Have you ever wondered why people from East Asian countries appear to be reserved in meetings, including conferences and university lectures? It could be that they are trying to avoid an argument. Both the Japanese and the Chinese prize group harmony and always seek to avoid a row. But actually, some teachers long for their …
Russia and Japan are still bitter rivals, despite a friendly welcome for President Putin in Osaka for the latest G20 meeting. The nations went to war twice last century and Russia’s recently been conducting missile tests close to Japan’s northern border. Prime Minister Abe Shinzo Abe says he wants a peace deal with Russia. But …
The Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is an experienced diplomat but he’s been derided for failure in his latest effort in the Middle East. He has failed to broker peace between America and Iran. In fact, the situation’s got much worse, almost to the brink of a major conflict. That’s a blow to Mr Abe’s …
Japan does quite well with recycling but still most plastics are burned in a furnace. Most plastic bottles which are thrown away in Japan are burned in a furnace. That can produce energy but it also leads to more greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change. Could there be a better way to deal with …
Some of Japan’s women have been angrily kicking back against the pressure to wear high heeled shoes. They say the government should intervene and the blame is being laid firmly at the feet of men. Blogger Duncan Bartlett doesn’t think it’s men’s fault – or the government’s. He says it’s all down to social convention. …
With durable diplomatic relation, the momentum of Vietnam – Japan Free Trade Agreement (VJFTA), Vietnam – Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (VJEPA), ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (AJCEP) and Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Vietnam-Japan trade and investment relation has been boosted magnificently. “Rising Trade” The amount of Vietnam-Japan trade is spiking, …
It was all smiles when Donald Trump met business leaders in London and Tokyo recently. They told him they want more trade with the US, despite his disruptive and sometimes confrontational approach. But for Japan, it’s also important to be nice to China – so business leaders will also welcome President Xi Jinping to Tokyo …
It may be painful to pander to Trump but businesses reckon it’s worth it Read More »
I like chewy, hot squid on a stick – even though it looks like a cross between an ice cream and a sea monster. It’s not easy to eat, though, and I often make a mess. I now realise that my rudeness may be fuelling resentment among my Japanese hosts. Are they too polite to …
Sea monster ice cream deserves good table manners Read More »
It’s hard to imagine the Japanese Self Defence Force going to war in Egypt. But two officers are heading there to try to keep the peace between Egypt and Israel. It’s not the first time the Japanese have become involved in peacekeeping operations. In this week’s Japan Story blog I ask if the overseas deployment …
Wild beasts trouble the Japanese in their nightmares, according to a big scientific study of their dreams. By contrast, Americans dream of finding money, being nude and encountering people who are insane. Yet in Asia, there is a special animal which appears in the night and has the power to devour nightmares. The problem is …