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November 22, 2024
 

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Amy Chavez

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Amy Chavez
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Apr 13, 2013
The ration-ality of toilets — trying to change the 'plumbing code'
Nomura Holding America Inc., the U.S subsidiary of Tokyo-based Nomura Holdings, Inc. is in the news lately for being the first business to attempt to alter New York City's "plumbing code" that requires buildings to have an equal number of toilets for both men and women. Oh yay.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Apr 6, 2013
Who turns a company into a 'wonderful place to be'?
Kazuhiro Tsuga, president of Panasonic Corp., addressed his new recruits on Monday telling them that he hopes they will turn the company into "a wonderful place to be." President Akio Toyoda encouraged his recruits at Toyota Motor Corp. to exhibit "the strength seen in cherry blossoms that can persevere...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Mar 30, 2013
The sakura season is here, but which one?
The sakura season is here! The question is, does this refer to the horsemeat season or the cherry blossom season? It's hard to tell when the Japanese use the word "sakura" to describe horse meat, which is pink. Sakura nabe is not nabe made with cherry blossoms, for example, but nabe made with horsemeat....
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Mar 23, 2013
Biiiiig baby! — Japanese get taller and skinnier, but not bigger
"How old do you think those kids are?" Asked my father, admiring the cute little American tots standing in line at the ski lift. They were dressed in the puffy ski outfits of the latest fashionable shade of kindergarten pastel, making them look like they were wrapped in cotton candy. Snuggly fit around...
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Mar 16, 2013
The Sandman and other gift-bearing creatures
Easter is upon us, and you know what that means: chocolate rabbits! Each year on Easter Sunday, a magical rabbit (actually a hare) comes out of the forest and brings baskets full of eggs, candies, toys and chocolate rabbits. The Easter Bunny, as he is called, hides the baskets inside each house, and...
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Mar 9, 2013
Sleeping on the train — a rite of passage into Japanese society
When I first came to Japan, I wondered how people could sleep on the train, a public and completely inappropriate place where you can be assured everyone will be watching you. But then I learned that sleeping on the train is involuntary — and should be classified as a sleeping disorder.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Mar 2, 2013
What ever 'appened to the Tamagotchi?
Tamagotchi, the electronic pets that were first released by Bandai in Japan in 1996, have returned. But this time in the form of an app in which you can feed, discipline and even play "rock, paper, scissors" with your not-really-there pet.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Feb 23, 2013
What's next for Toto? More toilet humor
What is the next logical toilet model for Toto? After one has invented a toilet that welcomes you by lifting it's lid automatically when you walk into the bathroom, cuddles you with a heated toilet seat, washes and dries your bum after you've done the dirty deed, disinfects the toilet, then automatically...
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Feb 15, 2013
Tips for springtime on the Shikoku pilgrimage route
Setsubun is over and it is officially springtime in Japan. So what if it's still cold — happy spring! And spring means cherry blossoms, a new school year and, of course, pilgrimaging! This spring, many people will set out on the pilgrimage of a lifetime as they walk, bicycle, bus or drive the Shikoku...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Feb 8, 2013
Life under the kotatsu — let the upper body fend for itself
I'll never forget my first winter in Japan when I heard that some Japanese people sleep under the kotatsu.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Feb 1, 2013
Some thoughts on the rudiments of rutabaga
I can't wait to see NHK-G's special program to air Feb. 23. They are finally going to address a topic I have harbored secret thoughts about since I came to Japan in 1994. NHK is going to broach the topic in a no-holds-barred documentary. The subject is turnip tossing.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Jan 25, 2013
A howler for Tokyo's bid for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games
On Jan. 7, Tokyo put in its bid to host the 2020 summer Olympic Games. So did Madrid and Istanbul. Who wins the coveted bid will not be known until September. But consider some of the barriers to Tokyo winning. First, Tokyo needs to garner more public support, meaning they'll need to get the population...
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Jan 19, 2013
So many small things Japan should be proud of
The new Tokyo Skytree has enjoyed immense popularity and is being credited for giving Japanese people hope for the future. Yes, having with the tallest tower (634 meters) and the second tallest structure in the world, we are all filled with a renewed sense of confirmation that — taller is better!
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Jan 12, 2013
My (attainable) New Year's resolutions: Giving up seiza
Having problems keeping your New Year's resolution? Not me. Because this year I chose resolutions that were easily fulfilled:
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Jan 5, 2013
Serpent hunting in the Year of the Snake
As 2013 is the Year of the Snake, for your serpentine pleasure, I've put together a list of snake-like creatures from Japanese legends and folklore. Loch Ness monster fans, Yeti fans and Bigfoot fans, you're going to have a heck of a year in 2013 with all the cryptids waiting to be discovered. Japan...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Dec 29, 2012
How can Japan help save the world? Be more Taiwanese
Japan had Taiwan under its rule from 1895 until 1945. Despite the history of colonial rule, Taiwanese today have largely favorable views of the Japanese. Japan is the third most popular destination for the Taiwanese, after South Korea and China.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Dec 22, 2012
Santa-san is coming to town — it's going to be different this year
Christmas is going to be different this year. Oh, you haven't heard? Read on.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Dec 15, 2012
Do young Japanese people dream big?
Do young Japanese people dream big? This was the question posed by Steven Kim recently on LinkedIn's "InStyle Tokyo Premier Networking" group.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Dec 8, 2012
Mapping Japan — what on earth could be cooler than that?
According to a recent article in The Japan Times, more and more women are taking to map-reading these days. One reason cited in the article is the influence of the new autumn TV drama called "Sosa Chizu no Onna" ("Woman of Investigative Maps"). The starring role is played by Miki Maya, herself a map...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Dec 8, 2012
Mapping Japan — what on earth could be cooler than that?
According to a recent article in The Japan Times, more and more women are taking to map-reading these days. One reason cited in the article is the influence of the new autumn TV drama called "Sosa Chizu no Onna" ("Woman of Investigative Maps"). The starring role is played by Miki Maya, herself a map...
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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