Amy Chavez - The Japan Times

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Aug 30, 2013

Investing in global group home — while telling kids to 'smile'

As part of the Liberal Democratic Party's "national resilience plan" to protect against natural and made-made disasters, I noticed one obvious natural disaster missing from the list: aging.

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Aug 23, 2013

'Senior moments' for foreigners — they could start in your 20s

"How do you know if you have Alzheimer's?" said the front of the pamphlet. The answer inside was: "If you can't remember what you ate for lunch, you don't have Alzheimer's. If you can't remember whether you ate lunch or not, that's Alzheimer's."

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Aug 16, 2013

What being a minority allows us to see

Yeah, yeah, I've heard it all before — many times. Someone called your child hafu (half) and you take offence. Or your contract is only one-year renewable, whereas your Japanese coworkers have "lifetime employment." Or maybe someone called you a gaijin as you walked by. I've heard these stories dozens...

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Aug 9, 2013

Sounds that stem from quietude — when a tree falls down

Perhaps the best thing about living on a small island in Japan of just 583 people (258 men and 325 women) is that you can walk out your door and kiss the online world goodbye. Here, most people don't walk around glued to their cellphones, the majority don't even have smartphones, and very few take pictures...

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Aug 2, 2013

The yellow flag outside the door — life or death

One thing is as sure as death: You will receive mail long after you die. My mother, who passed away three years ago, still gets direct mail ads and catalogs in the mail even though I'm pretty sure she's not going to buy anything.

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Jul 26, 2013

Tall tales among the bamboo — where do babies come from?

"Please fill out this information sheet," said the nurse. It had been several years since I had been to this hospital for a check-up. I noticed, with glee, they had done away with the plastic slippers at the genkan, where the masses had to leave their shoes in a locker and step into slippers before proceeding...

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Jul 19, 2013

The influence of sports on meditation

"Running meditation." It's almost a cliché. Many people describe their running activity as a form of meditation. There are even articles that will teach you "how to meditate while running."

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Jul 12, 2013

The difference between rules and manners on the beach

Here on the beach at Shiraishi Island in the Seto Inland Sea, there are few rules. You may swim year-round, even before umibiraki (the opening of the sea ceremony). You may have a bonfire on the beach at night, no problem. You may camp on the beach for free. And by all means, set off fireworks and have...

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Jul 5, 2013

Japan's national obsession with the color pink

If the cherry blossom is Japan's unofficial national flower, then it should be no surprise that pink is Japan's de facto favorite color. Yet I still have a hard time with this national obsession with the color pink.

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Jun 29, 2013

Exploring Japan's ancient past through pilgrimage

I've been running pilgrimages in Japan since 1997. So far, I've run the Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage, the Mount Hiei Kaihogyo route in Kyoto (of the Tendai-shu monks), and tens of other smaller pilgrimages in Japan. If you are a runner in Japan, you should be running pilgrimages. If you're a hiker, you...

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Jun 22, 2013

To be or not to be? — they simply can't decide

Japan is often criticized for the time it takes to make decisions. The government drags on making decisions from natural disasters to nuclear power and whether to allow gambling casinos.

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Jun 15, 2013

A feline confessional — for those who can't resist abusive pets

You often hear about animals being rescued from abusive owners, but I wonder, is there any help for pet owners who have been abused by their pets?

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Jun 8, 2013

Encouraging, not comparing, accomplishments

Aging Japan. We hear this phrase all the time. The question is, what are they talking about — the infrastructure? The people? Four Roses whisky?

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Jun 1, 2013

Everyone's own path to enlightenment

What is Buddhism?

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

May 25, 2013

English education and English sheepdogs

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe aims to globalize Japan's workforce and says that Japan must become more competitive in the English language. This has touched off a debate among native English teachers, Japanese who teach English, Japanese speakers who don't speak English, and English sheepdogs owned by both...

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

May 18, 2013

Taking care of an aging smartphone — until the end

I thought I had bought a smartphone, but I ended up with a dumb phone instead. It's probably my fault for not asking for documentation showing it had passed an IQ test.

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

May 11, 2013

There are plenty more fish jokes in the sea

The Go Fish! Foundation is an international organization for the protection of fish, their parents, family and friends. Go Fish! rescues, rehabilitates and gives sanctuary to fish in need.

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

May 4, 2013

Off on a spring tangent on the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage

This week 14 years ago, I finished a five-week, 1,350 km journey running the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage. One of the axioms of the pilgrimage is: "You will, and must, get lost." I envision the great master Kobo Daishi, the patron saint of the pilgrimage, with a huge map of the pilgrimage in front of...

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Apr 27, 2013

Welcome to the Japan Jalapeno Hotline

It's April, which means new recruits in companies across Japan. And as the new school year starts, new foreign English teachers all over Japan are settling into their positions in Japanese public schools, getting shocked out of their socks. The newbie English teacher social media chatter has begun! Statements...

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Apr 20, 2013

Doraemon trumps Hello Kitty for Olympic Games ambassador

Japan's most lovable anime character, el gato cosmico (the cosmic cat) has been chosen to be Japan's ambassador in Tokyo's bid for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic games. It's the first time Japan has chosen an anime character for an Olympic ambassadorship. Congratulations Doraemon!

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