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July 06, 2025
 

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EXPLAINER

JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Oct 15, 2008
LDP — a party defined by factions
Apart from one brief interval, the Liberal Democratic Party has been in power since it was formed in 1955, and every time it picks a new leader internal factions vie for power.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Oct 7, 2008
Survival now arcades' most pressing game
Once viewed as dens of delinquency, game center arcades are diversifying their entertainment fare, and in the process, attracting not only youths but families, high school girls, couples and video game fans.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Sep 30, 2008
Is Hayao Miyazaki Japan's greatest film director?
How great is Hayao Miyazaki? Domestically, three of his movies are among the top five money-earners: His "Spirited Away" from 2001 outstrips even "Titanic" and "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." Globally, his movies are the darlings of international film festivals. "Spirited Away" took the Golden...
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Sep 23, 2008
Anything, any time, anywhere
Unlike most other countries, Japan is dotted with thousands of vending machines that allow consumers to buy a wide range of products at any time of the day or night, eliminating the need for inconvenient trips to the store.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Sep 17, 2008
Supreme Court place of last judicial resort
In 1889, Japan took its first step toward forming a modern constitutional state by promulgating the Meiji Constitution, dividing power among the legislature, or Diet, the executive branch, or Cabinet, and the judiciary, with the Supreme Court at the top.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Sep 9, 2008
Waistline scrutiny a midlife bugbear
The term metabolic syndrome has become a hot topic with middle-aged workers now that the government has made it mandatory for companies and local governments to check for it during annual employee health examinations.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Sep 2, 2008
Against high odds, masses chase luck
What would you do if you won ¥400 million? Would you buy a convertible, a new house, start a business? All of the above?
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Aug 26, 2008
Brisk output belies crisis facing publishing industry
More than 200 new books are published daily in Japan, and the total market of books and magazines surpasses ¥2 trillion. But experts say the publishing industry is facing a historic crisis.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Aug 19, 2008
Regions, not prefectures
The 47 prefectures have been in place since the Meiji Era (1868-1912), but the system is seen as increasingly obsolete amid the vast demographic changes Japan has had since the war.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Aug 12, 2008
It's ghost season in Japan — who you gonna call?
If there are eerie goings-on in the neighborhood — and Halloween is still two months off — it could be because Japan's traditional "ghost season" maxes out at this time of the year.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Aug 12, 2008
It's ghost season in Japan — who you gonna call?
If there are eerie goings-on in the neighborhood — and Halloween is still two months off — it could be because Japan's traditional "ghost season" maxes out at this time of the year.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Aug 5, 2008
Yasukuni in spotlight as Aug. 15 nears
Aug. 15 marks the 63rd anniversary of the end of World War II. For the people of Japan, including relatives of the war dead, it is a day of remembrance and of peace.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jul 29, 2008
It came, it saw, and it bowled over Japan
It has slurped its way into becoming Japan's favorite food.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jul 22, 2008
Nation opens its eyes to audiobooks
Seen as a good way for busy people to catch up on their "reading" during commutes or on-the-job breaks, audiobooks are quickly becoming a fixture among time-pressed Japanese.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jul 15, 2008
Famed electronics hub still sparks the curious, bizarre
Tokyo's Akihabara district draws throngs not only with its hundreds of electronics shops but also because it is the mecca for "otaku" computer geeks, and fans of "manga" and "anime" pop culture.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jul 8, 2008
Japan's last frontier took time to tame, cultivate image
Hokkaido, where the Group of Eight summit is taking place in Toyako, is known for its hot springs, ski resorts, seafood and magnificent scenery.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jul 1, 2008
Low key, off key, but anyway it's your way
Born in Japan three decades ago, karaoke has evolved into a global fixture.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jun 24, 2008
Holding management to account
Because public companies are owned by their shareholders, any time they convene is when key corporate decisions are made.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jun 17, 2008
How hard is it really to learn Japanese?
As a language so distinct from most others, Japanese has an air of mystery about it.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jun 10, 2008
Pawing in enough to be a fat cat
The world's most coveted kitty wears just a bow, doesn't have a mouth to feed and has never been in trouble.
Japan braces for more quakes as authorities dismiss doomsday hype
Evacuees from Akuseki Island, located in the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecuture, arrive at Kagoshima Port on Friday.
Hidden AI prompts in academic papers spark concern about research integrity
Waseda University is one of 14 institutions in eight countries found to have used hidden prompts in research papers.
A prophesied disaster (likely) won’t strike Japan this weekend
A viral manga prediction of a July 5 disaster has gripped Japan with anxiety and triggered an economic impact, but experts warn that while such dates are unreliable, the threat of a massive earthquake remains real. 
Residents of Tokara Islands begin evacuation as seismic swarm continues
Details about evacuations from Akuseki Island, located in the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecture, is seen written on a whiteboard in the city of Kagoshima on Thursday.
U.S. military apologizes over Okinawa sexual assault case
Col. Neil Owens (right), chief of staff for the 3rd Marine Division, bows in apology at the Okinawa Prefectural Government office in Naha on Thursday.
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Flag football facing challenges and opportunities ahead
Japan’s women’s flag football team at the 2025 International Bowl in Los Angeles in June. The sport is enjoying continued growth in the country.
From Hokusai’s Great Wave, shinkansen to One Piece: a cultural treasure box for Lego Japan
Michael Ebbesen, general manager of Lego Japan, says Lego bricks based on Japanese culture have a rich global appeal and are sellable around the world.
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
Chef Hideaki Matsuo (middle) and the staff of Oseto Suisan Fisheries prepare to check on their sustainably farmed fish.
As Southeast Asia heats up, a Japanese cooling giant sees a major opportunity
An employee of Daikin Cambodia explains the use of different tools during an air conditioner installation training session in Phnom Penh. Daikin is one of Japan’s oldest air conditioning companies, but as Japan’s population falls, the firm is keying in on overseas growth.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji
By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Muji has been sustainable from the beginning
Muji has been sustainable from the beginning

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