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November 22, 2024
 

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Philip Brasor
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
May 13, 2016
'Angel or Devil,' 'Cambrian Palace," Y!mobile
Recently, an artificial intelligence program developed by Google defeated several champions of the Asian board game go. The program's achievement made headlines all over the world since go is considered a very complex game. The programmers, in fact, thought it would take much longer for their creation...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
May 7, 2016
Japan's resident Koreans endure a climate of hate
Later this month, the Diet's Upper House will pass a bill submitted by the ruling coalition addressing the problem of hate speech, specifically directed at non-Japanese. As sociologist Takehiro Akedo explains in his article for the Web magazine Synodos, the Liberal Democratic Party isn't enthusiastic...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
May 7, 2016
Tokyo's governor is in a high-spending league of his own
The more the media digs, the more it is uncovering about Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe's profligate ways.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
May 6, 2016
'Chibi Maruko-chan,' S.T. Corp
Vacation is almost over, so it's back to the usual animated TV show grind. This week's episode of "Chibi Maruko-chan" — the 1051st! (Fuji TV, Sun., 6 p.m.) — finds the eternal elementary school student coming home from class on Saturday to an almost empty house, which is unusual.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Apr 30, 2016
Idols put Band-Aids on fragile male egos
Two cities in Tottori Prefecture have set up a facility called the Tottori Deai Support Center, which is a kind of matchmaking service for young residents. In December it published a pamphlet to help people looking for mates better understand what the opposite sex wanted.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / HOME TRUTHS
Apr 30, 2016
Yukarigaoka proves 'new towns' can age well
Tama, in western Tokyo, is currently trying to find a way to rehabilitate Parthenon Tama, the city's public cultural complex. During headier times, Parthenon hosted world-famous classical musicians and theater companies, and in addition to a large auditorium and a small auditorium, it contains a museum,...
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Apr 28, 2016
Sekai Shogeki Story; Chimpanzee Ai ga Oshiete Kureta; Aoki
Unidentified flying objects are a topic of great concern to people who have too much time on their hands. A retired sheriff from Colorado who has spent the past 25 years looking into UFOs is the subject of a report on the variety show "Sekai Shogeki Story" ("The World's Shocking Stories"; TV Tokyo, Wed.,...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Apr 23, 2016
On the money: Hitting TV where it hurts
Earlier this month, the Association of Television Viewers Who Demand Compliance With the Broadcast Law announced that it may launch a "national campaign" targeting TBS, which it accuses of biased news reporting. Should the broadcaster fail to address the accusation, the association will ask sponsors...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Apr 23, 2016
The changing values behind school uniforms
Japan and China depend on each other economically, but not necessarily in an equal way. Sometimes slight changes in commercial prospects in China can have a profound effect on Japan, or, at least, more of an effect that people realize.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Apr 22, 2016
NNN Document 16; Fukigen-na Kajitsu; WOWOW
Tokai Television has become an expert on the subject of adoption in Japan, and this Sunday it will air the latest installment in its series "NNN Document 16" (Nippon TV, 12:55 a.m.)
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Apr 16, 2016
Accommodating disabilities, but only within reason
Due to his recent sex scandal, best-selling author Hirotada Ototake has decided not to run for the Upper House under the banner of the Liberal Democratic Party this year, but he hasn't officially said he won't run at all. Earlier this month, while the scandal was still hot, he went ahead with a birthday...
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Apr 15, 2016
Boku no Yabai Tsuma; Busujima Yuriko no Sekirara Nikki; DMM Mobile
Murder and infidelity are addressed with stylish flair in the new series, "Boku no Yabai Tsuma" ("My Dangerous Wife"; Fuji TV, Tues., 10 p.m.)
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Apr 9, 2016
TV takes the lazy approach on 'hikikomori'
On March 21, TV Asahi's long-running variety show "TV Tackle" ran a special feature on hikikomori — people who have withdrawn from society. Hikikomori first came to the attention of the general public in 1999 when a Niigata man was arrested for keeping a teenage girl prisoner for nine years in his...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Apr 9, 2016
Japan's ever-increasing 'temporary' road tolls are here to stay
The nation's expressway system remains by far the most expensive in the world, for a number of reasons.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Apr 8, 2016
'Sotai 2'; 'The New Conspiracy'; CM of the week: Garigari-kun
Fifty-four-year-old Kenichi Endo has been a reliable character actor for years, but lately he's graduated to leading man status. On Wednesday, he stars as police detective Susumu Nihonmatsu in "Sotai 2" ("Organized Crime Countermeasure Division 2"; TV Tokyo, 9 p.m.).
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Apr 2, 2016
Job-hunting students may be in for a shock when they arrive at their new company
It's spring, and the attention of journalists in Japan turns to new university graduates who will soon become productive members of society. In recent years, the recruitment dance has merited closer scrutiny. Even as the labor situation has become a seller's market, issues persist with regard to employee...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / HOME TRUTHS
Apr 2, 2016
Low interest rates cause spike in refinancing
It has been more than a month since the Bank of Japan introduced negative interest rates in its bid to revitalize the economy. For consumers, the rate change is a mixed blessing. Obviously, interest on deposits will not go up any time soon, but anyone thinking of buying a house or condominium can get...
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Apr 1, 2016
'The World's Human Body Mysteries'; 'The Flickering Drawing'; CM of the week: Recruit
Most people understand the limits of their bodies and live their lives accordingly, but some don't recognize those limits and they are the subjects of the two-hour special "Sekai Chojintai Mystery" ("The World's Human Body Mysteries"; TBS, Tues., 8:57 p.m.).
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Mar 26, 2016
Pundit didn't need an actual Harvard degree to get top marks in gaming the system
On Feb. 29 a group of veteran journalists held a press conference to protest communications minister Sanae Takaichi's comment that the government could shut down broadcasters if their news programming was deemed to be politically biased. Former Mainichi Shimbun reporter Shuntaro Torigoe said that Takaichi's...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Mar 26, 2016
In Japan, all other fruits bow to the top banana
Everything you wanted to know about Japan's lingering love affair with bananas but were afraid to ask.
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

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

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

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