Tokyu department store in Tokyo's Shibuya closes after 55 years
The main outlet of Tokyu Department Store Company in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward closed for good on Tuesday after 55 years in business due to a redevelopment project. (NHK)
Another wave of food price hikes awaits Japanese consumers in February
Japanese consumers will face another wave of food price hikes in February, the largest since October last year, a survey showed on Tuesday. (Japan Times)
Kishida’s son in hot seat over shopping during official trips overseas
Shotaro Kishida, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s eldest son and his executive secretary, is in the hot seat over media reports that he went shopping and sightseeing in Europe, Canada and the U.S. using official vehicles when he accompanied the prime minister to those places in January. (Japan Times)
World champion freestyle skier dies after an avalanche in Japan
Kyle Smaine along with an unnamed Austrian has died after a tragic avalanche on the Hakuba Norikura mountain of Japan (euroweeklynews.com)
01 February 2023
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SOCIETY
Yakuza battle Chinese gangs for control of Japan's criminal underworld
econotimes.com - Jan 31
On the afternoon of October 16 last year a brawl erupted between two groups of gangsters in a restaurant on the 58th floor of the Sunshine 60 high-rise building in Ikebukuro, a central neighbourhood of Tokyo.
Nitori furniture store guard arrested for shoplifting from Nitori furniture store
Japan Today - Jan 30
Nitori is a major home furnishings chain in Japan with hundreds of stores across the country. They even expanded to North America for about a decade under the brand Aki-Home, with both names deriving from the founder Akio Nitori.
Why is she living in hoarded house even though she is a graduate from No.1 university in Japan?
Dark side of Japan - Jan 28
She has circumstances that cause her to hoard things in her room.
What makes MOST foreigners LEAVE Japan?
Mrs Eats - Jan 27
Some of you probably have a dream of one day moving to Japan and living here for the rest of your life, or at least for the foreseeable future.
[more society news…]
BUSINESS
A $500 million bet on reinvigorating Japan’s aging ski industry
Bloomberg - Feb 01
Niseko sits on the western edge of the island of Hokkaido, where Siberian winds sweeping across the Sea of Japan drop heavy snow almost daily during the winter months.
Tokyo Disney operator to raise workers' pay by 7 percent
NHK - Feb 01
The operator of Tokyo Disney Resort is the latest major employer in Japan to announce wage hikes. Average pay will rise by 7 percent from April.
Japan's job availability in 2022 improved for first time in four years
Japan Times - Jan 31
Japan’s average job availability in 2022 improved for the first time in four years as economic and social activities revived with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, government data showed Tuesday.
BYD forecasts huge profit ahead of flagship Atto launch in Japan
stockhead.com.au - Jan 31
Shenzhen-based automaker, Tesla hunter and global electric vehicle hopeful, China’s BYD Co, has forecast a bumper 2022 of pure profit.
[more business news…]
POLITICS
Kishida's son in hot seat over shopping during official trips overseas
Japan Times - Jan 31
Shotaro Kishida, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s eldest son and his executive secretary, is in the hot seat over media reports that he went shopping and sightseeing in Europe, Canada and the U.S. using official vehicles when he accompanied the prime minister to those places in January.
'I didn't want to choose the option of fighting': Japan ex-soldier sues government over sex assault
news24.com - Jan 31
A Japanese former soldier who was sexually assaulted by her colleagues said on Monday she is suing the government and the perpetrators over the "superficial" apologies and mistreatment she received.
Japan's demographic time bomb: Labour shortage opens doors to foreign workers
FRANCE 24 English - Jan 29
Japan faces an existential threat with its birth rate at an all time low, yet the island nation has still to fully embrace immigration as a solution to the population decline. To tackle the problem, the government has slowly turned to bringing in foreign workers.
Japan to count COVID cases using method for seasonal flu
NHK - Jan 28
Japanese health authorities say they will start counting coronavirus infections using the same method they do for cases of seasonal influenza.
[more politics news…]
EDUCATION
MUST-KNOW Immigration, Airport Phrases in Japanese
Japanese Ammo with Misa - Jan 31
In this video, I'm going to teach you all the useful Japanese words you can use at the airport from checking baggage to going through passport control and customs.
Japan's decluttering queen Marie Kondo says 'given up' on keeping her home clean
WION - Jan 30
