause extensive damage. Several thousand people are still in evacuation centers, which means it is not safe for them to live in their homes. Most of these houses were probably built before the latest...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Nov 5, 2016
Japan's war against medical marijuana
Former actress Saya Takagi was arrested in Okinawa on Oct. 25 for possession of marijuana, three months after she unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the Upper House election on a platform to legalize pot for medical purposes. She insists the contraband was not hers.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Nov 3, 2016
Holocaust comedy snares grand prize at 29th Tokyo International Film Festival
Philippine trans people, Scandinavian reindeer herders and a romantic comedy about the Holocaust dominated the closing ceremony of the 29th Tokyo International Film Festival on Thursday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Oct 29, 2016
SDF activity in South Sudan is sidestepping security debate
Governments are adept at using indirection and euphemism, and right now Japan's is struggling with an issue whose terminology is exacerbating that struggle.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Oct 25, 2016
Stars come out for Tokyo film festival opening
The 29th Tokyo International Film Festival marked its opening Tuesday afternoon with a traditional red carpet ceremony that was heavy on Asian stars and filmmakers.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Oct 22, 2016
Taiji's dolphin hunters have a new voice
It's not often a documentary is made in response to another documentary, but this year two movies have addressed the 2009 Oscar-winning documentary "The Cove," which was about the capture and killing of wild dolphins in Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture. First-time filmmaker Keiko Yagi's "Behind the Cove" came...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Oct 22, 2016
Shocking blog post forces debate on the financial drain of dialysis in Japan
About 0.25 percent of the population requires dialysis, but this group is responsible for one-30th of the country's medical costs.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Oct 15, 2016
Is the end near for Earth's biggest fish market?
Naotaro Endo's documentary "Tsukiji Wonderland" opened in Tokyo — in Tsukiji, in fact — two weeks ago. Under normal circumstances, such an accomplished and beautiful film would be evaluated on its aesthetic and edifying merits, but the timing of the release makes such judgments problematic.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Oct 13, 2016
Despite controversy, the Busan International Film Festival is as strong as ever
The 21st edition of Asia's biggest movie event, the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), which took place from Oct. 6 to 15, almost didn't happen; or, at least, that's the story being told. Actually, considering how important the festival is for South Korea's movie industry, one of the most vital...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Oct 8, 2016
Nagoya: The most boring city in Japan
At a meeting of city leaders last Monday, the mayor of Nagoya, Takashi Kawamura, expressed annoyance with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. That same day, Abe had opened a new session of the Diet by touching on the issue of regional revitalization in his usual general policy speech; he said that the central...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Oct 8, 2016
New pension ceiling meant to help low-paid workers may hit housewives
A lowering of the eligibility cap for the ku014dsei nenkin pension plan leaves housewives working part-time with a choice: cut their hours to stay below the new ceiling or work more to offset the pension payments they will now have to make.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Oct 1, 2016
There's nothing weird about 'sexless' Japan
Japan has somehow earned a reputation as a "sexless" country — a place where men and women have lost their libidos. The reasons given are various but mainly have to do with increased introversion and general loss of sociability among young people.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle / HOME TRUTHS
Oct 1, 2016
Tokyo faces declining condominium prices
In Japan's housing market, there has always been one verity: Certain parts of Tokyo will always be popular and, therefore, profitable for developers. However, according to various media reports, that verity may have collapsed, at least when it comes to new condominiums.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Sep 24, 2016
The ascendancy of a Japanese maestro
In the past few months, the media has been pleasantly surprised at the sudden ascendancy of some noteworthy Japanese women, mainly in the realm of politics. Since pianist Hiroko Nakamura passed away in July, the media has been filled with obituaries that paid tribute to her own powerful position in Japan's...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Sep 24, 2016
Without concerted effort from Japan's industry players, online scalping looks unstoppable
Until all the various players in the industry work together for a solution, internet concert ticket resellers will continue doing a roaring trade.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Sep 17, 2016
Renho and the 'pure blood' mythos
Despite the best efforts of certain individuals on Twitter, lawmaker Renho became the head of the Democratic Party last Thursday. Of course, those loosely linked online individuals that are sometimes referred to as netto uyo (internet right-wingers) don't really care about the DP, but they were undoubtedly...
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Ishiba aggravates his own political failures with diplomatic faux pas
Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba is greeted at the APEC summit in Lima by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. The Japanese leader was criticized for remaining seated while meeting several world leaders at the event.
Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

Podcast

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