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Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Jan 26, 2016

Takarazuka's musical gives the Bard new life

Marking four centuries since the death of William Shakespeare in 1616, the 101-year-old all-female Takarazuka Revue company is currently staging a new musical titled "Shakespeare: The Sky Filled With Eternal Words" at its Takarazuka Grand Theater in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, ahead of a Tokyo season...
Japan Times
JAPAN / CHUBU CONNECTION
Jan 25, 2016

Ise theme park uses ninja, samurai in G-7 tourist pitch

Ise Azuchimomoyama Bunkamura, a theme park in Ise, Mie Prefecture, that showcases traditional Japanese buildings and customs, is working on increasing the number of foreign visitors ahead of the Group of Seven summit in May.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / ON: GAMES
Jan 23, 2016

As the new year kicks in, so do popular game updates

Nintendo thinks outside the box, again
WORLD / Politics
Jan 23, 2016

Trump retweets neo-Nazi account, drawing outrage

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump retweeted an account called "@WhiteGenocideTM" on Friday, prompting a backlash on social media over the real estate billionaire's sharing of an apparent neo-Nazi's depiction of rival candidate Jeb Bush.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / DAVOS SPECIAL 2016
Jan 20, 2016

Turning challenges of cybersecurity into new opportunities for growth

As information and communication technology (ICT) has extended into all areas of society, we have become ever more reliant upon it. The subtle ways in which it is changing the world, though both exciting and frightening, are not widely recognized or understood. This year, Japan will host the G-7 summit...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / DAVOS SPECIAL 2016
Jan 20, 2016

Globis initiates Japanese innovation

The World Economic Forum is hosting its annual conference in Davos, Switzerland, from Jan. 20 to 23, once again set to remind leaders from around the world they have roles to play in improving the state of the world — the nonprofit organization's stated goal.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jan 19, 2016

'The Great Masterpieces of Museum's Collection: "Red and White Plum Blossoms" and "Tea-leaf Jar With a Design of Wisteria" '

Jan. 29-March 6
Japan Times
JAPAN / CHUBU CONNECTION
Jan 18, 2016

Photo of Helen Keller's 1937 visit to Gifu school discovered

A photo taken during a visit by Helen Keller, a noted humanitarian who overcame being deaf and blind, to Gifu Prefectural School for the Blind in 1937 has been discovered at a late student's house and was donated to the school.
Japan Times
JAPAN / NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Jan 17, 2016

Foreign tourism emerges as bright spot amid Japan's dim economic prospects

With few positive signs of recovery for Japan's slumping economy, foreign tourism remains a sole ray of hope, and tourism authorities, local governments, industry players as well as retailers are eagerly awaiting another possibly record-breaking surge in Chinese tourists during next month's Chinese New...
Japan Times
JAPAN / FUKUSHIMA FILE
Jan 17, 2016

Fukushima town hopes to translate kanji and sake into tourism cash

Residents of Kitakata, a northwestern Fukushima Prefecture city known for promoting antiquated Japanese kanji, are stepping up efforts to attract more tourists by linking the pictographs to sake breweries in the area.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Jan 16, 2016

From sexual liberation to liberation from sex

Young people are forever shocking their elders, and elders, however shocking they themselves may have been to their own elders once upon a time, never fail to play their generation's perennial role of shocked onlookers to shocking youthful behavior of one sort or another.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books / ESSENTIAL READING FOR JAPANOPHILES
Jan 16, 2016

Lost Japan

Originally published in Japanese in 1993 (with the English translation following in 1996), "Lost Japan," the first book by Alex Kerr, has recently been re-released by Penguin. A fascinating chronicle of Kerr's diverse interactions with the country, the book spans such subjects as restoring a traditional...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 15, 2016

Architect Kengo Kuma dismisses alleged similarities with Hadid stadium design

Kengo Kuma, whose flatter, less expensive design will be used for the Olympic Games' main venue, said his plan and Hadid's differed in concept and cost.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 15, 2016

New centrist conservatism

To address the challenges confronting the nation, the LDP must move leftward and once again embrace center-right politics.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Jan 15, 2016

The joy of eating Japan's traditional clay-pot cuisine

It's the autumn of 2013, and dusk falls over the historic Nagatani-en pottery works in the hills above the city of Iga, Mie Prefecture. As the employees finish their shifts and head home, the squat buildings fall quiet and dark — all except the 200-year-old residence at the heart of this artisan complex,...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / David Bowie in Japan
Jan 15, 2016

15 minutes more

One day in 1996, when I was working as an editor/writer on the features desk, I arrived at work and was told as I walked in the door that an unnamed person had called. They were looking for someone at The Japan Times to do a one-on-one interview with David Bowie.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / David Bowie in Japan
Jan 14, 2016

Like some cat from Japan: A tribute to David Bowie

The late David Bowie's appreciation of Japan and its culture was strong. Following his recent death, The Japan Times asked five people who share that connection with the country, and who witnessed the decade-spanning trajectory of this starman, to recall what his sound and vision meant to them.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jan 12, 2016

Idem Paris: Worlds apart and yet so close

Before photography became a relatively affordable pastime at the beginning of the 20th century, lithographic prints were touted as the democratic image-making medium that could reach all classes of society. At the same time, because the design was drawn directly onto stone, it could be used as a platform...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / ADVANCES IN PROGRESS
Jan 11, 2016

Japan moves to develop homegrown GPS

With the proliferation of smartphones and other devices, the use of GPS — the global positioning system — has become ubiquitous. From pinpointing one's location to getting directions online, satellite-based navigation is driving the interactive use of online maps.
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Jan 11, 2016

New Tokyo Olympic stadium design selected

A design by architect Kengo Kuma has been picked as the 2020 Tokyo Olympic main stadium, the government has announced.
Japan Times
JAPAN / CHUBU CONNECTION
Jan 11, 2016

Aichi Prefecture city rolls out new pay phones in disaster-prevention move

The city of Tahara in Aichi Prefecture is bringing back public pay phones in response to widespread mobile phone disruptions following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 10, 2016

Honda aims for China jackpot with Acura SUV

Honda Motor Co. will launch a new small crossover sport utility vehicle later this year in China to compete with BMW and Audi models.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 9, 2016

Nagisa Oshima: 'You have to tell the truth about your country, whatever it is'

Jan. 15 marks the third anniversary of the renowned film director's death. Roger Pulvers, who knew him for more than 30 years and was his assistant on “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence,” discusses the man and his work
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Jan 8, 2016

Disappearing-father drama; Swindling in Osaka; CM of the week: Bandai Namco

Osaka is the setting for the bittersweet two-hour drama "Saiko no Oyako" ("The Best Mother and Child"; TBS, Sun., 9 p.m.), which stars Naomi Fujiyama as a single mother raising a daughter, played by Riisa Naka, who has just graduated from university with a degree in architecture but is having trouble...
Reader Mail
Jan 8, 2016

Bring back best 'Kohaku' features

Regarding the story "Kohaku music show ratings dive to new low" in the Jan. 4 edition, it is really not at all surprising that the viewer ratings are falling.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 5, 2016

From longer hours to all-you-can drink offers, Japan's restaurants evolve in battle for customers

Change is in the air — you can smell it.

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