A shrinking town with big ambitions
The rural town of Kamikatsu in western Japan is shrinking. Faced with a population that's both ageing and declining, the community is having to come up with ways to keep its local economy r…
The archive
Articles from www.bbc.com — page 5
Browse articles from www.bbc.com in the Akihabara archive.
Japan 'glasses ban' for women at work sparks backlash
Image copyright Getty ImagesWearing glasses at work has become an emotive topic in Japan following reports that some firms have told female employees to remove them. That has sparked heated disc…
The man who saved Kyoto from the atomic bomb
INTERACTIVE Hiroshima Nagasaki Kyoto Kokura Emperor's palace, Tokyo Niigata Yokohama Hiroshima × First atomic bomb dropped, 6 August 1945. × Nagasaki × Second atomic bomb dropped, 9 August …
WeWork investor Softbank: My judgment was not right
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Softbank chief executive Masayoshi SonThe boss of Softbank has admitted poor judgement in relation to its investment in WeWork after reporting its first qua…
Japan’s secret udon mecca
And while the family also serves a handful of other udon, soba and ramen dishes at lunchtime, it is the freshly rolled, cut and boiled morning udon noodles that draws the crowds. Youichi’s older…
An ancient way of doing business in Japan
“That is when I realised that [the] tea ceremony isn’t solely about strict adherence to the rules. That was the beginning of the Kyūtō-Ryū tea ceremony. A new-wave of office gathe…
Microsoft four-day work week 'boosts productivity'
Image copyright Getty ImagesMicrosoft Japan said sales had been boosted by nearly 40% during an experiment in which staff worked a four-day week on full pay. Japan has some of the longest w…
Rugby World Cup final: Five things fans shouldn't do while in Japan
VideoAs England take on South Africa in the Rugby World Cup final, we take a look at what fans and tourists in Japan should avoid doing so they don't upset people in the tournament's host c…
What will Japan do with all of its empty ‘ghost’ homes?
Population decline is a major issue for many countries. It’s of particular concern for Japan, which after experiencing a major boom throughout the 20th Century is now seeing steep population con…
Shuri Castle: Fire engulfs 500-year-old world heritage site in Japan
It was almost completely destroyed in a battle during World War Two. Image copyright AFP Image caption Shuri Castle was designated Japan's national treasure in 1933Shuri Castle sits on top …