Nokogiriyama: A Hike to Hell (And Back)
Located in the Boso Peninsula in Chiba, Nokogiriyama (aka Sawtooth Mountain) is a relatively easy hike, with a lot more than a view to reward you at the top. With two giant Buddhas, over 1500 arhat (…
The archive
Recent articles — page 464
Browse recent articles in the Akihabara archive.
Lives in limbo: Why Japan accepts so few refugees
People from all around the world seek asylum in Japan, but just 28 were accepted in 2016.
A smoke-free Tokyo as an Olympic legacy
To enforce or not to enforce a comprehensive indoor smoking ban is the question facing Japan as it prepares to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In response to an agreement between the Inte…
The Eerie Humanoid Driftwood Sculptures of Nagato Iwasaki
Artist Nagato Iwasaki‘s lifelike driftwood sculptures are perfect examples of the uncanny valley — the feelings of revulsion and uneasiness one experiences from non-human objects that appear a b…
Disrupting Japan Podcast #91: Startups Are Not the Future of Innovation in Japan
We talk a lot about Japanese startups on this show and the role they will play in shaping Japan’s economic future. Well, today we are going to look at this from a different angle; one that …
Princess's engagement to be announced in July
The Imperial Household Agency is planning to announce Princess Mako's engagement to Kei Komuro, possibly on July 8th. Agency officials say Agency Grand Steward Shinichiro Yamamoto will hold…
Beginner's guide to Tokyo: 5 insiders share their advice
Even the most experienced travelers struggle to decipher the cryptic metro maps and navigate the busy streets. It would take a lifetime to explore every little lane -- and even then, i…
Sony’s new E Ink watch goes on sale in Japan today
While neither model is really a smartwatch, the FES Watch U does have a little more functionality than the original model, with extra face designs available by connecting to an app called FES Closet.…
Mizukaze Luxury Sleeper Train Makes Debut
The Twilight Express Mizukaze luxury sleeper train of West Japan Railway Co., or JR West, made its debut in the city of Osaka on Saturday. With the Sea of Japan as a backdrop, the Twilight Expre…
Fire Ants!
Officials in the western Japanese port city of Kobe say about 100 more fire ants have been found in a container storage space. The highly poisonous ants are originally from South America. Their …