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November 21, 2024
 

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Daniel Morales
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
May 30, 2011
Procedural phrasing: often a pain, but always polite
Japanese is chock full of procedural phrases that sound incredibly awkward when translated too literally into English. While many of these may seem unnecessary, they are critical to speaking more natural, fluent Japanese. Even the most basic phrases in Japanese are sometimes far more "play-by-play" than...
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Apr 27, 2011
Stop worrying and embrace the passive tense
English grammarians like to abide by ironclad rules: Don't split infinitives! Don't splice sentences together with commas! Use the active voice!
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Oct 20, 2010
Battling language’s law of diminishing returns
Before I left Japan in May, I planned a pub crawl in Tokyo's Shibuya district with some friends. My friend Brian had to work until 7 p.m., so I first went for ramen with a couple of Japanese friends. One spoke English but the other didn't, so I figured I would speak only Japanese in order to make sure...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Japan Pulse
Aug 25, 2010
Big (only) in Japan? Oshibori
Oshibori: a Japanese tradition of hospitality that never grows old ... but go easy on the body-wiping.
LIFE / Language
Aug 25, 2010
'Ii' is a perfectly good way to say, 'No, thank you'
When I was in elementary school, a certain comma was the bane of my existence. No, not the serial comma. I learned (and later unlearned) that one relatively easily. It wasn't the comma before "too," either. Nor was it the one between multiple adjectives modifying a single noun. No, it was the comma in...
CULTURE / Books
Aug 15, 2010
Unresolved mystery from the mind of Murakami
In May 2009, Haruki Murakami released "1Q84" to tremendous sales and mostly positive domestic reviews. The novel, released initially in two parts, follows two, 29-year-old Tokyoites as they are pulled into an alternative version of the year 1984.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Aug 13, 2010
Tachiyomi: Do it on your device
Tachiyomi gets a twist, as publishers and marketing companies embrace Twitter and new platforms to, um, help drive more print sales.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Japan Pulse
Aug 6, 2010
Big (only) in Japan? Rooftop beer gardens
Imported from Europe in 1953, beer gardens are a summer tradition in Japan. Recently, they've had to cater to a new demographic to stay afloat.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / Japan Pulse
Jul 29, 2010
Pulse Rate: ikyu.com
Japan isn't exactly the land of discounts, but the Web is at least helping consumers pinpoint the price drops in certain sectors.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Japan Pulse
Jul 22, 2010
iPhones become ice-breakers at gokon dating parties
iPhones are helping to lubricate the interaction at Japanese gokon dating parties.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Jul 21, 2010
Passion for 'garage kit' models mounts at Wonder Festival
Attention to detail reaches new heights at the annual Wonder Festival showcase of amateur-made figurines.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Jul 9, 2010
KFC goes for finger-lickin' health-conscious goodness
Fast-food chains in Japan are trying to reinvent themselves with facelifts and health-conscious menus.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Jun 28, 2010
Who will feed the Haruki Murakami fans online?
Author Haruki Murakami has 60,000 followers on one Twitter account. But where is the real Web presence of Murakami?
Japan Times
CULTURE / Japan Pulse
Jun 21, 2010
Big (Only) in Japan? 'Greensleeves'
Thank you for calling. All of our operators are busy. Please listen to 'Greensleeves' for an eternity.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jun 16, 2010
The value of seemingly empty Japanese phrases
Japanese is often considered an indirect and ambiguous language, and that's because it is. The national character, too, often appears passive and indirect to non-Japanese. As a result, it can be tempting for newcomers to take a lead from Frank Sinatra and do things "My Way," and generally this works...
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle / Japan Pulse
Jun 12, 2010
Pulse Rate: 'Free rent' pricing aims to fill up empty apartments
To fill the dead spot in the annual real estate calendar, realtors have taken to renting apartments at low, low rates.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / Japan Pulse
Jun 2, 2010
Mixi helps users socialize with new apps
Following in the footsteps of Facebook, Mixi brings fun and functional apps to its user community. Anybody need a pantsu calendar?
CULTURE / Japan Pulse
May 20, 2010
Daburu Koron hit big time with pun-riddled riddles
Comedians live and die by popularity of their gags. With pun-riddled riddles, Daburu Koron have found a sweet spot.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / Japan Pulse
May 14, 2010
No Konbini No Life: instant maze-soba
Maze-soba is the latest ramen trend to make it to konbeni shelves. If you're desperate, it might hit the spot but there's nothing like the real thing.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Japan Pulse
May 10, 2010
Apartment shares in Japan draw a share of the herd
Rents aren't getting any lower, but if you're willing to share, you might end up with a pretty cool place to live.
Ishiba delays meeting with Trump, citing legal restrictions
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba waves upon arrival for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, in Callao, Peru, on Friday.
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.
Rising sex tourism exposes loopholes in Japan's anti-prostitution law
While financial misfortunes during the COVID-19 pandemic may have driven some women to work the streets, others simply want more money to spend — or want to pay off their debts — at host clubs.
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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