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A Capsule History of the Japanese Tattoo
“Irezumi”: The Japanese Tattoo Unveiled
2017.01.30 Yamamoto Yoshimi 【Culture】
Prized as the epitome of urban cool in the Edo period and outlawed as backward during the Meiji era, tattooing has had a checkered history in Japan. Cultural anthropologist Yamamoto Yoshimi provides a…
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Aging in Japan and Across Asia
NGO Support for Elderly Health, Independence in the Philippines
2017.01.30 Kashiwagi Shiho 【Society】
The Philippine population, which now exceeds 100 million, has already begun to gray. National and local governments are making progress on support for older residents, but volunteers and NGOs are incr…
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Five Japanese Emperors
2017.01.28 Nippon.com Staff 【Culture】
Japan’s imperial system extends back through the nation’s recorded history and into legendary prehistory. Emperors rarely ruled directly, but have often been influential in politics. They also play a …
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Japan’s Popular Tourist Destinations
Mount Takao: A Natural Treasure Nestled in Western Tokyo
2017.01.27 【Culture】
Mount Takao’s proximity to central Tokyo and easily climbed slopes are factors that make it the most visited mountain in the world. Yet, many tourists fail to widely explore the mountain and miss many…
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South Korean Provincial Governor Visits Takeshima (News)
2017.01.25 【Politics】
Seoul, Jan. 25 (Jiji Press)—Kim Kwan-yong, the governor of South Korea's North Gyeongsang Province visited Takeshima, the Sea of Japan islets controlled by Seoul and claimed by Tokyo, on Wednesday mor…
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Japan Data
Number of Suicides in Japan Continues to Fall
2017.01.25 【Society】
In 2015, roughly 24,000 persons committed suicide in Japan. This is a decrease of 10,000 deaths compared to the peak year of 2003, when 34,427 individuals ended their own lives. Despite the decrease, …
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South Korean Provincial Governor Visits Takeshima (News)
2017.01.25 【Politics】
Seoul, Jan. 25 (Jiji Press)—Kim Kwan-yong, the governor of South Korea's North Gyeongsang Province visited Takeshima, the Sea of Japan islets controlled by Seoul and claimed by Tokyo, on Wednesday mor…
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What Trump Portends for Japan-US Relations
1917 Revisited? The International Order in the Trump Era
2017.01.20 Hosoya Yuichi 【Politics】
How will the stunning political events of last year affect the international order in 2017? Splits in the Republican Party may make it difficult for Donald Trump’s new government to develop a coherent…
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Ambassador Kennedy Leaves Japan (News)
2017.01.19 【Politics】
Narita, Chiba Pref., Jan. 18 (Jiji Press)—US Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy left Japan on Wednesday, after staying in the country for three years and two months.
Kennedy arrived at Narita Int…
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Abe Offers Vietnam Patrol Ships (News)
2017.01.17 【Politics】
Hanoi, Jan. 17 (Jiji Press)—Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzō on Monday offered to provide Vietnam with six newly built patrol ships in a bid to help the Southeast Asian country boost its maritime se…
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JAL to Reopen Haneda-New York Route on April 1 (News)
2017.01.20 【Economy】
Tokyo, Jan. 19 (Jiji Press)—Japan Airlines said Thursday that it will start regular passenger flights connecting Tokyo International Airport at Haneda and New York on April 1, reopening the route scra…
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What Trump Portends for Japan-US Relations
Trump and the Perils of Protectionism: Averting an Economic Disaster
2017.01.16 Urata Shūjirō 【Economy】
US President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to renegotiate free-trade agreements and impose punitive tariffs in order to protect American jobs. What are the likely consequences of such policies for in…
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A Mixed Grade for Japan’s New Tax Reform Plan
2017.01.12 Morinobu Shigeki 【Economy】
The ruling coalition has drawn up a tax reform package for fiscal 2017 that steers clear of eliminating the income tax deduction for homemaker spouses but that improves the tax environment for corpora…
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Japan Attracting Job-Seeking Brazilians Again (News)
2017.01.11 【Economy】
Sao Paulo, Jan. 10 (Jiji Press)—Another wave of Brazilians of Japanese descent is moving to Japan in search of jobs.
