News On Japan

Lawson opens 1st avatar-staffed convenience store in Tokyo

Lawson Inc. opened Monday its first futuristic convenience store in Tokyo staffed by "avatars" remotely controlled by employees, making it possible for even those with mobility issues to enter the workforce. (Kyodo)

Tokyo students take oral English test in high school entry exam amid doubts

The Tokyo metropolitan government has, for the first time, administered an English speaking test as part of its public high school entry exam amid doubts that the tests will be graded fairly. (Kyodo)

Japanese fans tidy up, say ‘thank you’ at World Cup

The sight of Japanese fans at a World Cup bagging trash after a match - win or lose - always surprises non-Japanese. Japanese players are famous for doing the same in their team dressing room: hanging up towels, cleaning the floor and even leaving a thank-you note. (taipeitimes.com)

Rank-and-filer Abi wins Kyushu sumo tournament after 3-way playoff

Rank-and-file wrestler Abi has won the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament after the first three-way playoff in 28 years. (NHK)

29 November 2022

WEATHER

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SOCIETY

Police: Three workers caught in dust collector at building materials maker
NHK - Nov 28
Police in Mie Prefecture, central Japan, say three workers have been caught in a dust collector at a plant of a building materials maker.

Emperor Naruhito visits hospital for more prostate tests
NHK - Nov 28
Japan's Emperor Naruhito has visited a hospital to have his prostate examined again after the previous test results showed some slightly concerning data.

Man arrested for abducting 7-year-old girl, keeping her in his car
Japan Today - Nov 26
Police in Joyo, Kyoto Prefecture, have arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of abducting a seven-year-old girl and keeping her confined in his car.

Japanese fans run across Tokyo's Shibuya crossing in celebration of World Cup win
The Telegraph - Nov 25
Japanese fans celebrated their team's World Cup 2-1 victory against Germany by running across Tokyo's famous Shibuya crossing.

[more society news…]

BUSINESS

Lawson opens 1st avatar-staffed convenience store in Tokyo
Kyodo - Nov 29
Lawson Inc. opened Monday its first futuristic convenience store in Tokyo staffed by "avatars" remotely controlled by employees, making it possible for even those with mobility issues to enter the workforce.

Tokyo arbitration body orders Uber Eats to negotiate with deliverers' union
NHK - Nov 26
A labor dispute arbitration body of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has ordered the operator of the food delivery service Uber Eats to negotiate with its deliverers' labor union.

Japan records highest increase in commodity prices in 4 decades
see.news - Nov 26
Official data issued by the Japanese government revealed on Friday that the prices of basic commodities of interest to consumers in the capital, Tokyo, rose by 3.6% in November compared to the same period in the previous year, recording the largest increase since 1982 amid the rise in energy and food prices, which have increasingly put pressure on household budgets.

Japan's wealthy fail to declare record-high 84 billion yen in earnings
NHK - Nov 25
Japan's National Tax Agency has found that the country's wealthy failed to declare a record-high 83.9 billion yen in earnings during the year through June.

[more business news…]

POLITICS

Freed Japanese filmmaker says Myanmar junta used him for propaganda
laprensalatina.com - Nov 29
Japanese filmmaker Toru Kubota said on Monday that the Myanmar military government used him for propaganda as they made him pose with an anti-junta banner and used the photos as evidence to jail him on sedition charges.

Widow expresses disappointment over civil court ruling
NHK - Nov 26
The widow of a deceased Finance Ministry official said she is disappointed with a civil court ruling that failed to reveal any information about how her husband was pressured to falsify government documents.

Japan builds case to dissolve scandal-hit Unification Church
Nikkei - Nov 22
The case against the Unification Church is strong. Testimonials from former members such as Ogawa have been making headlines in Japan since Abe's death.

Kishida sacks scandal-hit internal affairs minister
Nikkei - Nov 21
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida sacked internal affairs minister Minoru Terada on Sunday, as pressure built on the premier to fire him over a funds-related scandal amid falling support ratings for his Cabinet.

[more politics news…]

ENTERTAINMENT

The 10 Most Popular Kabuki Dances
Kabuki In-Depth - Nov 28
In this video, we take a quick tour of 10 of the most popular works in the kabuki dance repertoire.

