Man charged in “Cat Island” poisoning may have singly decimated island’s cat population
Dwindling cat population There are a few islands called “Cat Island” in Japan. The most famous one is Aoshima in Ehime prefecture, but there’s a…
Life
Easy One-Minute Stretch for Stiff Shoulders
Over the last few months many of us have suffered from a lack of exercise because of Japan’s “Stay Home” request. Besides going out for…
Hamster Finds the Perfect Bean Bag Sofa
My dad is almost 65 years old and still works five days a week. No one can argue he isn’t hardworking. Quite the opposite in…
Seven rules to follow in order to keep safe whilst cycling after lockdown
As the state of emergency is lifted across several prefectures and lockdown measures are relaxed, we’re seeing more and more of the world go back…
My Hello Work Diary: Filing for Unemployment in Japan
(Maureen Stone, for JAPAN Forward) One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned during this global pandemic is that nothing is as stable as it seems….
Japanese KFCs dress Col. Sanders in armor to show gratitude and resistance to COVID-19
Kentucky Fried Chicken is celebrating half a century of business in Japan this year. © PR Times, Inc. And as they’ve done since 1984, KFC…
Pandemic Patrol Vigilante Goes Too Far
On May 25, 2020, Japan lifted the government’s emergency declaration for the last 4 prefectures in the Kanto and Hokkaido, due to the continued low…
Pajama Fashion: Top recommended Brands of Stylish Japanese Sleepwear and Kawaii Pajamas
In this period when we spend a lot of time at home, we sometimes need to add a touch of color and comfort in our…
Miyazaki farmers’ blog celebrates local produce and community
It is well known that Japan is several decades ahead of other advanced economies when it comes to declining birth rates and the proportion of…
What is a remote wedding? Japanese couples are now choosing a ceremony online for their weddings
Since PM Shinzo Abe declared an emergency state over Japan, many couples had to cancel or reschedule their wedding plans for this year. It’s not…
Japan Sees Rise in Vigilantism and Harassment During COVID-19 Outbreak
COVID-19 has brought to light the dark impulses of some people. Widespread panic buying resulted in massive hoarding while anxieties fueled xenophobic and even racist…
Tongue-Tied Singles Turn to High-Tech Matchmaking Services to Help Break The Ice
Dating is hard, especially early on. It’s awkward, stressful, and expensive. I would know. If there were video footage of any of my many first…
Spotted Eels at COVID-closed Sumida Aquarium Have Forgotten What Humans Look Like
Everyone is having a hard time adjusting to the new normal of social distancing and on-again, off-again lockdowns during the current pandemic. We’ve touched on…
Shikake Tegami Service: The illustrated love letter and a great gift for your beloved one
During these hard times, it is important to stay strong and remember to send our thoughts and feelings to those dear to us. In Japan,…
The Restaurant Kichiri in Shinjuku offers the perfect environment for online drinking parties
Recently, to avoid spreading the COVID-19, many stores and restaurants had to be temporarily closed or switched to take out services only. Therefore, online nomikai/…