· September, 2010

Stories about Japan from September, 2010

Japan: “Our Park” a documentary about Tokyo's Nike Miyashita Park

  26 September 2010

Directors Emil Langballe and Maria Samoto le Dous produced a documentary titled Our Park [en] about Tokyo's Miyashita Park [en], which is also called Nike Park [en] after sportswear multinational Nike bought its naming rights in 2008. The film focuses on the group of artists and activists who have been...

Japan: Hiring research talent from abroad

  23 September 2010

In “No choice but need to hire from abroad?“, Sibylle Ito outlines how some Japanese companies in different sectors are taking a multinational approach to supplement research and product development power.

Japan, China fishing boat row: a war of words

  19 September 2010

Just as the Diaoyu Islands row between Japan and China intensifies over the detention of a Chinese fishing captain, whose detention has just been extended by a further 10 days, a war of words has broken out between prominent bloggers Yoshikazu Kato and Zhang Wen. Yoshikazu Kato, bilingual in Japanese...

Japan: A new cabinet, again

  19 September 2010

Tobias Harris at observingjapan comments [en] on the new cabinet that was formed after Prime Minister Kan won the DPJ party leadership election last week.

Japan: Welcoming Karen refugees

  15 September 2010

Adamu at Mutantfrog reported the news [en] that by the end of September a group of 27 Karen refugees, natives of Burma, will resettle in Japan. The blogger also investigates the issue of refugees in Japan.

Japan: Reflections on normality

  14 September 2010

Kei999 reflects [ja] upon the meaning of normality. In a post titled “Is ‘normal’ ‘right'?” the blogger takes into consideration various issues such as homosexuality and the practice called fūfu bessei (that would allow [en] couples to keep their surnames after marriage).

Japan, Korea: Traces Of Japan-Korea History Within The Zainichi Community

  11 September 2010

August 10th, 2010 will remain a historical date in the Japan-South Korea diplomatic relations as the Japanese Prime Minister apologized for past crimes during the Japanese occupation of Korea. Still, some bloggers found themselves wanting for a clearer apology and a mention of the Zainichi community, the largest Korean community in Japan.

Taiwan: The Allure of Night Markets

  7 September 2010

After sunset in Taiwan, when the stars start to twinkle, night markets are crowded with people from all walks of life. To Taiwanese, night markets are more than mere eating places, and now the culture of the night market has become a distinctive and precious touristic experience for foreigners visiting Taiwan.

Japan: Ancient medical woodblock prints

  6 September 2010

Pinktentacle published [en] some images of a health-themed woodblock prints collection that dates back to the 19th century. The series of 400 prints is maintained by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and “offers a unique look at Japanese medical knowledge in the late Edo and early Meiji periods.”

Japan: Run Uncle Yamashita!

  5 September 2010

A 62-year-old Japanese man, known as uncle Yamashita, rollerbladed across the United States from the east to the west coast. During his 6000 km journey he tweeted @kenyamashita62 [ja] and was in contact with his supporters through Facebook [ja, en]. A group of friends also followed his adventure at two...