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Japan Times
BUSINESS / Regional Voices: Hokkaido
Nov 15, 2021

More development taking place in towns and villages near Hokkaido's Niseko area

The growing interest in towns and villages surrounding Niseko has been reflected in their land prices.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Regional Voices: Hokkaido
Nov 15, 2021

Investors see potential in Hokkaido ski resorts in wake of pandemic

Developers began construction of a new hotel in the Kutchan town's Hirafu district, a central part of Hokkaido's Niseko resort, back in Aug. 17, when the prefecture was being hit by the fifth wave of the pandemic with daily cases topping 400.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Nov 14, 2021

Elab wants you to opt-in to a circular economy

Operated by a group of young creative professionals, elab — a portmanteau of “laboratory” and erabu, meaning “to choose” — encompasses a kitchen, a living laboratory and a rooftop garden.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KANPAI CULTURE
Nov 13, 2021

Think pizza and beer can’t be high-end? The Pizza Bar on 38th says think again.

From November, the acclaimed pizzeria is offering special set menus pairing seasonal pizzas with locally produced wines and beer.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / Regional Voices: Okinawa
Nov 8, 2021

Geologists hope pumice stones drifting off Okinawa will reveal nature's secrets

The stones have previously helped researchers understand the currents and countercurrents that flow south of Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / Regional voices: Chubu
Nov 8, 2021

Parents and children in Japan unaware HPV vaccines are available for free

In Japan, about 11,000 women mainly in their 20s through 40s suffer from cervical cancer every year, of which about 2,800 die from the disease.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Nov 6, 2021

‘Eternals’: When super franchises walk the Earth!

A pleasing cast and the director Chloe Zhao, who won a best picture Oscar for 'Nomadland,' give Marvel's latest a steady heartbeat.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Nov 5, 2021

Nick Luscombe: ‘Japan is one of the most sonically rich places on Earth’

People who worked from home during the pandemic often opted for a soundtrack to keep them company. Nick Luscombe specializes in just the kind of ambience we all need.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Nov 5, 2021

Kiyotaka Sugiyama looks back on the glistening days of city pop

The Omega Tribe frontman celebrates the 40th anniversary of the city pop group's debut with remastered versions of past albums.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Nov 4, 2021

‘Dancing Mary’: No love lost for this spooky fantasy

Naoto Kataoka of pop group Exile takes on his first leading role in Sabu's ghostly rom-com/actioner, but the film's mix of genre elements doesn't quite gel.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Nov 3, 2021

Dominant Kawasaki Frontale clinches fourth J1 League title in five seasons

This season was another masterclass for Kawasaki Frontale, with the team dropping just 17 points out of a possible 102 thus far. On Wednesday, they defended their 2020 title.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society / Regional Voices: Tohoku
Nov 1, 2021

Are buzz cuts mandatory for members of Japan's high school baseball teams?

When asked about the reasons behind the rule, many coaches talked about the need to focus on the sport, tradition and that it's easier to play that way.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal / Regional Voices: Kyushu
Nov 1, 2021

Japan's repeat drunken drivers stay on the road as doctors hesitate to suspend licenses

While doctors worry about the impact such moves would have on their patients' lives, those struggling with alcoholism are left to cause harm to themselves and others.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Oct 31, 2021

With most fans vaccinated, J. League sees path to pre-pandemic crowds

After 20 months of uncertainty and heavy restrictions, league officials are optimistic that they will be able to raise average attendances in the remaining five weeks of the season.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / Food Sustainability in Japan
Oct 31, 2021

It will take more than swapping your eel for eggplant to save Japan’s unagi

The hard truth is that the growing appetite for Japanese unagi is having an adverse effect on their numbers. Improving ecosystems and vegetarian alternatives can only do so much.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Oct 30, 2021

Gucci Osteria Tokyo takes you into a culinary wonderland

The third collaborative restaurant between Massimo Bottura and Gucci has finally opened in Ginza, blending fashion with Italian-Japanese fine dining.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Oct 29, 2021

Shibuya could be the ideal first stop in a new virtual world

Shibuya Ward is once again putting on a virtual Halloween. However, the municipality's experiments in the digital sphere could lead to something more interesting than ghosts and pumpkins.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 26, 2021

Facebook knew about abusive content globally but failed to act, documents show

The company hasn't hired enough workers who possess both the language skills and knowledge of local events needed to identify objectionable posts in a number of countries.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies / Regional Voices: Hokkaido
Oct 25, 2021

Closure of Nippon Paper Industries’ Kushiro Mill leaves workers in limbo

Most of the employees at the plant, including those from affiliated companies, are Kushiro natives.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Oct 24, 2021

Yes, this tiny water cooler capsule toy is 'ridiculous.' Perfect.

Yoshiaki Yamanishi set out to create the most boring toy imaginable.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 22, 2021

Mark Zuckerberg needs to change more than Facebook’s name

While Zuckerberg's baby has weathered prior crises, has an enviable global footprint and continues to rake in massive profits, critics have turned it into a pinata for myriad good reasons.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Okinawa
Oct 18, 2021

Okinawa medical workers push back against unfair COVID-19 bonus system

The prefecture has seen some staff receive more compensation for extra work during the pandemic than others.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Fukushima
Oct 18, 2021

How 3/11 forced a Fukushima doctor to become an expert in treating radiation

Medical workers who had no prior experience of dealing with the issue found themselves on the front line in March 2011.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 12, 2021

How the LDP keeps winning

It's precisely because of the LDP and Komeito's massive vote-generating machine that the ruling coalition has an edge over the opposition in the coming election.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Regional Voices: Kyushu
Oct 11, 2021

Japanese real estate targeted by Chinese and Hong Kongers

As more people from overseas buy up land in Japan, authorities express frustration at potentially not being able to trace landowners when the need arises.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Oct 11, 2021

China lodges stern representations with Australia on Taiwan comments

Former Australian leader Tony Abbott visited Taiwan in a personal capacity last week, telling a security forum that China may lash out with its economy slowing and finances 'creaking.'
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional voices: Chubu
Oct 11, 2021

Aichi universities resume exchange programs as vaccines ease pandemic fears

While many students have been unable to join exchange programs in person, online classes have lowered costs and made some more determined to go abroad.

Longform

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