Such "dekasegi" (working away from home) Brazilian workers in Japan peaked in n…
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Toyota to Invest $10 Billion in US over Five Years (News)
2017.01.10 【Economy】【Politics】
Detroit, Jan. 9 (Jiji Press)—Toyota Motor Corp. will invest 10 billion dollars in the United States over the next five years, President Toyoda Akio said Monday.
"We will be investing another 10 bil…
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The Japanese Economy in 2017: Cause for Optimism
2017.01.09 Takumori Akiyoshi 【Economy】
What does this year hold in store for the Japanese economy? Takumori Akiyoshi, chief economist at Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management, explains why government and private-sector economic forecasters beli…
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The NSX: Honda’s Global Supercar
2017.01.03 Ikehara Teruo 【Economy】
Honda has begun taking orders for the new NSX in Japan for the first time in 10 years. While the original NSX was produced in Japan, this second-generation model is built to order at a specialized man…
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BOJ Upgrades Economic View (News)
2016.12.20 【Economy】
Tokyo, Dec. 20 (Jiji Press)—The Bank of Japan upgraded its assessment of the Japanese economy on Tuesday for the first time in 19 months while keeping its monetary policy unchanged.
"Japan's econom…
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Japan Govt Puts FY 2017 Real GDP Growth at 1.5% (News)
2016.12.20 【Economy】
Tokyo, Dec. 20 (Jiji Press)—The Japanese government at a cabinet meeting Tuesday adopted its projections for the country's economic performance in fiscal 2017, estimating year-on-year gross domestic p…
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The Promise of Regenerative Medicine
2016.10.26 Tsukasaki Asako 【Sci-tech】
In August 2006 Professor Yamanaka Shin’ya of Kyoto University published a paper reporting his success in producing induced pluripotent stem cells, and in a 2014 clinical study, tissue derived from iPS…
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Monju Fast-Breeder Reactor Set for Decommissioning
2016.10.19 【Sci-tech】
At a September 21 ministerial meeting, the Japanese government took a step toward decommissioning the Monju fast-breeder reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture. Cabinet members involved in nuclear power…
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The Frontiers of Science
The Science Behind Frixion Erasable Pens
2016.08.24 【Sci-tech】
Pilot’s Frixion series of groundbreaking erasable-ink pens became international bestsellers following their launch in 2006. Frixion products have now sold a total of 1.5 billion units worldwide.
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Japan Timeline
Timeline for July 2016
2016.08.01 【Culture】【Daily life】【Economy】【Politics】【Sci-tech】【Society】
The House of Councillors election is held, Emperor Akihito reportedly expresses a wish to abdicate, and cultural phenomenon Pokémon Go is launched in Japan. These are the leading news stories of July …
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Japan Timeline
Timeline for June 2016
2016.07.01 【Culture】【Daily life】【Economy】【Politics】【Sci-tech】【Society】
Prime Minister Abe Shinzō postpones the consumption tax hike, Tokyo Governor Masuzoe Yōichi resigns, and campaigning begins for the House of Councillors election. Look back at the main stories of June…
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Japan Timeline
Timeline for May 2016
2016.06.01 【Culture】【Daily life】【Economy】【Politics】【Sci-tech】【Society】
US President Barack Obama visits Hiroshima, the Group of Seven summit is held in Mie Prefecture, and Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors enter a capital alliance. Look back on the major Japan news stories of…
