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Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jun 5, 2017

Learn Japanese as you binge with Netflix anime series

If it's anime you crave, streaming sites such as Netflix offer an ever-expanding smorgasbord of morsels to suit every appetite.
Japan Times
JAPAN / CHUBU CONNECTION
Jun 5, 2017

'Macho' photo contest hopes to boost demolition industry's image, draw more workers

An unprecedented online photo contest highlighting demolition workers was held recently to raise public awareness of their profession in a chronically understaffed industry.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / BACKSTREET STORIES
Jun 2, 2017

A trip to formal gardens yields finds of other kinds in Mejiro

Early summer, before the rains arrive and the squadrons of mosquitoes hatch, is a blissful time to stroll Tokyo's formal gardens.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Jun 2, 2017

'Wonder Woman' sets out on her quest to transform Hollywood

"Wonder Woman," the comic-book epic poised to dominate the box office this weekend, also shatters one of the remaining glass ceilings for women — directing big-budget, Hollywood superhero movies.
EDITORIALS
Jun 1, 2017

Amended privacy protection law

Efforts must be made to ensure that tightened rules on the handling of personal data does not deter the disclosure or flow of necessary information in the name of privacy protection.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 30, 2017

North Korea hails test of 'precision-guided' missile as success, vows bigger 'gift package' for U.S.

The North's statement made a veiled reference to a long-range missile capable of striking the continental U.S.
Japan Times
JAPAN / CHUBU CONNECTION
May 29, 2017

Pioneering Aichi firm that brought electronic toilets to the next level

The first toilet seat with a built-in warm water shower-spray was released 50 years ago by Ina Seito in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, the predecessor of Lixil Group.
Japan Times
PARALYMPICS
May 28, 2017

Wheelchair rugby ready to crash Tokyo 2020 party

Japan's No. 7 catches the ball but before he has time to react, a hulking, tattooed Australian is bearing down on him.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
May 27, 2017

The British tradition of afternoon tea is alive and evolving in Japan

Although afternoon tea is a British tradition, Japan, too, offers an opportunity to enjoy tea time with all the luxurious trimmings.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
May 25, 2017

China's DJI unveils $499 drone that flies from palm of your hand

China's SZ DJI Technology unveiled a small camera drone starting at $499 that can take off and land from the palm of a hand, seeking to appeal to the broader consumer market.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
May 24, 2017

Can Fukuoka live up to the tech startup hype?

Three foreign members of the Fukuoka tech entrepreneur community discuss whether the city's efforts to style itself as an international startup hub are paying off.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
May 24, 2017

On 'Kiseki,' rappers bring out the true grit in resurgent DJ Krush

On 'Es.U.Es Corporation,' DJ Krush's collaborators bring an undeniable energy to the proceedings, and the veteran turntablist responds with some of his grittiest productions since the 1990s.
LIFE / Food & Drink
May 24, 2017

Breakfast at Nobu's: Chef Matsuhisa prepares his first London hotel

When Nobu Matsuhisa opened his first restaurant in London 20 years ago, there were very few places you could get a good meal in town, let alone a fancy breakfast.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
May 23, 2017

Tofubeats: the art of reality in an era of 'post-truth'

The final months of 2016 left Yusuke Kawai feeling confused. The electronic artist who records under the name tofubeats came across a BBC news segment touching on the concept of "post-truth" — the Oxford Dictionary named it word of the year and defines it as "relating to or denoting circumstances in...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
May 23, 2017

'Profiles of Boso Figures Drawn in Ukiyo-e 1. Gimin: Sakura Sogo'

The story of Sakura Sogo of Kozu (present-day Narita) is legendary. It's believed that the 17th-century farmer sacrificed his life by directly appealing to the shogun, which was illegal, in an attempt to have harsh taxes on farmers eased.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / FOCUS
May 22, 2017

Three years after coup, junta deeply embedded in Thai life

On Friday evenings in Thailand, sandwiched between the evening news and a popular soap opera, is a prime-time program that has been running for three years, or ever since the military took power in a May 22, 2014, coup.
Japan Times
JAPAN / CHUBU CONNECTION
May 22, 2017

Chubu Electric uses artificial nests so crows don't build their own on power towers

Chubu Electric Power Co. has adopted a unique method to deter crows from nesting on transmission towers and causing blackouts by building artificial bird nests far from the power lines.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
May 21, 2017

Don't bank on Japan's lenders making it easy to relocate abroad

A reader shares her experiences with internet banking upon leaving Japan on a temporary basis.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
May 20, 2017

The slippery slope of appeasement in Bangladesh

Unelected religious hard-liners are pressuring Bangladesh's elected government to embrace Islamic values as they define them, resorting to street protests and inciting violence to achieve their aims.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
May 19, 2017

Russia's Cold War habit is hard to break

In all three confrontations since the 19th century between Russia and the West, it was Russian action, motivated by domestic concerns, that spurred European or Western efforts at strategic containment.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
May 18, 2017

Menu offers opportunity to meet the meat

The "Meet Meat Promotion," which runs through May 31 at The Tokyo Station Hotel, is part of an ongoing dinner promotion under the concept of "sharing and enjoying meat dishes."
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
May 17, 2017

Takeda scores a KO in 'Poetry Angel'

In last week's review of Yuya Ishii's "The Tokyo Night Sky Is Always the Densest Shade of Blue," I wrote that poetry-based Japanese films are rare — but here seems to be another: Toshimitsu Iizuka's "Poetry Angel." One more example and I'll have a trend.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 15, 2017

Patriotic Japan poster from 2011 causes social media stir after campaign's model outed as Chinese

A poster designed six years ago in an apparent bid to promote patriotism has recently gone viral on social media thanks to its catchphrase, which has revived public debate on race, and the revelation that its smiling model is actually Chinese.

Longform

Totopa in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward was picked by consultants TTNE as the best sauna of the year.
Japan’s sauna movement: Relax, refresh, repeat