‘Rakugo’ solo act heads to Europe, with subtitles
A master of the traditional Japanese art of storytelling known as “rakugo” is embarking on his first tour of Europe, where he will perform his “sit-down” comedy with subtitles to show audiences how...
View ArticleFlash mobs put spotlight on kimono
A group of kimono enthusiasts is trying to change people’s attitudes about the traditional attire by invading public spaces en masse. Kimono Jack — a group that takes its name from the Japanese...
View ArticleSecrets law far too wide-reaching: U.S. expert
The new state secrets law is so broad that it’s self-defeating and must be amended before it comes into force in December or it will have a chilling effect on free speech, according to U.S. national...
View ArticleCampus cafeteria in Chiba serves up halal food for thought
At a university in the city of Chiba, a halal-certified cafeteria decorated with keepsakes from across Asia is helping exchange students feel at home and teaching Japanese students about other cultures...
View ArticleDiet faces call for affirmative action to increase female candidates
The failure of Japan's political parties to field more women is sparking calls to legislate a gender quota for elections to catch up with the West. The post Diet faces call for affirmative action to...
View ArticleCrowdsourcing may hold key to unlocking Japan’s working potential
As Japan tries to mobilize underemployed workers and revitalize business outside major city centers like Tokyo and Osaka, crowdsourcing — the allocation of tasks to remote workers online — may become a...
View ArticlePersevering pear mascot ‘Funassyi’ hopes to be positive symbol of Japan
The popular “pear fairy” cartoon mascot Funassyi held its first press conference with the foreign media in Tokyo on Thursday, saying its unlikely path to success is a symbol of the country’s admiration...
View ArticleAt Shinjuku club, cross-dressing men let their hair, guard down
Like many haunts in Shinjuku Ni-chome, Tokyo’s gay quarter, Onnanoko Club (Girls’ Club) seeks to provide a home from home for its clientele, with staff chatting at ease with customers to take their...
View ArticleAromas of old town Tokyo attract new visitors
A traditionally working-class neighborhood in Tokyo that rose from the ashes to become one of the city’s favorite retreats lies a stone’s throw east of the Sumida River across from Nihombashi. In the...
View ArticleTohoku tsunami debris, some with invasive life, still turning up on North...
When debris from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster in northeast Japan first wended its over through the Pacific Ocean’s currents, concerns about potential radioactive contaminants from the...
View ArticleCat cafes facing more scrutiny as owners’ top priority not always felines,...
The prospect of an afternoon of relaxation in the company of fluffy, purring friends has earned cat cafes a top spot on the itineraries of visitors to Japan, but not all operators have the interests of...
View ArticleAbe, Li try to move on despite choppy seas
Despite vociferous rhetoric and confrontations over the South China Sea at the Asia-Europe Meeting, Japan’s prime minister and China’s premier took care to ensure their meeting could be viewed as a...
View ArticleJapan pushing ‘quality’ aid to counter China’s clout in ASEAN
Unable to match dollar-for-dollar China’s massive investment in Southeast Asia, Japan’s future relevance in the region appears to hinge on it convincingly offering a “quality over quantity” approach....
View ArticleTrump’s scrapping of TPP complicates Japan’s trade, growth options
With Trump’s resolve to kill the TPP trade deal, analysts say Abe’s best chance at overcoming the setback lies in tapping into the business orientation ...
View ArticleJapan high on post-Brexit Britain’s FTA priority list: new envoy
The close relationship between London and Tokyo will put Japan high on Britain’s list for negotiating new bilateral trade deals after it leaves the European ...
View ArticleFear of losing Trump on trade and defense lies behind Abe’s silence over...
While Japan’s peers in Europe and elsewhere have voiced alarm over U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order limiting immigration and refugees, Tokyo has remained nearly ...
View ArticleKishida defends skipping U.N. talks, saying nuclear weapons ban would widen...
Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida on Saturday defended Japan’s choice not to participate in U.N. talks toward a treaty banning nuclear weapons, saying that proceeding would ...
View ArticleG-7 unity on North Korea puts China in spotlight
At their meeting in Italy, Group of Seven leaders harden their stance on North Korea but analysts say this is just a start in efforts ...
View ArticleYoung connect with anime ‘Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni’ about Hiroshima A-bombing
For young Japanese who have known only peace, an animated portrait of an ordinary woman’s wartime life has brought the devastation of war and nuclear ...
View ArticlePoetic justice: One American’s 47-year campaign against nuclear weapons
A sense of responsibility toward survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki has led a U.S. man on a lifelong journey, working to ...
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