Stories about Japanese from February, 2013
Defending Capital Punishment in Japan
Would you still be against it if someone you loved was killed by a psychotic murderer? Human rights organization Amnesty International called for the death penalty to be abolished in Japan...
As Japan's Star Fades, Many Struggle for Hope
As Japan's economic growth continues to shrink each year, the Japanese, who find themselves more and more disconnected from their families and friends thanks to grueling works days and the Internet's erosion of personal relationships, are finding it difficult to put on a happy face.
Evacuate the Children of Fukushima
Parents, residents and lawyers are taking to the streets demanding that their children by evacuated from Japan's Fukushima region, where they claim radiation levels continue to be high.
Japan's Porn Law is Strangling Artists
World renown Fashion photographer Leslie Kee was arrested for selling obscene images at his latest exhibition in Tokyo. But is his work art or porn? In this post we look at the regulation of 'offensive' artistic expression in Japan.
Japan's Conservation Groups Fight to Preserve Wetlands
Damp and marshy, they seem boring and barren. But contrary to their appearance, tidal flats or coastal wetlands are rich in biodiversity and help maintain balance in the water cycle. For Japan, which hosts 46 of the 2,098 registered wetlands worldwide, their conservation is essential.
Japan's Corporate Slaves Put Humor to Hard Work
With a twist of comedy, moral and technical support has been pouring in across social media sites for Japan's "corporate slaves" or "Shachiku" as they are referred to in Japanese slang.
Historic ‘Tanka’ Poem Rises from Japan's Nuclear Ashes
Drawing from contemporary issues, a Japanese blogger writes an adaptation of a famous piece of tanka - a genre of Japanese poetry - originally published in 1957 by an avant-garde Japanese artist, Shuji Terayama. What will you hear in this piece which has been re-created more than half a century after its original?
Elmo, Domo and Pikachu Bring Smiles to Japan
“Project: Holding hands” (Teo Tsunago Daisakusen) [ja, en] is an art project that uses iconic children's characters to bring smiles to the people of Japan, especially children following the 2011 earthquake.
