Lifestyle
International Jazz Day at Satin Doll Roppongi
Come out for a jazz champagne brunch to celebrate International Jazz Day, now in its eighth year. In November 2011, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization officially designated April 30 as International Jazz Day to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe.… Read
Pikachu Outbreak 2018 announced for Yokohama, and this time the party continues into the night
In what’s become an annual celebration, every summer packs of Pikachus proliferate on the streets of Yokohama, just 20 minutes south of Tokyo. If you’re a fan of the Pokemon series, or just cuteness in general, visiting Yokohama during the Pikachu Outbreak makes for an unforgettable day, and this year it’s going to make for an unforgettable night… Read
In Japan, new rules may leave home-sharing industry out in the cold
Japan's new home-sharing law was meant to ease a shortage of hotel rooms, bring order to an unregulated market and offer more lodging options for foreign visitors ahead of next year's Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Instead, the law is likely to stifle Airbnb Inc and other… Read
Woman's refund of nursing home deposit a rarity in aging Japan
When her stay at the glamorous Grancreer residence turned into a nightmare of disrupted sleep and difficulties with the staff, retired harpist Yumi Makino opted out, and after a two-year legal battle got her deposit money back in a rare victory over a big real estate company. Makino's experience reflects… Read
Japan's Akita dogs melt foreign hearts
Hollywood actor Richard Gere, French film star Alain Delon and Russia's figure skating sensation Alina Zagitova have one thing in common: They adore Japan's Akita dogs. And they're not alone. In recent years, foreign ownership of one of Japan's most famous indigenous breeds has skyrocketed, outstripping domestic demand for the… Read
Buying a house in Tokyo? One municipality is giving away brand new homes to applicants in Japan
Tokyo is often cited as one of the costliest cities in the world to live in, so it’s not surprising that buying a home in and around the busy metropolis remains a far-fetched dream for many residents. Now, however, there’s a new housing scheme set to make those dreams come… Read
A new challenge: Changes to elementary school English education in Japan for 2020
For many people in Japan, both in their work and personal lives, April is often seen as a time of new beginnings, and of transition. This year, I am part of this process of rebirth and reinvention, as well. After five years in Osaka, I was offered a very attractive… Read
ARK Hills in Tokyo gets new restaurant floor
ARK Hills, Japan's first private sector large-scale multi-use redevelopment project, has reopened its newly renovated third floor restaurant floor as of the end of March, and it's worth checking out. Whether you're looking for a quick breakfast, a spot for a working lunch, or a fun place for dinner with… Read
Plan to turn real-world shrine from Studio Ghibli anime into a parking lot upsets fans, residents
This month, the anime world suffered the sad loss of Isao Takahata, one of the medium’s most respected directors and a founding member of Studio Ghibli, who passed away on April 5 at the age of 82. Though Takahata is best known for his 1988 postwar tragedy "Grave of the Fireflies," his 1994 "Pom… Read
TIFA announces 2018 photography competition winners
The Tokyo International Foto Awards has announced the winners of its 2017 Photography competition in both the professional and amateur divisions. The 2017 TIFA photography competition received over 5,000 entries from 82 countries around the world, with some of the very best of photography from across the globe being submitted… Read
