Stories about Japan from October, 2009
Japan: When Your Wife is Sick
When Japanese “corporate livestock” (社蓄 shachiku) culture and values on marriage collide – more than 300 people responded to this question on the mega forum Hatsugen Komachi: Should a husband...
Japan: Latest survey on poverty destroys the prosperity myth
One Japanese in six is living in poverty says the latest Welfare Ministry report [en]. According to OECD figures [en], Japan has one of the highest poverty rates in the...
Inheritance tax and children in limbo: adoption in Japan.
Adoption in Japan is a statistically under-represented, multi-dimensional issue. Young families seeking children, inheritance tax-evading grandchild adoptions, conservative opposition to confusing family blood-lines, and loosely regulated groups illegally netting profit...
Japan: Avatars come to life in the anime Summer Wars
Against the background of the Japanese countryside, feel good sentiments and an extraordinary virtual world are featured in Summer Wars (サマーウォーズSama wozu) [ja], the new animated movie by director Mamoru...
How the recession has affected motherhood
When the economies of world plummeted late last year, that “motherhood” would be a victim of the spiraling trend might not have been foremost in the minds of most. However,...
Japan: The Buddha girls
They call them 'Buddha girls' (仏女 butsujo), Japanese ladies in their 30s or 40s passionate about visiting temples and admiring statues of Buddha and Bodhisattva.
Japan: Reactions to Tokyo's Olympic Bid (Part Two)
What does the Japanese blogosphere and Twitterverse have to say about Tokyo's bid to host the 2016 Olympics? Part Two introduces some reactions after Rio won the bid.
Japan: Reactions to Tokyo's Olympic Bid (Part One)
What does the Japanese blogosphere and Twitterverse have to say about Tokyo's bid to host the 2016 Olympics? Part One introduces some reactions before the announcements at the bid ceremony...
About our Japan coverage
Nevin Thompson is our Japan editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.
