author

 
Menu
Search
 
November 22, 2024
 

Today's print edition

Home Delivery
Subscribe for more access
Kris Kosaka

Meta

Kris Kosaka
Kris Kosaka, a resident of Japan since 1996, contributes regularly to The Japan Times. She is a lecturer at Meiji Gakuin University in the Faculty of International Studies.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books / Children's Literature in Japan
Jun 15, 2019
Children's author Kenji Miyazawa: Fundamental to the modern form
Author and poet Kenji Miyazawa's fantastical worldbuilding, poignant text and progressive morals laid the foundations of modern Japanese children's literature.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books / RECENTLY PUBLISHED BOOKS ABOUT JAPAN
Jun 8, 2019
'Modern Japanese Short Stories' review: A bridge between past and present
A classic introduction to the Japanese short story, 'Modern Japanese Short Stories' is a literary time capsule of postwar Japan.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Jun 4, 2019
The Royal Ballet brings the best of British ballet to Japan with its production of 'Don Quixote'
For ballet fans across Japan, The Royal Ballet represents the pinnacle in dance, and its upcoming summer tour of Tokyo and Yokohama from June 21 to 30 keeps expectations high.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books / Children's Literature in Japan
May 25, 2019
Poop, realism and Ghibli: Enter the world of children's literature
To introduce our readers to this special subsection of Japanese literature, for the next 12 months, we'll be featuring one children's writer or illustrator on these pages each month.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
May 23, 2019
Dancer Kaiji Moriyama celebrates ninja in his latest work
A creative yet shy child fascinated with origami and crafts, Kaiji Moriyama discovered dance late, at the age of 21 while a university student. He has certainly made up for the lost time, though. Just seven years since first studying the art form, he performed to rave reviews at the 2001 Edinburgh Festival...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books / RECENTLY PUBLISHED BOOKS ABOUT JAPAN
May 18, 2019
'The Diving Pool': Three psychologically subversive novellas
In these unsettling novellas — 'The Diving Pool,' 'Pregnancy Diary' and 'Dormitory' — Yoko Ogawa subverts expectations of traditional female milestones.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books / RECENTLY PUBLISHED BOOKS ABOUT JAPAN
May 11, 2019
Tomoko Keira's 'The Spirit of Huci': A year of living with an Ainu elder — review
One part Ainu cookbook and three parts a cultural record of Ainu values and beliefs, Tomoko Keira's 'The Spirit of Huci' offers, for the first time, the voices of Ainu women in English.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
May 4, 2019
'The Forest of Wool and Steel': Music and nature intertwine to paint a portrait of growth — review
Natsu Miyashita's 'The Forest of Wool and Steel' is a mesmerizing reading experience, a slow journey in how one young person renders an occupation into a vocation.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books / WORKS BY JAPANESE WOMEN
Apr 20, 2019
Murasaki Shikibu and Sei Shonagon: Two pioneering women in Japanese literature
The Works by Japanese Women series wraps up by examining the various English translations of two of Japan's greatest works of literature, both penned by women: 'The Pillow Book' by Sei Shonagon and 'The Tale of Genji' by Murasaki Shikibu.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Apr 13, 2019
'Zen: The Art of Simple Living': Habits, ideas and hints for living a happy life
'Zen: The Art of Simple Living' is a profoundly beautiful work, easy to read, encouraging deep thought and reflection, but most importantly, acting as a practical guide to Zen action.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LEARNING CURVE
Apr 10, 2019
Two English teachers stand up for their rights and win — a valuable lesson for anyone working in Japan
The closure of 51 Coco Juku eikaiwa (English conversation) schools in Japan last week, with more to come in June, illustrates just how unstable the English teaching market can be. Companies that used to provide fairly well-paying jobs are now, in many cases, restructuring them into something that resembles...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LEARNING CURVE
Apr 10, 2019
Know your rights as a language teacher
Dennis Tesolat is chair of the General Union based in Osaka. Founded in 1991, the organization is part of a national private sector trade union known as Zenkoku-Ippan (the National Union of General Workers), which belongs to a confederation known as Zenrokyo (National Trade Union Council).
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Apr 4, 2019
The Tokyo Ballet's 'Swan Lake' gives fans a fresh take on a classic and an uplifting ending
Picture the scene: The Black Swan seduces the Prince away from the White Swan princess for one of the most timeless love triangles ever enacted on stage. Even those who aren't fans of dance are familiar with "Swan Lake." As Yukari Saito, artistic director of The Tokyo Ballet, puts it, "Swan Lake is synonymous...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Mar 23, 2019
An impeccable new biography of Richard Sorge, one of Russia's master spies
Soviet spy Richard Sorge's story remains largely unknown to the Western world, but that's about to change with the publication of a remarkable new biography, 'An Impeccable Spy: Richard Sorge, Stalin's Master Agent,' by Owen Matthews.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books / WORKS BY JAPANESE WOMEN
Mar 16, 2019
Yoko Tawada: Wondrously strange subject matter from a fantastical imagination
Prize-winning author Yoko Tawada tethers her playful prose to realistic social issues: gender roles, immigration, aging societies. Writing in both Japanese and German, her novels have crossed multiple cultural boundaries.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Mar 10, 2019
A new approach to volunteering in Tohoku
When Angela Ortiz describes what it felt like to return to Aomori Prefecture five days after the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, she uses words like "horror," "incredulous disbelief" and "intense curiosity."
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos
Mar 10, 2019
Earthquakes: What to do before, during and immediately after
Earthquakes are an ever-present danger in Japan so it is important to be thoroughly prepared in the eventuality that one strikes. Although many areas in Japan publish comprehensive guides in English and other languages — see "Tokyo Bousai" ("Disaster Preparedness Tokyo") published by the Tokyo Metropolitan...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Mar 2, 2019
William I. Elliott's lifetime passion for Japanese poetry
A chance encounter with Shuntaro Tanikawa's poem, 'Humanism,' set William I. Elliott on the path to make modern Japanese poetry accessible to all.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books / ESSENTIAL READING FOR JAPANOPHILES
Mar 2, 2019
Kenkichi Yamamoto's 'The Singing Heart': A window into modern Japanese poetry
Noted Japanese literary critic and writer Kenkichi Yamamoto's 'The Singing Heart' provides a satisfying, thematic introduction to modern Japanese poetry.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books / WORKS BY JAPANESE WOMEN
Feb 16, 2019
Discover new worlds beyond the 'here and now' with Nahoko Uehashi's inventive fictions
Nahoko Uehashi revolutionized the fantasy genre in Japan with her naturalistic works of fiction, using her background as a cultural anthropologist to craft realistic imaginary worlds that garnered her legions of fans across genders and ages.
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

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

SWCC keeps changing with keyword ‘new challenges’
SWCC keeps changing with keyword ‘new challenges’

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS note

Read more

SUPPLEMENTS BINDER