Features
Global pollution kills 9 million people a year, study finds
A new study blames pollution of all types for 9 million deaths a year globally, with the death toll attributed to dirty air from cars, trucks and industry rising 55% since 2000. That increase is offset by fewer pollution deaths from primitive indoor stoves and water contaminated with human and… Read
Green options transforming a wedding industry prone to waste
The wedding industry remains fraught with waste, but a growing contingent of brides and grooms is pushing for more sustainable changes, from the way they invite guests to the food they serve and the clothes they wear. The wedding resource The Knot estimates that more than two-thirds of about 15,000… Read
Making a Caesar cocktail in Japan
As some of you may know, I am Canadian. Although I’ve lived in Japan for nearly half my life, I’ve missed a lot of traditionally, some might say stereotypically, Canadian things. The one thing you can reliably find and make at home if you search the shelves of your nearest… Read
U.S., Japan must boost deterrence as China learns lessons from Russia
We recently led the first congressional delegation to Japan since the pandemic began and met with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and top officials, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other influential parliamentarians, and titans of Japanese industry. We see opportunities for President Biden to advance U.S. interests when he travels… Read
Private-initiative soup kitchens spring up to deal with child poverty
The 21st century is rich in unkept promises. Terrorism and war mock peace. Global warming taints progress. Then there’s child poverty. When it rises in the richest countries, the conclusion seems inescapable that contemporary prosperity is based on false if not evil premises. In Japan, one child in six is said… Read
Lifehack for keeping pork tender in chilled shabu shabu goes viral
As Japanese food lovers surely know, nabemono stews and other hot dishes may be wonderful in winter, but the hot summer months are the best time for cold dishes. A relatively recent creation in the repertoire of summer favorites in Japan is a dish featuring slices of thinly sliced pork loin that… Read
Scientists baffled by monkeypox cases in Europe, U.S.
Scientists who have monitored numerous outbreaks of monkeypox in Africa say they are baffled by the disease's recent spread in Europe and North America. Cases of the smallpox-related disease have previously been seen only among people with links to central and West Africa. But in the past week, Britain, Spain,… Read
Arrival of baby deer in Nara Park announces start of fawning season
Though it seems like we’ve taken a hop, skip and leap right over into the rainiest part of the season, there's one thing that marks spring like no other: the beginning of new life on earth. Not only do we get to watch the opening of beautiful spring season flower… Read
Pop the question with delicious-looking rice ball rings and cases
Japanese capsule toy maker Kitan Club has stumbled upon an odd but proven to be popular combination: onigiri rice balls and jewelry. Kitan Club has taken rice balls, one of Japan's favorite snacks, and turned them into a line up of rings and ring cases. The series takes the most popular rice… Read
Hydropower's future is clouded by droughts, floods and climate change
The water in Lake Powell, one of the nation’s largest reservoirs, has fallen so low amid the Western drought that federal officials are resorting to emergency measures to avoid shutting down hydroelectric power at the Glen Canyon Dam. The Arizona dam, which provides electricity to seven states, isn’t the only… Read
