Stories about Japan from April, 2010
Japan: Plastic duck race
Photoreporter Damoncoulter uploaded original pictures of the duck race held at the second Ashigara River festival in Matsuda city (south of Tokyo). Some hundred yellow, plastic ducks are emptied into the river and “the monies raised are plowed back into environmental organizations that clean up the river and Ashigara area.”
Japan: Kabuki Theatre to be Rebuilt
One of the most recognizable buildings in Japan, the grand, old Kabuki-za in Ginza is closing this month. It will be torn down and become a theater and office complex with direct connections to the subway station. Be sure to click this link to see a sketch of the planned...
Japan: Remove the U.S. Marine Base From Ginowan
Martin from Kurashi blogs about the recent protest in Tokyo calling for the Japanese Parliament to remove the U.S. marine air base from Futenma, Okinawa in the city of Ginowan.
Japan: The art of making Sake
A few pictures by Buddhika illustrate the art of making sake, the alcholic beverage made from rice. The photographer portrays some workers at a sake distillery in Fukui Prefecture.
Japan: Blogosphere Reactions to the Nikkei Ban on Links
Growing up in a salaryman household in Japan, one assumes that in the future, one will start wearing a tie, drink coffee, and read the Nikkei. And that would mean that you're all grown up! Admittedly, this is a gross exaggeration but hopefully it conveys the tone of the Nikkei's...
China and Japan: AV star Aoi Sola writes to China fans
Alice from DANWEI translated adult video star Aoi Sola's blog post to her China fans.
China and Japan: 2010 World Expo theme song
Chinese netizen from KDN found out that a 1997 Japanese song has plagiarized our 2010 World Expo theme song! – Translation via ChinaSMACK
Japan: People live longer, so do TV shows
Japan may be known for the longevity of its people, but the TV programs have a rich and long history as its population. There are some series that have been on air for more than half a century. What's interesting is its variety: everything from talk shows, news, and sports...
Japan: Diet Session Snapshot
A photo of members from the newly formed political party Sunrise Party of Japan nodding off has been making the rounds in the 2channel boards and Twittersphere. The party name can also be translated as “Stand Up, Japan! Party”, causing many a joke.
Japan: New Hires Seen Around Town
New hires that started their jobs on April 1st “reminds me of baby penguins standing around waiting for their masters to bring them scraps of food…”, says The Adventures of a Foreign Salaryman in Tokyo.
Japan: The enigma of Japanese intellectuals
Ken Mogi shares his thoughts on “The enigma of Japanese intellectuals“: “Although it is sometimes a dirty word, I consider myself as “a kind of” intellectual. “
Japan: Toilet terror
Pink tectacle has a collection of pictures on legendary ghost Hanako-san, a spooky young girl that haunts school restrooms across Japan.
Japan: The Nikkei stops free links
Andy in Tokyo wrote a post [en] on the Japanese financial newspaper Nikkei Shimbun's new policy, according to which “linking to any of its articles – and even its home page – now requires a written application.”
Ustream and Twitter changing politics in Japan
Fumi Yamazaki blogs about the use of Ustream and Twitter by Japanese politicians and how it brings changes to politics in Japan.
Japan: 2channel Advice for New Hires
Matt Alt translates “nuggets of wisdom for new hires at Japanese companies from the anonymous hordes of 2ch”. It offers another angle on the subject to our article “Japan: Call us Social Beings Now!“.
Japan: Call us social beings now!
April 1st marks a new academic year for students and the first day of work for the young, new employees. To distinguish them from the students, who don’t pay taxes and have no civic responsibilities, those who work and contribute with their job to ‘society’ are referred to as ‘social people’ - shakaijin in Japanese.
Japan: The meaning of globalization
Chikirin reflects upon the meaning of ‘globalization’ [ja]. She wonders whether it's really possible to call ‘global’ the Japanese companies, only because they export their products abroad, while their personnel remains very ‘local’. In her elaborate post, the blogger also compares the Japanese companies with the European and American ones,...
Japan: Remote-control female android
Pink Tentacle has a post on a robot project by Osaka University to create a realistic-looking remote-control female android that mimics the facial expressions and speech of a human operator.
Japan: Sakura in bloom
The beauty of the cherry blossoms (sakura) in bloom is immortalized by Asiaimages’ pictures.
Japan: Cosplay carnival
The Englishman posts pictures of a cosplay carnival in Osaka.
About our Japan coverage
Nevin Thompson is our Japan editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.
