Plastic Fantastic: Japan’s obsession with soft vinyl toysThe Japan Times2024-10-17 | Plastic Fantastic: Japan’s obsession with soft vinyl toysTokyo’s hidden riversThe Japan Times2024-03-12 | Underneath Tokyo’s vast pavement are remnants of the city’s numerous waterways and culverts, which now create a maze of hidden rivers. Discovering them is a challenge that increasing numbers of locals enjoy.
Read the full story: japantimes.co.jp/life/2024/03/09/lifestyle/lost-rivers-tokyo-underground-culvertNoto communitys long road to recovery from the New Years quakeThe Japan Times2024-01-13 | Volunteers — from aid networks to local individuals — are coming together to help each other in the aftermath of the magnitude 7.6 earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula in central Japan on Jan. 1, 2024. #NotoEarthquaketeamLab previews new artworks at digital museum in Azabudai HillsThe Japan Times2023-11-21 | TeamLab Borderless, the digital museum previously located in Tokyo’s Odaiba area, is slated to open in early February in the massive Azabudai Hills in Tokyo's Minato Ward.
The new space will feature immersive installations from the popular digital art collective, which saw record-breaking attendance at its previous space near Tokyo's waterfront.
On Monday, the media were invited to view new installations — “Bubble Universe” and “Megalith Crystal Formation” — that will be a part of the venue.
#teamlab #teamlabborderlessJunya Hiramoto, an early whistleblower at Johnny’sThe Japan Times2023-06-05 | #shortsBehind the scenes at the G7 summitThe Japan Times2023-05-21 | #shorts13-year-old Ginwoo Onodera makes history at X GamesThe Japan Times2023-05-15 | Sunday’s X Games Chiba 2023 action saw 13-year-old Ginwoo Onodera become the X Games’ youngest-ever men’s street skateboarding champion - and the fans at Zozo Marine Stadium weren’t the only ones taking notice of his phenomenal skills. #shorts #ginwooonodera #xgames #skateboardingTraveling to the Olympic mountainsThe Japan Times2022-02-09 | For a visiting reporter in Beijing to cover the Winter Olympics, finding snow requires several transfers — and no shortage of patience. But eventually — after a 30-minute bus ride from the media center in Beijing, a 50-minute high-speed train and another 20-minute bus ride (whenever the right one arrives) — journalists making their way from the Chinese capital are able to reach the Zhangjiakou media center. Another bus brings reporters to the competition areas, where mountains of human-made snow provide a surface for the world’s best skiers and snowboarders to showcase their talents on the halfpipe, moguls and other courses.
#BeijingOlympicsEntering the Beijing Olympics in the pandemicThe Japan Times2022-02-03 | JT sports reporter Dan Orlowitz is off to the 2022 Beijing Games, where he will be covering the second Olympics to be held during the COVID-19 pandemic and showing us life inside the bubble. #Beijing2022 #WinterOlympicsUniqlo keeps Swedish athletes warm at the 2022 Beijing OlympicsThe Japan Times2021-11-11 | Two decades after outfitting Japan's delegation in Salt Lake City, Uniqlo will be back at the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games — this time supplying team and competition wear for Sweden's delegation to Beijing 2022.
The Japanese fast-fashion titan and Sweden are in the midst of a partnership that began with the 2020 Tokyo Games but has been extended to Paris 2024.
Ahead of the official unveiling of the collection on Nov. 11, Uniqlo Chief Designer Masahiko Furuta sat down with The Japan Times to discuss the intent behind the collection and the efforts taken by Uniqlo to create more sustainable, environmentally friendly clothing for Swedish athletes.Airweave CEO explains whats different about the 18,000 beds in the Athletes VillageThe Japan Times2021-11-11 | [Originally published on Aug. 3, 2012] Airweave CEO Motokuni Takaoka shows off the customization features of the mattresses being used by athletes during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Read more: japantimes.co.jp/sports/2021/08/03/olympics/summer-olympics/airweave-bedsIn search of Japans lost wolvesThe Japan Times2021-07-07 | Though the Japanese wolf has been thought extinct since 1905, there have numerous sightings of wolf-like creatures in mountainous areas of Japan. Hiroshi Yagi has turned these sightings into a life-mission, using all his spare resources to try and capture a living specimen of the Japanese wolf.
