We are now into February, widely regarded by many as the coldest time of year in Japan. Indeed, I’ve found myself turning the heat up on the air conditioning a bit more in the last couple of weeks. M…

posted by  banzaitokyo | 8 years, 6 months ago | 0 comments

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…

posted by  banzaitokyo | 8 years, 6 months ago | 0 comments

Travel agency H.I.S. Co. is eyeing an ambitious plan to build eight more android-staffed Henn na Hotels in addition to the one it opened in Tokyo's high-end Ginza shopping district on Thursday. Again…

posted by  Yubi | 8 years, 6 months ago | 0 comments

Tokyo stocks plunged to a 19-month low Tuesday as Wall Street's sell-off delivered heavy blows to investor risk appetite. The Nikkei Stock Average at one point fell more than 1,250 points to a low of…

posted by  Yubi | 8 years, 6 months ago | 0 comments

Pakuchi or ‘パクチー’ is derived from a Thai sounding word ‘Pakchee’ meaning coriander. It is an herb seen in many Thai dishes, either sprinkled on top or put in the soup. When I first moved to the Toky…

posted by  banzaitokyo | 8 years, 6 months ago | 0 comments

For the past 7 years, Toru Matsui, a plumber who lives in the mountainous Inabucho town of Aichi prefecture, has taken on an ambitious annual art project. Each winter, as temperatures fall and touris…

posted by  banzaitokyo | 8 years, 6 months ago | 0 comments

Inspired by the ancient yet versatile 8-bit technology, NY-based Japanese artist Shinji Murakami has been creating works that harken back to the original Dragon Quest, Zelda and other video games of …

posted by  banzaitokyo | 8 years, 6 months ago | 0 comments

Some 1200 people lined up hours before dawn on a chilly February morning for a chance to see Ueno Zoo’s newest star, giant panda cub Xiang Xiang, reports the Japan Times. Xiang Xiang (pronounced ‘sha…

posted by  banzaitokyo | 8 years, 6 months ago | 0 comments

The unified Korean flag under which North and South Korean athletes will march under at the upcoming Winter Olympics appears to show nothing more than the Korean peninsula in light blue against a whi…

posted by  banzaitokyo | 8 years, 6 months ago | 0 comments

The annual snow festival has opened in the northern Japanese city of Sapporo.

The 69th Sapporo Snow Festival began in the capital city of Hokkaido on Monday at the main site in Odori Park and another…

posted by  Yubi | 8 years, 6 months ago | 0 comments