Why overtired Japan is turning to office siestas
“The crisis around karoshi has created a sense of urgency among companies to do something about it,” says Kobayashi. “From a business point of view, I always knew there would be a need for this.…
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Recent articles — page 382
Browse recent articles in the Akihabara archive.
SoftBank’s Bid to Build a Solar-Power Empire Founders
For years, SoftBank Group Corp. Chief Executive Masayoshi Son has talked about building a global renewable-energy empire capable of carrying solar power across continents. The Japanese inve…
Japan's Hagoromo chalk continues its legacy in S. Korea
Even in an age when whiteboards and computers are ubiquitous in classrooms, Hagoromo chalk has seen its popularity grow thanks to the huge market in the internet lecturing field in South Korea. …
Japanese Bon dance picking up popular tunes as it goes int'l
"Let's take Bon dance to the world!" and "Call Me" while dancers moved in sync, following the traditional moves of Bon dance. "Children's eyes shined, and…
Portable fans a breath of fresh air in sweltering summer heat
"We have many products to fight heat, such as foldable fans, cool sprays and cool bandanas, but this year the portable fans are the most popular among such items. (Portable fans on display …
Toyota is giving robot helpers more brains, but they’ll still suck for a while
A new Japanese research effort aims to use cutting-edge AI to deliver robots capable of assisting the elderly and people with disabilities. What’s new: Toyota is teaming up with Preferred N…
These Cheeky Statuettes Were Part of Edo-Era Japan’s Answer to Pockets
“It’s like a fob or a toggle, a giant button,” says Robert Mintz, deputy director of the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco and a scholar of Japanese art. When shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu ascended to …
Newbie Gaijin Appears To Be Having Way More Fun
A foreigner recently arriving in Tokyo seems to be getting way more enjoyment out of very ordinary things, according to several long-term foreigners. A simple street sign is reportedly more…
Japan To Ban The Gaijin Smash Ahead Of Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Japan will ban the gaijin smash in preparation for an influx of foreigners coming to Tokyo for the 2020 Olympic Games. Authorities have predicted traffic chaos in the nation’s capital with recen…
The Power of Kawaii: Viewing Cute Images Promotes a Careful Behavior and Narrows Attentional Focus
Abstract Kawaii (a Japanese word meaning “cute”) things are popular because they produce positive feelings. However, their effect on behavior remains unclear. In this study, three experiments were co…