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Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 4, 2019

Lunar New Year holiday to be litmus test of Chinese shoppers' resilience

China's consumers have cut back on purchases of everything from Apple Inc.'s iPhones to Swiss watches as the trade war with the U.S. hits the economy.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / TELLING LIVES
Feb 3, 2019

From cosplay fan to idol, Yuriko Tiger's journey has been a colorful one

It was 1964 when 19-year-old ye-ye singer Sylvie Vartan captured the hearts of Japanese cinemagoers in the French film "Cherchez l'idole," released here as "Aidoru o Sagase" and in English as "The Chase." Her track from that film, "La plus belle pour aller danser," was a hit here, selling more than a...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Feb 3, 2019

An idol's fans have the power to make change in Japan

Being a fan of any entertainer in 2019 can be a challenge, as scandals both old and new make blindly supporting artists an impossible task. That might be doubly true for Japanese idol-pop acts, who inhabit a corner of the country's entertainment industry made up predominantly of young women, which has...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film / Wide Angle
Jan 31, 2019

'Bohemian Rhapsody': Queen film won't bite the dust just yet

The Queen biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody" is still doing big business in Japan, long after its November release. The movie recently crossed the ¥10 billion mark here, and its impact stretches well beyond box-office stats. Songs from the British band have taken up residence on streaming charts, while affection...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 30, 2019

'12 Suicidal Teens': Teen suicide film deeper than most

Youth suicides hit a 30-year high in Japan in fiscal 2017, with 250 kids of high school age and under taking their own lives. Ijime (bullying) was a factor in many of these deaths, but there were others, as well as many unanswered questions.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 24, 2019

Sumo 101: Koenkai

On the surface sumo generates income the same way as most other sports —through ticket sales, merchandising and sponsorships.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / davos special 2019
Jan 22, 2019

A taste of Japan's cuisine, buffet style

Japan Night will return to Davos once again to offer participants of the 2019 World Economic Forum meeting the opportunity to savor some of the finest Japanese cuisine.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle / CHILD'S PLAY
Jan 20, 2019

Onsen: A great way to get the kids to take a bath

To many Japan newbies, the thought of bathing with strangers at a hot spring public bath seems off-putting — especially with kids. Yet for millions of residents, it's an ideal way to warm up and spend time together on a winter afternoon. Here are a few Child's Play recommendations.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Jan 19, 2019

Tolerant attitudes make Japan a drinker's paradise

If any doubts existed that Japanese people are exceptionally tolerant toward the imbibing of alcohol, those were erased in 2014, when the Pew Center, as part of its Global Attitudes Project, surveyed people's views on drinking in 40 countries.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Jan 19, 2019

Organizing guru Marie Kondo sparks plenty of joy on social media

A new year in Japan means it’s time for ōsōji, the annual cleaning of one’s home. And, right on schedule, Netflix has released “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” to give us all some inspiration — or make us feel guilty for putting it off.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Jan 13, 2019

Sort out your digital diet and keep your sanity in 2019

Judging by the New Year's resolutions I'm hearing so far this year, the internet was a real source of frustration for a lot of people in 2018.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHY DID YOU LEAVE JAPAN?
Jan 12, 2019

Aiko Tanaka: A bundle of laughs in America

From dancing in clubs to stand-up comedy, Aiko Tanaka's experience in the U.S. has helped realize her dream of making it in the entertainment industry.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jan 7, 2019

Philippine court orders arrest of Japanese casino mogul Kazuo Okada on fraud charges

A Philippine court has ordered the arrest of Japanese casino mogul Kazuo Okada, about a month after the country's Department of Justice (DOJ) recommended filing charges against him on three counts of fraud.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Jan 3, 2019

Comedian Akira Ohashi 100% reveals his naked ambition

His naked tray act may not be to everyone's liking, but Akira Ohashi is too focused on the positives to worry about that. The Saitama-born, 44-year-old comedian, who is better known by his stage name Akira 100%, clearly loves being in the public eye, and after more than two decades struggling to make...
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / New Year Special 2019
Jan 1, 2019

Traditional activities to ring in the new year

Shogatsu, or New Year's holidays, are a special time for Japanese, who typically revisit and take part in long-standing traditions. It's a time when those who left their hometowns go back to visit their families, invite relatives and friends to their homes and wear kimono. It's also a time for foreigners...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / The Big Questions
Dec 30, 2018

Hard work, nonstop play in the world of Japanese TV

It is hard to imagine Dave Spector doing anything else. Although tempting to call the fun- and pun-loving force of energy that is Spector a workaholic, he enjoys what he does so much that his palpable passion makes 'playholic' more accurate.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Dec 29, 2018

Floyd Mayweather says fight against Tenshin Nasukawa is nothing to worry about

People have been a little skeptical that he would really fight against Tenshin Nasukawa on New Year's Eve.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Dec 22, 2018

Rationale for extending Japan's copyright protections unclear

Several weeks ago, I was surprised to read that a revision to the copyright law would go into effect on Dec. 30, extending the current protection period from 50 years after an author's death to 70 years. When the extension was first discussed as part of the original 12-member Trans-Pacific Partnership...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Dec 21, 2018

New York justice lets movie maker Harvey Weinstein's criminal charges stand

A New York state judge on Thursday denied Harvey Weinstein's motion to dismiss criminal charges that he sexually assaulted two women, rejecting the movie producer's argument that the case was tainted by police and prosecutorial misconduct.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 20, 2018

NPO Fukuribi's wigs offer Japan's chemo patients new weapon in their fight against cancer

When TV celebrity Miki Yakata was told she would need chemotherapy after undergoing a mastectomy in April, she realized she would have to buy a wig.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
Dec 19, 2018

TV in 2018: Progressive voices and the enduring charm of ‘Terrace House’

In the English-speaking world, Japanese TV in 2018 was celebrated for how boring it could get. But it was anything but domestically, where viewers questioned norms and helped nudge forward programs with progressive politics.
Japan Times
WORLD
Dec 19, 2018

'Very pregnant' U.K. duchess Meghan Markle makes Christmas trip to care home

Meghan Markle, Britain's Duchess of Sussex, joked she was feeling "very pregnant" as she carried out a solo official engagement on Tuesday, a day after her father had made headlines by pleading with her to get in touch with him.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Dec 18, 2018

Music in 2018: Saying goodbye to Heisei with 'U.S.A.'

The final full year of the Heisei Era was one of the most discombobulating for Japanese music this decade. Nostalgia for the soon-to-end era clashed with efforts to figure out where J-pop goes moving forward. Tunes covered in cobwebs suddenly became the soundtrack for viral dances on trendy video apps....
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 17, 2018

Urban-rural chasm defines new Western political divide

Left-right populism is fueling the Western political divide.

Longform

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