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The Promise of Cellulose Nanofibers
2016.05.26 【Economy】【Sci-tech】
Cellulose, the main ingredient of plant fibers, is drawing attention as a promising new material that is light, strong, and eco-friendly when processed into celluose nanofibers. CNFs have many potenti…
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Aging in Japan and Across Asia
NGO Support for Elderly Health, Independence in the Philippines
2017.01.30 Kashiwagi Shiho 【Society】
The Philippine population, which now exceeds 100 million, has already begun to gray. National and local governments are making progress on support for older residents, but volunteers and NGOs are incr…
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Japan Data
Number of Suicides in Japan Continues to Fall
2017.01.25 【Society】
In 2015, roughly 24,000 persons committed suicide in Japan. This is a decrease of 10,000 deaths compared to the peak year of 2003, when 34,427 individuals ended their own lives. Despite the decrease, …
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Suicides in Japan Fall Sharply in 2016 (News)
2017.01.20 【Society】
Tokyo, Jan. 20 (Jiji Press)—The number of people who committed suicide in Japan in 2016 fell 9.4% from the previous year, its fastest decline on record, the health ministry said in a preliminary repor…
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A Capsule History of the Japanese Tattoo
“Irezumi”: The Japanese Tattoo Unveiled
2017.01.30 Yamamoto Yoshimi 【Culture】
Prized as the epitome of urban cool in the Edo period and outlawed as backward during the Meiji era, tattooing has had a checkered history in Japan. Cultural anthropologist Yamamoto Yoshimi provides a…
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Five Japanese Emperors
2017.01.28 Nippon.com Staff 【Culture】
Japan’s imperial system extends back through the nation’s recorded history and into legendary prehistory. Emperors rarely ruled directly, but have often been influential in politics. They also play a …
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Japan’s Popular Tourist Destinations
Mount Takao: A Natural Treasure Nestled in Western Tokyo
2017.01.27 【Culture】
Mount Takao’s proximity to central Tokyo and easily climbed slopes are factors that make it the most visited mountain in the world. Yet, many tourists fail to widely explore the mountain and miss many…
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The World of Zen
The Roots of Mindfulness: Hakuin Ekaku and the Art of Zen
2017.01.23 【Culture】
Zen Buddhism has had a profound impact on Japanese society and culture. Today the influence of Zen “mindfulness” is felt throughout the world. In this article we look at the human side of the great Ze…
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Graveside Portraits of Japanese Families (Photos)
2017.01.10 Itō Masayo (Photographs) 【Culture】
What thoughts go through people’s heads when they visit the graves of loved ones? What news do they wish to share with their departed relatives? These photographs show Japanese families gathered toget…
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This Year in Japanese
Dictionary Pros Pick Their Top New Words for 2016
2017.01.07 【Culture】【Society】
Two major dictionary publishers have announced their new words of the year for 2016. As the Japanese language continues to evolve, it borrows and coins new terms at a rapid clip—and these, say the pub…
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Insider’s Guide to Shintō Shrines
Shintō’s Sacred Forests and Japanese Environmentalism
2017.01.06 Toya Manabu 【Culture】
Toya Manabu explores the historical and spiritual connections between Shintō shrines, the sacred forests that surround them, and environmentalism in Japan.
