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November 22, 2024
 

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Patrick St. Michel
Patrick St. Michel is a Tokyo-based writer with a focus on Japanese music. He runs the blog Make Believe Melodies, which has focused on Japanese independent music since 2009. Besides The Japan Times, he also contributes to MTV 81 and The Atlantic.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Aug 10, 2019
Heated debate boils over on social media as mercury soars in Japan
Talking to others about the weather has always been a quick and easy conversation topic. The same goes for social media users and online news outlets in Japan, which love to discuss meteorological issues. The arrival of intense summer heat in recent weeks has invigorated netizens, who have gone online...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Aug 3, 2019
When Lawson gives you three types of lemons, drink lemonade
As part of its 'lemon fair,' Lawson has started selling a lemonade made with three types of lemons — a relief during the summer heat.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 31, 2019
'Hikaru Utada Laughter in the Dark Tour 2018': An online offering that nails the live experience
Japanese pop star Hikaru Utada's 2018 "Laughter in the Dark Tour" marked her first jaunt around the country in 12 years. The seven-city tour became one of the year's most anticipated tickets, culminating in a Dec. 9 performance at Chiba's Makuhari Messe coinciding with the 20th anniversary of her debut....
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH
Jul 27, 2019
Haagen-Dazs Japan at 35: Still innovating with new specialty flavors
Grab Haagen-Dazs' new summer Yuzu Blanc Manger and limited-edition dark green tea ice cream flavors before they're gone.
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Jul 27, 2019
Popular YouTube group's attempt to engineer a viral campaign on social media backfires spectacularly
Social media is a minefield of negativity that often leaves users in a conundrum whenever they stumble across someone doing something online that clearly seems obnoxious. Should users call people out for such behavior? Are they acting in a righteous manner or are they simply giving them the attention...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jul 24, 2019
Tempalay pledges to put on a show at Fuji Rock
The recording of Tempalay's third full-length album, "With Love from the 21 Century," should have been a high point for lead vocalist and guitarist Ryoto Ohara. The group he fronts had climbed up the ranks of Japan's music community since forming in 2014, and even got a shout out from BTS, arguably the...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Jul 20, 2019
Gear up for summer with three new sweets from Seven-Eleven
Seven-Eleven is on a hot streak with its new watermelon ice bar, double cheesecake and tapioca milk tea jelly.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Jul 20, 2019
Candidates struggle to navigate difficult waters of social media ahead of election
A good summary of how the 2019 House of Councilors election has played out online comes via Kazuki Takahashi, the creator of the cartoon “Yu-Gi-Oh!” During his promotion of a new art book, he shared an illustration on his Instagram page that was meant to encourage young people to vote. However, it...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Jul 18, 2019
Japan jumps into the music stream
The biggest moment for streaming music in Japan this year came via a handwritten letter. In late June, Kenta Matsumoto of pop-punk trio Wanima shared a note on Twitter announcing that his band's entire catalog would be uploaded to streaming music platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jul 17, 2019
Kitri: Sisters are doin' it for themselves
Monami Kida can't remember the last time she had an argument with Hinano, her younger sister and partner in the classical-meets-pop project Kitri.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH
Jul 13, 2019
Mister Donut's Roll-nut: A perplexing doughnut and roll cake fusion
Mister Donut and patisserie Mon Cher combine their signature doughnut and roll cake to create a new frankensweet: the Roll-nut.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Jul 13, 2019
Convenience store operator struggles in wake of security fiasco
The operator of Seven-Eleven’s new smartphone payment service is under fire for appearing clueless at a news conference that was held after customers were allegedly defrauded through unauthorized access.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Jul 10, 2019
Johnny Kitagawa: The mogul who defined and controlled Japan's entertainment industry
Few in the history of Japan's entertainment industry have wielded more power than talent manager Johnny Kitagawa.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Jul 6, 2019
Upscale summer dessert: The best gelato spots in Tokyo
Japan's capital abounds with top-notch gelato spots to satisfy any sweet tooth. Just in time for summer, here's The Japan Times' guide on where to find the best scoops in the city.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Jul 6, 2019
Convenience store stars for July: Cream puffs, doughnuts and iced soda floats
Green tea, lemon and Makoto Shinkai's film 'Weathering With You'-themed fruit-flavored soda drinks all hit convenience stores shelves this month.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Jul 6, 2019
Feeling burned out by social media? You probably aren't alone
Some of the most popular users of social media platforms such as Twitter are expressing frustration with life online.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jul 3, 2019
Emi Meyer: Trading in the jazz standards for original songs
The first half of the 2010s offered singer-songwriter Emi Meyer few breaks. She released a full-length album every year until 2015, driven both by creative energy and a feeling that she needed to put herself out there.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH
Jun 29, 2019
Strawberry Fetish: Instagram-worthy riffs on a Japanese festival classic
Strawberry Fetish serves up a wide variety of sweets starring the titular fruit, including a couple of strawberry-centric drinks and strawberry ice cream.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Jun 29, 2019
Social media backlash against bubble tea fails to dent enthusiasm
While the internet can play a crucial role in pushing trends in Japan, it can be just as effective in turning people against the crazes it helps to hype.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jun 27, 2019
The Lethal Weapons: Locked and loaded on the streets of Tokyo
Nostalgia for the 1980s usually plays out more as an aesthetic than an authentic yearning to go back to the days of Rubik's Cubes and "Miami Vice." But that's not the case for Aiki Kiyohisa, 38.
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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