Reported by Alex K.T. Martin. Filmed, edited and narrated by Oscar BoydSumos future stars face off at the All Japan Sumo ChampionshipsThe Japan Times2020-12-09 | When most people think of sumo they think of the pageantry and tradition of the six annual grand tournaments. But below the professional ranks are amateurs from high schools, universities and even corporate teams, all honing their skills as they potentially aim for ozumo.
We visited the famed Ryogoku Kokugikan for the 69th All-Japan Sumo Championships, the country's top amateur tournament, to learn why some of the most exciting sumo happens outside the pro ranks.
#sumoSurviving selfies: Japans purikura still the go-to spot of perfect shotsThe Japan Times2020-09-02 | Old-style photo booths have staged something of a comeback in recent years for their nostalgic value in the smartphone era. But the purikura — an abbreviation of the Japanese pronunciation of “print club” — offers much more than a simple strip of passport photos. Featuring a dizzying array of retouches, enhancements and adornments, they remain hugely popular 25 years after they debuted in Japan, particularly with teenage girls and young women.
#purikuraSkyDrives flying car takes to the air with pilot at the controlsThe Japan Times2020-09-02 | Is the future of our childhood dreams getting any closer?
In August, Japan’s SkyDrive Inc., which is among the myriads of "flying car” projects around the world, carried out a successful though modest test flight with one person aboard. Unlike airplanes and helicopters, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles offer the promise of quick point-to-point personal travel.
#SkyDriveThese manhole covers are lit!The Japan Times2020-08-27 | Japan has a thing about manhole covers. Seriously.
Read more:
A hole new world: City lights up sewer covers: http://jtim.es/DeJj30r6k4j Lifting the lid on Japan's growing crowd of manhole cover spotters: http://jtim.es/pgLN50B9bgcSTARS: Mori Museum goes on with the showThe Japan Times2020-08-23 | The Mori Museum had planned to pull out the big guns ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Though delayed due the pandemic, the show is now on, showcasing selected work of six superstar artists whose work has been widely appreciated domestically and overseas. The stellar group on show comprises Yayoi Kusama, Lee Ufan, Tatsuo Miyajima, Takashi Murakami, Yoshitomo Nara and Hiroshi Sugimoto.
"Stars: Six Contemporary Artists from Japan to the World" runs until Jan. 3, 2021.
#morimuseum #contemporaryartPeople of Mauritius mobilize to save nations natural treasuresThe Japan Times2020-08-21 | The island nation of Mauritius declared a “state of environmental emergency” earlier this month after MV Wakashio, a Japanese-owned ship, that ran aground offshore in late July, began spilling much of its 4,00 tons of fuel.
The people of Mauritius have since rallied to the cause and done everything they can to save the valuable ecosystem surrounding their island. Meanwhile, investigations are underway as the governments of Mauritius and Japan come under fire for not acting more quickly.
#wakashio #MauritiusSee-through public toilets debut in JapanThe Japan Times2020-08-21 | Installed in anticipation of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, to showcase Japan's advances in technology and design, these public toilets in a Tokyo park feature "smart glass" that allows people to preview the interior but turns opaque when the door is locked from the inside
#shigeruban #toiletsteamLab Forest Fukuoka: Where the wild things areThe Japan Times2020-08-16 | The art collective teamLab, known for its dazzling immersive exhibitions, has opened teamlab Forest Fukuoka, a new museum of interactive digital artworks in Fukuoka.
#teamlabSkys not the limit for worlds smallest flying carThe Japan Times2020-08-12 | A promotional video envisions what life might be like with a flying car, currently under development by SkyDrive. The concept model, called SD-XX, is the world’s smallest eVTOL, at 1.5 meters tall and measuring 4 meters by 3.5 meters across. Resembling a car-size drone, the first model is expected to debut in 2023. | VIDEO COURTESY OF SKYDRIVE / CARTIVATOR
Read more: japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/08/11/business/corporate-business/skydrive-tomohiro-fukuzawa-flying-carsWaltz of the jellyfishThe Japan Times2020-07-31 | Sunshine Aquarium in Tokyo's Ikebukuro area recently opened a section with massive tanks dedicated to showcasing the calming movements of jellyfish.Coronavirus dining for dummiesThe Japan Times2020-07-30 | The coronavirus pandemic might have left many restaurants empty, but one establishment in Tokyo is enforcing social distancing with the help of some model customers: life-like mannequins keeping diners from getting too close.
