Nevin Thompson is the Japan Editor for Global Voices. He is a translator, writer, and journalist, and has been connected to Japan for more than twenty years.
Nevin currently lives and works on an island off the West Coast of Canada, and spends about three months each year with his family in Tsuruga, a small city on the Japan Sea Coast, just north of Kyoto.
Latest posts by Nevin Thompson
20 June 2018
That time when the Japanese Ultraman franchise held a funeral for its monsters
What happens in Japan when you experience bad luck? A funeral may be one solution...
9 June 2018
Japan's Hirokazu Kore'eda wins big at Cannes. Here's a short selection of his films.
"I have never made a film to praise or to criticize something. That kind of filmmaking is nothing but propaganda."
21 May 2018
Making Japan's hot springs more friendly for LGBT folks
"This is the first time I've entered a communal bath in 13 years. It made me so happy!”
16 May 2018
Japanese high school girls wear badges warning would-be train gropers: ‘I'm not going to take it!
"We want the idea that 'you must have been doing something to attract a chikan' to stop!"
7 May 2018
Tweeting out Japan's idiosyncratic folk customs
Fish heads, jumping frogs and conjugal foxes: one Twitter account takes a look at arcane folk traditions from every corner of Japan.
30 April 2018
Springtime in Japan means the return of the country's beloved swallows
For many Japanese people, the return of the swallows is something to look forward to, and an experience to treasure.
7 April 2018
How ‘Power Harassment’ and ‘Karoshi’ Continue to Cause Serious Problems for Japanese Workers
“Power harassment”, which includes verbal intimidation, emotional abuse, and forcing employees to work overtime with no pay, and “karoshi“ (or “death from over-work”), are becoming real perils in Japan.
26 March 2018
Photos of Japanese Soldiers in the Trenches During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905
The colorized stereographs provide a fascinating glimpse into a war that in many ways was a precursor to the events of the 20th century.
4 March 2018
Black In Tokyo: a Documentary About Life in Japan
The film follows five subjects, with origins ranging from West Africa to the United States, narrating the different cultural challenges and opportunities of living in Tokyo, Japan.
26 February 2018
Twitter Thread of Observations and Surprising Moments in Japan Goes Viral
When a user experience designer traveled to Tokyo he was surprised and amazed by the small details of daily life. His observations about Japan then went viral on Twitter.
17 February 2018
A Fascinating Glimpse Into the Life of a Popular Chimpanzee in Pre-War Japan
"In the 1930s, one of the most popular animals at Tennoji Zoo in Osaka was Rita the chimpanzee."
23 January 2018
Chaos in the Capital: Photos of Record Snowfall in Tokyo
Heavy snow shuts down Tokyo and provides a chance to snap stunning pictures.
13 January 2018
Japanese Media Struggles to Translate Trump's “Shithole”
"Fascinating that media outlets find it easier to print "shithole" than 'racist' or 'racism'."
12 January 2018
‘We Have Entered the World of Adulthood, so We'll Do Our Best!’ Japan Marks Coming of Age Day
Reunions, revelry and motorized mischief mark Coming of Age Day in Japan.
30 December 2017
Incarceration of Left-wing Japanese Newspaper Editor Sparks Fears of Threat to Free Speech
"We are very concerned that these types of suppression against citizens by the police will expand. The whole purpose of [conspiracy law] is to repress citizen movement and the press."
29 December 2017
7 Global Voices Stories That Resonated With Readers in 2017
They spanned topics like memes, tattoos, and injustice, and focused on countries as diverse as Syria, Brazil, and Macedonia.
20 November 2017
Japanese Students Practice Taking Cover for Missiles Passing Overhead. But What About a Direct Attack?
Students took part in a drill in preparation for a missile attack. But there are no hints about what to do in the aftermath.
10 November 2017
Traveling Japan by Bus… on YouTube
One YouTube user has traveled from one end of Japan to the other by local bus, uploading video of the entire trip.
6 November 2017
Watch a Short History of Japan's Frighteningly Good Horror Films
A YouTube channel offers an excellent introduction to Japanese horror cinema.
30 October 2017
Japan's Largest Diwali Celebration Featured Food, Dancing and a Naan Flatbread Mascot
Thanks to increasing ties between the two countries, the number of Indians living in Japan has increased over the past two decades to at least 28,000.
