From Prada to Zara, Is Japan's Love Affair with Luxury Goods Over

From high end single malts to fine cuisine and fashion Japan has been gaga over luxury icons for as long as I can remember so are Japanese falling out of love with luxury as Michiyo Nakamoto suggests (Financial Times, June 3, 2009). The first paragraphs of the piece outline...

New Yorker vs Nihonjin: Steve Reich, Nobukazu Takemura, New York

"New Yorker vs Nihonjin: Steve Reich and Nobukazu Takemura at Japan Society, March 19"The New Yorker versus Nihonjin series bring together New York and Japanese artists to discuss issues in their field and beyond at the Japan Society in New York.Next installment on Thursday,...

For Hire: Husband, Mother or Companion, Lonely in Japan

I am not sure I agree with Duncan Bartlett byline for Rent-a-friend in Japan (BBC, January 12) that 'Japanese still like to use their money to have fun'. This segment of From our own correspondent starts with a visit to Cat Cafes where for a fee time pressed Japanese can...

Mercury Poisoning: 20th Minamata Disease Exposition in Chiba

" It might not be art yet it is relevant to our health and the food chain. No holiday cheer here. The Japan Times announces that the 20th Minamata Disease Exposition starts in Chiba (December 11). Not a show really rather a reminder of how this mercury poisoning took place....

Art Space Tokyo, An Illustrated Guide to Neighborhoods, Places and People

More than a book, Art Space Tokyo is an illustrated guide to 12 must see spots on the Tokyo art scene, introducing galleries, museums such as the Watari Museum of Contemporary Art and other spaces, neighborhood by neighborhood, not to forget the people who made all this...

Breakfast with Joi Ito: The Sharing Economy at Japan Society (11/20)

Let's get it straight, this was not a private breakfast with Joi Ito rather a Breakfast Discussion on the Sharing Economy (and Creative Commons) at the Japan Society in New York (November 20, 8:00 AM).The premise:"The Internet has advanced a new type of innovation where...

Is Reality an illusion, 'True' by Dumb Type, Japan Society, Nov 13-15

Is reality an illusion, True by Dumb Type challenges all senses at the Japan Society (New York) in a 3 Day Engagement (November 13 to 15) with its combination of dance, sound and technology...

Japan's Gainsbourg Fever Live in Paris: Jon the Dog, Kenzo Saeki (October 24)

17 years after his death, the sometime bad boy of French singers, Serge Gainsbourg has Japan going crazy over his songs.As a testament of this Gainsbourg Mania, Cite de la Musique in Paris brings Jon the Dog and Kenzo Saeki for a sold out Gainsbourgmania in Japan concert on...

Japanese Foodie Film: Mitsuhiro Mihara's "Shiawase no Kaori (Flavor of Happin...

As I was preparing for my weekly Tokyo Thursdays, the mention of Babette's Feast in a Japan Times movie review piqued my interest.Who does not like a good Foodie Film? In Tasty performances spice up a tired genre, Mark Schilling (Japan Times, October 10) gives us his take on...

The New Mashup? Mixed Sewing Media by Yoshie

Recycling does not apply only to newspapers, plastics and computers, fabric and clothing can also get get a second life.As a young child, I saw my mother turn pieces from grown ups into clothing for us.She does have a talent for sewing. I was reminded of these thrifty times...

11 Rules of Mikado Baseball Team in 1908 Japan (via Japan Times)

Sports pundits never fail to amaze me on the rare occasions when I watch TV. I even joke that it could be a great career change for me to become one of them as 'The French Guy on Baseball' I get the ball rolling today with this bit from the land of the rising sun. Edan...

All You Can Eat Phone, Is Glam the rage in Tokyo!?

I am old enough to remember Glam Rock (you know Gary Glitter, Sweet...).Now in Tokyo at least Glam goes the phone, the cellphone, the mobile I mean. Ayana of PingMag gives us a guided tour of this recent trend In Trend Watch Harajuku: Deco-den All Over! (September 18,...