civic media enthusiast. interested in digital engagement, radio, youth culture. B.A. in Journalism, M.S. in Information Technology.
Latest posts by Keiko Tanaka
Twitter Japan is Not a Safe Space for Minority Users
"Of respondents who reported they found it unpleasant when coming across discriminatory articles online (as described above), 19.8% said they would refrain from using the Internet."
Non-Japanese Who Stayed in Sendai After 3.11 Earthquake Walk for Recovery
Despite being uncertain of what the future might bring, dozens of non-Japanese people decided to remain in their adopted home of Sendai, a coastal city located in the north of Japan hit by massive tsunami triggered by the earthquake of March 11, 2011. Sharing the footsteps to recovery, those standing together...
A Group of University Students in Kyoto Want Japan, China and Korea to Just Be ‘Happy’
Relations between the three countries are often prickly because of territorial and historical disputes. A group of students made a 'Happy' video to promote a message of friendship.
What's the Beef? Strike Call at Japanese Fast Food Chain Sukiya
Are workers at Sukiya, the Japanese fast food chain famous for its $3 gyūdon beef rice bowl, really going on strike?
VIRAL VIDEO: ‘But We're Speaking Japanese’
A video skit of a Japanese waitress serving a group of foreign-looking customers who speak Japanese has gone viral. The clip has resonated among many Japanese-speaking expats who occasionally experience how local Japanese communicate with foreigners based not on the language they are speaking but on how they look. Watch the...
Japan's Yu Terasawa Named ‘Information Hero’ by Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders, a France-based non-governmental organization that defends freedom of information and freedom of the press, has for the first time created a list of 100 Information Heroes. From Japan, Yu Terasawa was among them. He is an investigative journalist and has written books exposing police corruption. Reporters Without Borders...
Japan's Citizen Media Meet at Mikawa Medifes 2014
Citizen media makers in Japan are gathering in the Mikawa region of Japan's Aichi prefecture this weekend for the 12th annual citizen media conference Mikawa Medifes 2014 [ja]. Dozens of sessions about civic media will be held at the Kariya City Cultural Center from May 3 to 5, 2014. Themed in...
How Online Discussions on Whaling Get Twisted in Japan
The International Court of Justice ruled against Japan's Southern Ocean whale hunt. Online conversation is often dominated by those fervently defending the custom of whaling.
Japan Makes Public Transportation More Stroller-Friendly for Parents
Traveling with a baby stroller on Japan's crowded public transportation can make for an uncomfortable juggling act. New standardized rules aim to make it easier for parents.
PHOTOS: Picnicking Under Japan's Cherry Blossoms
"Hanami", as the activity of flower viewing is called in Japanese, is in full bloom now that cherry blossom season has arrived.
Remote Hubs in Asia for NETmundial Internet Governance Meeting
NETmundial, which will bring together people from a variety of backgrounds to discuss the principles of Internet governance, is set to be held in São Paulo on 23 and 24 April 2014. It will also have 33 remote hubs in 31 cities spread throughout 22 countries that will allow for...
Lies and Falsehoods Keep the World Go ‘Round in Japan
Twitter user @suzaks1 criticized [ja] the amount of lies and inaccuracies that are making Japanese headlines: ホテルの食材も北の国のレールも何処かの役場の書類もクラッシックの楽曲も国が誇るトップレベルの研究所や有名大学院で博士なるための論文も、みんな虚偽だらけ虚偽まみれ。それでも回っちゃってる変な国。原発だって爆発して当然だわ。国土汚染しても嘘の上塗りで皆を騙せられる便利な国。こえ～ — 須崎真一NoMyCar,NoNukes (@suzaks1) 2014, 3月 14 [Japan is a] country covered in lies: fake ingredients on the menu of top Japanese hotels, railway gauges fabricated in Hokkaido, major symphony music by a fraud composer, and...
Join IGF Japan to Discuss Internet Governance
IGF Japan, the Japanese chapter of the Internet Governance Forum, where people involved in web come together to discuss Internet governance challenges, will be held on March 14, 2014 at Aoyama Gakuin University. Sessions cover topics such as personal data and privacy, emerging generic top-level domains in Japan, and global online...
VIDEO: Fashion Resistance to Militarism
The “Fashion Resistance to Militarism” [ja], a fashion show organized by Asian Women’s Association, a non-profit women's right organization to call attention to the issue of violence against women, took place on December 1, 2013. The full video is now available here.
Countering Hate Speech in Tokyo's Koreatown
Shin-Okubo, a district in Tokyo with high concentration of ethnic Korean residents, has been experiencing an escalation of anti-Korean protests by some extremely racist citizen groups in recent years.
Japan's Endangered Languages Still Considered Mere Dialects
It may come as a surprise, but Japan has eight endangered languages. We interviewed Fija Byron, who is fighting to protect the language of Okinawan.
Japan Slides Further Down in World Press Freedom Index
"To put it bluntly, media is even less believable than a politician."
Art Arises From Snow-Covered Tokyo
The heaviest snowfall in 45 years hit Tokyo over the weekend. The unusual amount of snow triggered traffic accidents, killing 11 and injuring thousands, and travel was disrupted across the country. However, amid the cold and white, some used the snow to create beautiful, fun and sometimes strange artwork. RocketNews24...
Tokyo Snowfall Sends Voter Turnout Plunging in Governor Election
Only 46.16 percent of voters went to the polls to cast their ballots for governor, the third lowest in history.
Is Japan Alone? Survey on Dance Regulations and Clubbing
Fresh off writing a series of posts on dance club regulations in Japan for Tokyo's city life magazine Time Out, James Hadfield is taking a survey on clubbers around the world: In light of the ongoing controversy regarding clubbing in Japan, where clubs continue to be shut down and harassed...
Japan's US Base Plan Hits Snafu With Local Mayor's Re-Election
Susumu Inamine, who opposes a plan to transfer the US airbase from Futenma to Henoko district, a coastal area of his city, was re-elected on January 20.
