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Amy Chavez

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Amy Chavez
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
May 28, 2011
Here comes the rainy season boot camp
It's May and Kyushu has already officially entered the rainy season. The rest of Japan is not far behind. What, no spring? Well, we all know what happened to spring this year. It headed to the Middle East: The Arab Spring. Let someone else have some of it.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
May 21, 2011
Sunny today with a chance of margaritas
When I first moved to the "Harenokuni Okayama (Sunny Okayama)" prefecture, I couldn't help but imagine how lazy the weather forecasters must be. I envisioned them laying in hammocks with margaritas in their hand while spewing out the weekly forecast — "Sunny every day!" — and assuring the public...
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
May 14, 2011
Life as an ambassador
"An American yacht has come into the port. They don't speak any Japanese. Come help."
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
May 7, 2011
Pillow for the fairy tale princess discovered
Breaking news: Pillow belonging to the princess of the tale "The Princess and the Pea" by Hans Christian Andersen has been found.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Apr 30, 2011
The case of the ¥300,000 blanket
My husband is taking me to court.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Apr 23, 2011
Rolling blackouts: The virtue of silence
The rolling blackouts in Tokyo meant interruptions in watching TV, running computers, stereos and electric heaters, not to mention recharging cell phones and electronics.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Apr 16, 2011
Earthquake relief: Little people doing big things
Prime Minister Naoto Kan took out nearly a full-page ad in the International Herald Tribune last week to thank the international community for their kizuna (bond of friendship), regarding Japan's earthquake and tsunami disaster on March 11. It was a stirring tribute to those who have come together to...
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Apr 9, 2011
You can have your steak and eat it too
It's almost time for the annual festival we have all been waiting for: the Hanaguri "cow nose ring" festival! Held on the third Sunday in April at the Hanaguri Zuka inside a temple in Okayama Prefecture, this is one of the more unusual religious ceremonies in Japan.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Apr 2, 2011
This earthquake still felt all over Japan
When my friends back home contacted me to see if I was OK after the March 11 disaster, I told everyone the same thing. "We're OK. We live 500 miles (800 km) from the disaster zone. We haven't been affected at all." We didn't even feel the earthquake, not even slightly. We have had no blackouts. We continue...
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Mar 26, 2011
Hey, look! No loot!
People around the world have marveled at the lack of mass-looting in Japan among the survivors of the recent earthquake and tsunami. Many people are still asking: Why was there no mass-looting?
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Mar 19, 2011
What it means to be 'prepared'
Japan has repeatedly been referred to as the "most prepared nation in the world" for an earthquake or tsunami disaster. The government has been praised for its readiness via earthquake/tsunami drills, for the prompt organization of the Self-Defense Forces, and for its preparedness to send in doctors...
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Mar 12, 2011
A possible cure for memory loss
Gumonji is a Shingon Buddhist practice that is easy to explain, difficult to imagine, and nearly impossible to carry out. You still want to try it? Well, OK.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Mar 5, 2011
Kyudo — hitting the target
Spring is on the way with flying arrows. Which proves that islanders living in Japan's Seto Inland Sea area don't just sit around doing nothing all day (well, not every day anyway). On March 6, Awashima Island (population 300) will host a Japanese archery festival called Momote, a tradition that goes...
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Feb 26, 2011
Here's Japan's big, white hope
I read a piece of news the other day that makes me feel that "Japan as No. 3" may finally be headed in the right direction.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Feb 19, 2011
The new pair seat surcharge
My neighbor Kazu-chan recently booked a trip to Bali with her friend on Garuda Indonesia. She said the travel agency she booked through charged her ¥3,000 to sit next to her friend. And her friend also had to pay ¥3,000 to sit next to Kazu-chan. This was called a pair seat.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Feb 12, 2011
How 'bout that sumo?
The March Grand Sumo Tournament has been canceled due to bout-rigging. The May tournament is now in doubt as well. Who knows, sumo may be the world's first canceled sport.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Feb 5, 2011
Lotus — showing the way to enlightenment
We all know that the lotus flower is a symbol of Buddhism, but is that all there is to it?
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Jan 29, 2011
O-soji in the year of the dust bunnies
Why is it that we always clean our houses before guests come to visit? If you're like me, it takes guests to prompt me to give things a shine. It just goes to show how low our standards for ourselves really are.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Jan 22, 2011
How you twist and shout in Japanese
If you like to twist and shout, you'll love the Japanese language. Even if you don't know any Japanese at all, here are some easy expressions that can launch you into premature scream mode with little effort, with just a tad bit of grunting on the side. Charge on, shall we? Shrills: Kawaii!
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Jan 15, 2011
Facing your unlucky years
If you're hoping that 2011 will be your best year yet in Japan, think again. I hate to be the one to drop the bomb here, but the Shinto odds are against you. As a matter of fact, 2011 may be your most perilous year yet. Here is why:
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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