The JLPT Is a Much Bigger Deal than I’d Thought [Summary]
“The JLPT Is a Much Bigger Deal than I’d Thought” is a summary of the debut post from Alex Farrell‘s blog, “The Kyoto Linguist“, discussing the Japanese language, translation, travel…
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Argument
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…
The gulf between Japan and Russia is widening
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…
Shinzo Abe’s Iranian headache
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…
Getting down to business on the plastic problem
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…
No more high heels, boss!
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…
Vietnam – Japan Trade and Investment
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…
It may be painful to pander to Trump but businesses reckon it’s worth it
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…
Sea monster ice cream deserves good table manners
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,…
What is the Japanese army doing in Egypt?
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….
Meet the monster that eats Japanese dreams
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…
Pacifist or Peacemaker: What were Emperor Akihito’s views on war?
The international media are using the start of Japan’s new era to look closely at the role of the Emperor. Reporters are interested in the words and gestures used by…
Are salarymen figures of myth
Are Japanese workers are slaves with no mind of their own? Maybe it’s time to rethink the salaryman stereotype. Do you sometimes feel sorry for the poor Japanese salarymen, slaving…
Burgers on the menu for Japan’s new era
Top of the menu for Japan’s new era: millions more burgers and fries The media are full of excitement about Japan’s new era of beautiful harmony. But what will people…
Unruly, exotic and strange. Is that the Japanese view of foreigners?
Some foreigners get fed up with how we’re portrayed in Japan’s media. Either we’re figures of fun or we’re almost completely invisible. It’s rare to see a foreign character in…