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Insider’s Guide to Shintō Shrines
Nature Worship in Old Shintō
2017.01.04 Toya Manabu 【Culture】
Before Shintō came to be practiced in constructed shrines, it was centered on the direct worship of nature itself. Toya Manabu surveys the various objects of worship that formed the original focus of …
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“Cool Traditions” Stay in Tune with Modern Life
Wood, Mold, and Japanese Architecture
2016.10.25 Anne Kohtz 【Culture】【Daily life】
Traditional Japanese architecture’s reliance on wood as a building material developed largely in response to Japan’s humid environment—particularly the warm, wet summer months. Raised floors and open …
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Japanese Fruit: In Pursuit of Sweet Perfection
Japanese Muskmelons: A Cut Above the Ordinary
2016.09.20 【Culture】【Daily life】【Society】
Whether packed in its own elegant gift box or adorning a fancy pastry, the Japanese muskmelon is fruit at its most opulent. On this muskmelon tour, visit a Tokyo fruit parlor that boasts the ultimate …
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Japanese Fruit: In Pursuit of Sweet Perfection
Do I Dare to Eat a Peach? Behind Japan’s Freakish Fruit Prices
2016.09.09 【Culture】【Daily life】【Society】
Tourists often marvel at the beauty, size, and uniformity of Japanese fruit, but they are even more astounded at its price—as much as $200 for a muskmelon at an upscale urban fruit parlor. We provide …
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Insider’s Guide to Shintō Shrines
“Shōzoku”: The Shintō Vestments
2016.09.05 Toya Manabu 【Culture】【Daily life】
The clothing worn by priests and priestesses at Shintō shrines is unlike anything you will see elsewhere in Japan. Here we describe the styles of traditional vestments that are part of the Shintō expe…
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Insider’s Guide to Shintō Shrines
“Shamusho”: The Shrine Office
2016.08.29 Toya Manabu 【Culture】【Daily life】
When not engaging in religious rites, priests and shrine personnel may rest in the shamusho, or shrine office. Here visitors can also obtain talismans to protect their homes and selves with the blessi…
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Insider’s Guide to Shintō Shrines
“Shintai, Shinboku”: The Divine Object or Tree
2016.08.22 Toya Manabu 【Culture】【Daily life】
At the heart of the shrine, never viewed by visitors, is the shintai, the “divine body” of the kami. At some shrines this is an object, like a jewel or sword; at others, it is a natural feature like a…
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Insider’s Guide to Shintō Shrines
“Honden”: The Main Sanctuary Structure
2016.08.18 Toya Manabu 【Culture】【Daily life】
The structure called the honden is the heart of the Shintō facility, where its kami is enshrined. Observing the details of honden architecture can tell the visitor much about the nature of the shrine …
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Promoting Inclusion of People with Hansen’s Disease
Hansen’s Disease in Japan: The Lingering Legacy of Discrimination
2016.08.17 【Daily life】【Politics】【Society】
Twenty years have passed since the repeal of the law mandating isolation of Hansen’s Disease (leprosy) patients in Japan. The government has recognized the injustice of the isolation policy and has mo…
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Insider’s Guide to Shintō Shrines
“Tamagaki”: Fence Around the Sacred Space
2016.08.09 Toya Manabu 【Culture】【Daily life】
A fence called the tamagaki encloses the shrine's innermost sanctum, setting it off from the outside world and marking a border between the sacred and the profane. Some shrines feature more than one t…
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Islam in Japan
Ramadan in Japan: A Day in the Life of a Muslim Businessman
2016.08.04 【Culture】【Daily life】【Society】
Ramadan this year fell during the summer, when the days are longest. For Muslims in Japan, this meant fasting for more than 16 hours a day, a special challenge in Japan's corporate culture. In this cl…
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Insider’s Guide to Shintō Shrines
“Haiden”: The Hall of Worship
2016.08.02 Toya Manabu 【Culture】【Daily life】
At last we come to the haiden, where visitors pray or pay their respects to the kami, or gods of the shrine. Here worshippers put money into the donation box, ring the bell, and perform the prayer rit…
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Japan Timeline
Timeline for July 2016
2016.08.01 【Culture】【Daily life】【Economy】【Politics】【Sci-tech】【Society】
The House of Councillors election is held, Emperor Akihito reportedly expresses a wish to abdicate, and cultural phenomenon Pokémon Go is launched in Japan. These are the leading news stories of July …
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Insider’s Guide to Shintō Shrines
“Komainu”: The Shrine’s Guardian Figures
2016.07.25 Toya Manabu 【Culture】【Daily life】
Stone statues called komainu depicting shishi, "lion-dogs," stand at either side of the entrance to the shrine or the haiden worship hall. These fierce guardians are meant to protect the shrine from e…
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Insider’s Guide to Shintō Shrines
“Temizuya”: The Cleansing Ritual
2016.07.19 Toya Manabu 【Culture】【Daily life】
The temizuya at the entrance to the shrine's innermost grounds is a place to purify the body before entering. Here worshippers wash their hands and mouth with the cool, flowing water in an act of ritu…
