Stories about Japan from December, 2009
Japan: 2009 Tokyo Art Scene
William Andrews at the Tokyo Art Beat blog reviews the Tokyo art scene for the past year: “It was a nervous year, with the world-wide economic crisis always lurking.”
Japan: Things just got worse
“Japanese OO got worse in 2009″. Umeten gives a list [ja] of all the things that got worse in Japan this year, from economy to music magazines to baseball … A link to other blogs or websites for each item.
Japan: Spread the message, translate it
A video interview [en] of Kyo Kageura, head of the project Minna no Honyaku (みんなの翻訳, Translation for all) [ja], a new translation platform that helps NGOs and NPOs to spread their messages thanks to volunteer translators. Global Voices Japan asked him about the challenge of Minna no Honyaku [en], the...
Japan: And the kanji of 2009 is …
Blogger fenetre39 comments [ja] on the kanji, or chinese character, chosen by the Kanji Kentei Foundation as representative of 2009. The kanji is 新 (ara or shin), meaning “new”. In the blogger`s opinion, the reason of the choice [ja] is mainly due to the “new” government that took power in August.
Japan: Best & Worst of the Japanese Decade
Some pictures by photographer Manny Santiago collected under the title Best & Worst of the Japanese decade.
Japan: Entrepreneurship
Fumi Yamazaki from What's happening in Japan right now? blogs about a gathering in Tokyo, Startup Weekend, among developers, business managers, startup enthusiasts, marketing gurus, graphic artists to share their experiences in businesses and projects.
Japan: Peace picture books
The pacifist association called Peace Picture Books [ja, en] published online their last story titled Evil & Punishment: psychology of punishment [en]. On the same website it`s possible to read picture books by different illustrators.
Japan: A short documentary on Japanese Social Media
At the Medifes event, Global Voices interviewed some participants to provide an overview of the local scene through the eyes and voices of those who try to make a difference in the media landscape of Japan.
Japan's Companies CSR Reports
Martin J Frid discusses about corporate social responsibility commitment of Japan's companies in reducing CO2 emission and environmental protection.
Twitter in Japan
Fumi Yamazaki tells her readers how Twitter is quickly increasing its presence in Japan nowadays.
Japan and South Korea: Prostitution
Robert Koehler from The Marmot's Hole blogs about sexual service in South Korea that targets at Japanese male.
Japan: An overview of mouth watering gourmet blogs
Japanese cuisine is rich in variety and it varies a great deal according to the season and the region, and trying out food at various restaurants, so called tabearuki (食べ歩き), is a hobby shared by many people in Japan. Uploading pictures of the delicacies to be had at a special...
Japan: Graveyards, Golf Courses, Forests Or Farmland?
Martin J Frid from Kurashi blogs about the land use distribution in rural Japan.
Japan: Kiko Network blogging from Copenhagen
Martin J Frid introduced a Japanese NGO, Kiko Network, which focuses on climate change issue. The group has sent three people in Copenhagen to report on the COP15.
Japan: Worst Corruption Cases of 2009
The Berlin based Trasparency International published a summary [en, pdf] of the 10 Worst Corruption Cases of 2009 (in Japan).
Japan: A History of Modern Japanese Literary Criticism
Ryan Morrison of Neojaponisme gives an overview [en] of the history of modern Japanese literary criticism.
Michael Moore in Japan
James from Japan Probe blogs about American film maker Michael Moore's visit to Japan.
Japan: Open government
Tobias Harris from Observing Japan blogs about the Hatoyama government's attempt in building a transparent and open government.
Japan: Moving Beyond a TV Drama Production
There are some television shows that become fashion trend setters (à la Sex and the City) but what would you think if a show was designed as a vehicle to sell clothes? With television stations in a financial slump with shrinking advertising revenues, Kansai Television is experimenting with a new...
About our Japan coverage
Nevin Thompson is our Japan editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.