#thenewnormalGood time to travel in Japan ... for someThe Japan Times2020-07-22 | To stimulate the country's flagging tourism industry, the government launched a campaign today that offers discounts to domestic travelers. Tokyo residents, however, are out of luck.
Read more: japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/07/21/national/go-to-travel-cancellation-feesWith festival canceled by coronavirus, fireflies dance aloneThe Japan Times2020-07-15 | As the sun sets on the Japanese town of Tatsuno, thousands of fireflies begin glowing, producing a spectacle that usually draws crowds of delighted visitors. But this year, the dance of the incandescent insects is being performed without spectators, after coronavirus prevention measures forced organizers of a popular firefly festival to cancel the event. The decision may have disappointed fans of the brilliant bugs, but it provides an unusually serene atmosphere as the insects blink on and off, appearing to dance through the night air.
#JapanfestivalsDrive-in haunted house: A good scare ... without the coronavirusThe Japan Times2020-07-14 | Kenta Iwana and his theatrical team, Kowagarasetai — roughly translating to "Scare Squad" — are taking their scare tactics to a Tokyo garage. As a coronavirus workaround, they are performing for car passengers. And there is no escape.
LEARN ABOUT JAPAN TIMES DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: http://members.japantimes.co.jp/sub#LightItBlue hits TokyoThe Japan Times2020-05-04 | Several iconic structures in Tokyo have changed the hue of their lighting as part of a global campaign known as #LightItBlue to show support for medical workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
LEARN ABOUT JAPAN TIMES DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: http://members.japantimes.co.jp/subKoinobori at Tokyo Dome CityThe Japan Times2020-04-29 | Tokyo Dome City’s Crystal Avenue is decorated with “koinobori” (carp streamers) from April 4 until May 10, 2020.
LEARN ABOUT JAPAN TIMES DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: http://members.japantimes.co.jp/subA wedding dress thats familiar but like no otherThe Japan Times2020-04-23 | In Zushi, Kanagawa Prefecture, fashion designer Kumi Miyazawa crafts custom-made wedding dresses for people in wheelchairs. The dresses are specially designed so that their hems do not get caught in the wheels of wheelchairs.Cherry blossoms in Tokyo 2020The Japan Times2020-04-13 | Cherry blossoms bloomed all over Tokyo in March 2020, although the government encouraged people to stay at home during the COVID-19 outbreak.
LEARN ABOUT JAPAN TIMES DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: http://members.japantimes.co.jp/subFlying low: The problems with new flight routes to Haneda AirportThe Japan Times2020-04-01 | Despite the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, new flight paths to Haneda Airport introduced to help boost tourism begin operations Sunday. In one of the new routes, planes fly over areas of central Tokyo, including Shibuya, Shinjuku and Shinagawa wards. An estimated 1 million residents and more than 2 million people during the daytime will be directly affected by the new flight paths. But their introduction has triggered a backlash from local residents and former pilots over noise and safety issues.
LEARN ABOUT JAPAN TIMES DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: http://members.japantimes.co.jp/subSt. Patricks Day in YokohamaThe Japan Times2020-03-19 | Yokohama’s famous Cosmo Clock ferris wheel was imbued with the luck of the Irish this month, turning into a green shamrock for St. Patrick's Day on March 14, 2020.
LEARN ABOUT JAPAN TIMES DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: http://members.japantimes.co.jp/subPeace on Earth 2020The Japan Times2020-03-18 | On March 11, 2020, the Peace on Earth ceremony was held at Tokyo’s Hibiya Park to commemorate the Great East Japan Earthquake.
LEARN ABOUT JAPAN TIMES DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: http://members.japantimes.co.jp/subLighting of giant shamrock in Yokohama [RAW VIDEO]The Japan Times2020-03-14 | St. Patrick’s Day is marked with a lighting ceremony for a giant shamrock at Yokohama’s Minato Mirai Cosmo Clock ferris wheel on March 14, 2020. (filmed by Kazuhiro Kobayashi)
LEARN ABOUT JAPAN TIMES DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: http://members.japantimes.co.jp/subCherry blossom season officially arrives in Tokyo [RAW VIDEO]The Japan Times2020-03-14 | The cherry blossom season officially arrived in Tokyo on Saturday, March 14, 2020, after officials from the Meteorological Agency confirmed that more than five blossoms had opened on a Somei-Yoshino cherry tree at Yasukuni Shrine in Chiyoda Ward. (filmed by Kazuhiro Kobayashi)
LEARN ABOUT JAPAN TIMES DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: http://members.japantimes.co.jp/subThe new Takanawa Gateway Station on Tokyo’s Yamanote Line [RAW VIDEO]The Japan Times2020-03-14 | The first departure out of JR East’s new Takanawa Gateway Station, the Tokyo loop line’s 30th and newest station, located between Shinagawa and Tamachi Stations, leaves the new facilities early on March 14, 2020. (filmed by Kazuhiro Kobayashi)
LEARN ABOUT JAPAN TIMES DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: http://members.japantimes.co.jp/subHomemade face masks at Tokyo’s Shibuya-sanThe Japan Times2020-03-11 | Shibuya-san, a tourist information and art center located in the Shibuya Fukuras shopping complex, is offering several services to help visitors enjoy their stay in Japan as COVID-19 concerns grow.
