AkihabaraTokyo · JapanThe archive
Browse articles from www.theguardian.com in the Akihabara archive.
Japan accepted just 20 asylum seekers last year – despite a record 19,628 applications – drawing accusations that the country is unfairly closing its door on people in genuine need. Since 2010, …
Fasten your seatbelts for a flight departing to Paris – and never leave the ground. That’s exactly what 12 passengers did at First Airlines in central Tokyo this week, where they relaxed in firs…
A public elementary school in Tokyo’s exclusive shopping district of Ginza has raised eyebrows with a plan to adopt uniforms designed by Italian fashion brand Giorgio Armani for its students. Ta…
Every one of Japan’s sumo wrestlers is to face questioning by outside investigators after a series of incidents tipped the sport into crisis. The Japan Sumo Association has setup an external pan…
In high-rise, hi-tech Tokyo, photographer RK finds pockets where the old-style city peeks through the neon-lit towers – and characters from galaxies far, far away
With Japan’s ageing society facing a predicted shortfall of 370,000 caregivers by 2025, the government wants to increase community acceptance of technology that could help fill the gap in the nursing…
Japan’s capital may be known for its earthquake resilience strategies, but a recent increase in intense, sudden storms poses another threat – one that the city’s flood protection systems may not be a…
A Japanese city has activated an emergency warning system to alert residents to avoid eating locally purchased blowfish after a mix-up saw toxic parts of the delicacy go on sale. A supermar…
Japanese developers say device could help bring end to ‘sumehara’, or ‘smell harassment’, by those who disturb colleagues with their body odour.
Tokyo has magnetism, and it feels endless. What hits you first is the scale. There’s the neon signs, the ancient temples, the skyscraper skylines, all of it mixed together. In the metro area there ar…
