Search - topics

 
 
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / Food Sustainability in Japan
Jun 23, 2018

Is farming in Japan on its last legs?

With a declining agricultural workforce, there are concerns about how Japan will tackle food self-sufficiency and maintain its landscapes, cultural heritage and vitality of its countryside villages.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional voices: Chubu
Jun 18, 2018

Rail car mover, used to carry bricks in Gifu, to be restored 40 years after retirement

Efforts are underway to restore an abandoned freight car mover that was used until some 40 years ago to carry firebricks at a brick factory in the major ceramics production town of Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Jun 16, 2018

The trials and tribulations of the self-published zine

From the modern ukiyo-e prints of the Edo Period (1603-1868) to contemporary du014djinshi (self-published) fan comics, there has always been an outlet in Japan for artistic self-publishing. But where do zines slot into this system?
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Jun 16, 2018

Japan's never-ending struggle to keep poverty at bay

The first coverage of poverty in Japan's weekly business magazines may be traced back the spring of 2009, when Weekly Diamond, in its March 21 cover story, purported to expose "The poverty you don't know." The timing of the issue came six months after the bankruptcy of the Lehman Brothers brokerage the...
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jun 16, 2018

Trump quip on wanting White House staff to 'sit up at attention' like those around North Korea's Kim sparks outcry

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said he wished people would "sit up at attention" for him like North Koreans do for leader Kim Jong Un — a joke that sparked outrage on social media and cable news.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Fukushima
Jun 15, 2018

Disaster-hit Fukushima struggles to secure forest industry workers but efforts slowly bearing fruit

In a mountainous area in Fukushima Prefecture, junior high school students saw at trees as professional forest workers give them instructions and pointers.
BUSINESS
Jun 13, 2018

Trudeau safe for now amid Trump trade war threats but angry farmers loom

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, facing the threat of a trade war from U.S. President Donald Trump, has unanimous domestic support for now but to keep a firm hold on power must wring concessions from an unwilling powerful dairy lobby in order to mollify Washington.
BUSINESS
Jun 12, 2018

U.S. companies in Japan want Washington to focus trade talks on services, pharmaceuticals: ACCJ

U.S. companies already established in Japan want the Trump administration to focus more on service-sector trade than on market access for manufacturers, according to the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN / GENERATIONAL CHANGE
Jun 11, 2018

Panasonic employee drives innovation by connecting young, enterprising new entrants to Japan's workforce

It's often difficult for people to maintain the enterprising spirit they had when they first entered the workplace, fresh out of university.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional voices: Chubu
Jun 11, 2018

Mie University ties up with local cake shop to reproduce stress-relieving ninja snacks

Mie University in Tsu, Mie Prefecture, and Mon Pactole, a cake shop in Nabari in the prefecture, have jointly developed cookies inspired by preserved snacks that ninja are believed to have eaten to relieve stress.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Okinawa
Jun 8, 2018

Okinawa car rental agencies wary of Chinese tourists with improperly obtained licenses

Believing it would be convenient to get around by car in Okinawa, a 30-something Chinese woman decided to access a major online shopping site before her 2016 trip to obtain a driving permit that would be valid in Japan, since Chinese licenses aren't permitted in Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN / History / Regional Voices: Hiroshima
Jun 7, 2018

Hiroshima hibakusha, 86, kept horror of A-bombing to himself, until now

For more than 70 years, Hiroshima resident Tokuo Shimizu kept the gruesome memories of the hellish scenes he saw at ground zero the day after the atomic bombing to himself.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 5, 2018

In tattoo-taboo Japan, new website offers helping hand for those with ink

In tattoo-taboo Japan, those who are inked-up have received a helping hand — in both English and Japanese — with the launch of a new website that offers information about tattoo-friendly hot springs and other locations nationwide.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional voices: Chubu
Jun 4, 2018

Now in a wheelchair, Japanese ex-motorcycle racer still passionate about bikes at Aichi shop

Motorcycle shop owner Ko Sawada, 38, gave up his racing career after incurring a spinal cord injury in a 1999 race. But his love of motorcycles continues, and he hopes to revive the popularity of the vehicles.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Satoyama Consortium
Jun 4, 2018

Island community draws visitors

The Japan Times Satoyama Consortium has been engaged in various activities to promote municipalities and local companies representing the beauty and excellence of deep Japan.
Japan Times
PRESS / Services
May 31, 2018

The Japan Times launches the online version of the Japan Network Updates to form and support readers community

Tokyo, May 31, 2018 – The Japan Times, Ltd. (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Takeharu Tsutsumi) launched today an online version of the Japan Network Updates at https://www.japantimes.co.jp/jnu, whose Monday paper version introduces The Japan Times readers community members.
Japan Times
May 31, 2018

The Japan Times launches the online version of the Japan Network Updates to form and support readers community

Tokyo, May 31, 2018 - The Japan Times, Ltd. (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Takeharu Tsutsumi) launched today an online version of the Japan Network Updates at https://www.japantimes.co.jp/jnu , whose Monday paper version introduces The Japan Times readers community members.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 30, 2018

Former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, potential challenger to Abe, can get the job done

Liberal Democratic Party policy chief Fumio Kishida, rumored to be one of the contenders for the party's presidential race, isn't exactly a person with striking characteristics.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 30, 2018

'Military geek' Shigeru Ishiba not afraid to criticize Abe but election math eludes

Upon attending the opening ceremony of a museum in April in Tottori Prefecture, veteran Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Shigeru Ishiba made a sidesplitting appearance by dressing up as Majin Boo — the pudgy, baby-like villain in the popular anime "Dragon Ball."
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 29, 2018

Pakistan orders probe of ex-spymaster over 'Spy Chronicles' book

Pakistan's army ordered an inquiry on Monday into a former spy chief for co-writing a book with the ex-chief of an intelligence agency from arch-rival India that has stirred controversy on a range of issues.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional voices: Chubu
May 28, 2018

Aichi hopes to see million participate in September quake drill

The Aichi Prefectural Government — which has been holding the ShakeOut earthquake drill since fiscal 2013 — plans to draw a million participants to a session to be held this year on Sept. 1, the Disaster Prevention Day.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 23, 2018

Tokyo Declaration unites global cities against waste and pollution

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike announced Wednesday the adoption of the Tokyo Declaration, in which 22 megacities around the world committed to reducing waste and tackling air pollution by sharing technologies and knowledge.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional voices: Chubu
May 21, 2018

Gifu factory devoted to producing allergen-free chocolate bars

A former president of a sweets manufacturer in Kakamigahara, Gifu Prefecture, has established a small factory exclusively for producing chocolates that do not contain any of 27 allergens, including dairy products and soybeans.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Fukushima
May 18, 2018

Aspiring brewer taps Fukushima town's hops in bid to boost sagging farming industry

"I can't wait to drink delicious beer made from homegrown hops," Makoto Honma, the president of Hop Japan Inc., told farmers with a smile in April when he visited them in Tamura, Fukushima Prefecture.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional voices: Chubu
May 14, 2018

Planned cut in doctors' overtime hours worries Japan's rural hospitals

As Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration pushes to pass labor reform bills in the current Diet session, many major hospitals in the Chubu region are concerned that the bills, which include a cap on the working hours of doctors, could lead to a deterioration in medical services in rural regions....
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
May 12, 2018

Classical painting hashtag highlights Japanese mothers' daily frustrations

As we celebrate Mother’s Day on May 13, a hashtag highlighting the daily struggles of mothers in Japan is going viral on Twitter.

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?