LEARN ABOUT JAPAN TIMES DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: http://members.japantimes.co.jp/subSilent prayer for 3.11 victims at Peace on Earth commemoration [RAW VIDEO]The Japan Times2020-03-11 | At Tokyo’s Hibiya Park on March 11, 2020, participants offer a silent prayer during Peace on Earth, an annual event to mark the anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake. (filmed by Kazuhiro Kobayashi)
LEARN ABOUT JAPAN TIMES DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: http://members.japantimes.co.jp/subCalligrapher Souun Takeda’s latest exhibition: ‘Glitter’The Japan Times2020-03-10 | The Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi department store held an exhibition for calligrapher Souun Takeda this spring.
LEARN ABOUT JAPAN TIMES DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: http://members.japantimes.co.jp/subFood of my Former Homeland: Angkor Wat in Tokyos YoyogiThe Japan Times2020-03-08 | The restaurant Angkor Wat has been serving authentic Cambodian food for nearly 40 years in Tokyo’s Yoyogi area. The owner is a former citizen of the country who was granted asylum and fled to Japan at the age of 10.
LEARN ABOUT JAPAN TIMES DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: http://members.japantimes.co.jp/subRooms 40: a showcase of various designersThe Japan Times2020-03-04 | Rooms, a biannual exhibition for artists and creators marked its 20th anniversary at Yoyogi National Stadium’s 1st Gymnasium in Tokyo from Feb. 20 to 22, 2020.
LEARN ABOUT JAPAN TIMES DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: http://members.japantimes.co.jp/subYonas Kinde: the first IOC refugee runner to compete in the Tokyo MarathonThe Japan Times2020-03-01 | On March 1, 2020, Yonas Kinde became the first refugee athlete in the 14-year history of the Tokyo Marathon to participate in the event’s elite runner category. He’s aiming to participate in the Tokyo Olympics as a member of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team. He'll know in June if he made the team.
#Olympics #Tokyo2020 #refugeesJust for kicks: Japan’s sneaker obsession reboundsThe Japan Times2020-02-29 | Global trade in Japan’s limited-edition sneakers is fueling a new wave of interest in the shoes.
#sneakersPiece of Mind in Sugamo — the seniors HarajukuThe Japan Times2020-02-21 | We sought words of wisdom from Japan's silver generation and we got an earful.
#pieceofmind #streetinterviews #sugamoFreedom at last for (some) Diamond Princess passengersThe Japan Times2020-02-19 | The 14-day quarantine period of the Diamond Princess officially ended today and passengers who have tested negative for COVID-19 started to disembark. But are they in the clear yet?
#coronavirus #diamondprincess #COVID19Wearable Expo 2020The Japan Times2020-02-19 | Wearable Expo, an annual exhibition for wearable devices, celebrated its sixth show as over 700 companies highlighted their newest products and creations.
LEARN ABOUT JAPAN TIMES DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: http://members.japantimes.co.jp/subJapan Amusement Expo 2020The Japan Times2020-02-18 | Japan Amusement Expo 2020, an annual trade show for the latest arcade games, was held at Makuhari Messe, with over 40 exhibitors showing off their latest games, prizes and services.
LEARN ABOUT JAPAN TIMES DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: http://members.japantimes.co.jp/subMarking 15 years of Monster Hunter — in YokohamaThe Japan Times2020-02-17 | An exhibition by digital art firm Naked Inc. marks the 15th anniversary of the video game Monster Hunter at the Asobuild complex next to Yokohama Station from Feb. 4 until March 1, 2020.