Easy to paint without a brush! Acrylic painting
Watercolor by Shibasaki - Nov 28
This is Shibasaki, your painting instructor. Today I would like to try painting without using a paintbrush. Please take your time to see how it will turn out.

Record of Ragnarok II | Official Trailer
Netflix Anime - Nov 25
This anime, based on the popular manga serialized in Monthly Comic Zenon and which has sold over 14 million copies, enters its second phase!

The Aragoto Demon Queller ・ Oshimodoshi EXPLAINED (1727)
Kabuki In-Depth - Nov 24
Oshimodoshi is an almost 300 years old scene in the aragoto style, first performed by Ichikawa Danjūrō II in 1727, at the Nakamura-za theatre in Edo. Ever since, playwrights have incorporated it into their newly created works for a spectacular and climatic conclusion.

[more entertainment news…]

FOOD

Bonenkai restaurant bookings bounce back in Japan
NHK - Nov 29
The time-honored tradition of ringing the year out with a restaurant party is making a comeback in Japan, according to a major online booking site that says reservations are at nearly 70 percent of the level seen just before the pandemic.

Omakase Tempura Course Meal in Central Tokyo!
Japan by Food - Nov 29
In today's video, Shizuka dresses up to enjoy an omakase (chef's choice) tempura course at Tempura Ono. Celebrated chef Koichiro Shimura presents a beautiful course meal of tempura, highlighting seasonal flavors and premium ingredients.

First time Experiencing Sushi Omakase in Japan
Chonnyday - Nov 29
We have never experienced sushi like this. We were lucky enough to try the SUSHI at Andaz Tokyo

The Oldest Tea House in the World! Exploring Uji Kyoto
Japan by Food - Nov 21
How much matcha is too matcha? Never enough in this Kyoto town! Shizuka travels to Uji, the birthplace of this quintessential Japanese green tea, to find out.

[more food news…]

TRAVEL

Japan’s Overnight Sleeper Train Sunrise Express First Class Adventure
At JAPAN - Nov 28
Tonight I took the Sunrise Izumo sleeper express from Okayama station to Tokyo station in the highest class seat "Single Deluxe Seat".

Is This a Hotel? Staying at a CONTAINER Hotel in Japan
travelgeek - Nov 28
This time, we are trying a hotel made of "containers" in Chiba, Japan. What is it like to sleep in a container?

Tokyo palace grounds open for 1st time in 3 years for autumn viewing
NHK - Nov 27
People enjoyed viewing autumn foliage inside the Imperial Palace in Tokyo for the first time in three years as a section has been reopened to the public.

Foreigners enjoy "secret" autumn leaves
TV Asahi - Nov 22
With the autumn leaves in Tokyo already in the final stages, foreigners are visiting "secret" tourist spots. While being familiar to Japanese people, these autumn leaf locations have become special for foreigners.

[more travel news…]

FEATURED BLOGS

Nov 26

Tokyo Disneyland is giving the Haunted Mansion an anime-style re-theme

Anime-style characters star in limited-time mystery addition to classic Disneyland attraction.

These days, pretty much every attraction that gets added to Disney's theme parks has a strong connection to an already-established animation or movie ...

Nov 24

Beginner?s Guide to Onsen in Japan

One of the best parts of Japan's winter traditions is going to an onsen (hot spring). Submerging yourself in hot water warms your cold bones like nothing else, leaving you relaxed and ready for bed when you step out of the changing rooms.

Going to...

Nov 24

Studio Ghibli Films? Real-Life Locations in Japan

When you were young, did you daydream about visiting the bathhouse in Spirited Away, or wandering through the forest from Princess Mononoke? Studio Ghibli (???????) is a household name in Japan and has also gained recognition around the world. How...

Nov 23

Bottled hot water selling like bottled hot cakes in Japan

Hot water is the hottest water around.

Bottled waters have long been the rage in Japan, with store shelves lined with all kinds of flavors and levels of carbonation to appeal to increasingly health-conscious consumers. And on 1 November, Asahi S...

Nov 23

Japan must reform its inflexible work culture

Author: Hiroshi Ono, Hitotsubashi University

Working in Japan is full of inflexibilities. Flexible work arrangements, such as remote work and flexible work hours, remain low compared to other OECD countries. Digitalisation has been slow to launch ...

[more blogs…]