Japanese decluttering queen Marie Kondo, who is known for keeping things in order, and removing any sort of clutter, has accepted that even she fails to maintain a spotless and tidy home after her third kid's birth in 2021.
New Year Holiday of Japanese Family | MOE's parents house
Kimono Mom - Jan 29
At the end of the year, my daughter and I went back to my parents' house to relax and spend time with my family.
Japan's 300 schools, universities receive bomb, death threats; panic ensues
WION - Jan 27
Hundreds of schools as well as universities across Japan received fax messages with bomb and death threats on Wednesday, stoking panic and subsequent closure of the schools.
[more education news…]
ENTERTAINMENT
#9 SHOTARO ショウタロウ / 쇼타로 | Instagram Influencer
News On Japan
Shotaro became the second Japanese member of K-Pop band NCT, after Yuta, in 2020. Fans say his squinting smile resembles a sea otter. One of his special skills is tooth whistling.
Boy Created A World Where He Has 7 Girls As His Servant
Anime Explained - Jan 31
In this "romantic comedy but sometimes serious magical school story," life as Arata Kasuga knows it is wiped out by a bizarre incident known as "Collapse Phenomenon," which causes worldwide destruction and takes his cousin Hijiri Kasuga to the next world.
#10 Kento Yamazaki | Instagram Influencer
News On Japan
Kento Yamazaki (山﨑賢人) made his acting debut in 2010 after he was scouted on his way home from a soccer match during third year of junior high school.
A Guide to Kabuki in February 2023 (Kabuki-za & Hakata-za)
Kabuki In-Depth - Jan 30
A slower month of kabuki, but with some notable highlights, including Nizaemon XV's isse ichidai, Takanosuke's memorial performance for his late father, and an excellently cast Sannin Kichisa.
[more entertainment news…]
FOOD
Another wave of food price hikes awaits Japanese consumers in February
Japan Times - Feb 01
Japanese consumers will face another wave of food price hikes in February, the largest since October last year, a survey showed on Tuesday.
Uncovering The Mystery Behind Why Japanese Eels Are So Expensive
TTI - English - Jan 31
All I want for Christmas is a super expensive Japanese eel. I mean, I hate snakes but these ultra expensive and toxic snake-fishes are popular among Japanese food lovers for their exquisite taste and juicy tenderness.
Japanese Street Food Tour of Ishigaki Island
TabiEats - Jan 29
Ishigaki Island is located just under an hour from mainland Okinawa or 3 hours from Tokyo by plane. It has beautiful beaches, amazing scenery and delicious local food.
How 52,000 Pots Are Used To Age A Rare Japanese Black Vinegar
Insider Business - Jan 28
Kurozu is Japanese black vinegar made using a 200-year-old technique of naturally fermenting ingredients outdoors in giant clay pots.
[more food news…]
TRAVEL
A Treasure Trove of Japanese History: Discovering the Taito City
drifttravel.com - Jan 31
If you’re in Tokyo and looking to explore the city’s rich cultural traditions, we recommend that you visit the Taito City area.
China resumes granting visas for Japanese nationals
dw.com - Jan 30
Japanese citizens will once again be able to get Chinese visas, Beijing said, reversing a previous ban over COVID testing China had slammed as "discriminatory."
Walking Across Tokyo in a Day
Abroad in Japan - Jan 30
Tokyo is the world's largest city. We set off 25km across the city through markets, restaurants and neon lit streets to see if it's possible to walk across it in a day!
Hokkaido hot spring resort holds annual ice festival
NHK - Jan 30
A winter festival featuring about 30 ice sculptures has been drawing many tourists to a hot spring resort in Japan's northern prefecture of Hokkaido.
[more travel news…]
FEATURED BLOGS
Jan 30
Groper arrested in Japan insists he did not grab both breasts, but just one

Japanese language quirk made charges ambiguous, but he probably didn't help his case by clearing that up.

On Tuesday night, a criminal incident occurred in the town of Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture. A mountain resort famed for its beautiful natural ...

Jan 29
Culture Shock 101: Expect the Unexpected on Your Japan Trip

When visiting Japan for the first time, you're bound to encounter things you're not used to, and that's all part of the fun!

But whether it's being bowed to instead of shaking hands or being given a dish you didn't order, there are some things to ...

Jan 28
Ekiben: Your Guide to Bullet Train Bento
If lunchboxes that you eat on a train don't sound unique or exciting, then you haven't had an ekiben while traveling 300 kph on the Shinkansen. Ekiben ? the combination of the Japanese words eki (train station) and bento (lunchbox) ? have been ar...
Jan 27
Why is there a wrestling ring in the Underground Arena fighting bar in Kabukicho?

Investigating the underbelly of Tokyo in one of its most notorious districts.

Kabukicho in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward is famous for being the real-world inspiration for Kamurocho, the notoriously sketchy yakuza ?hood from the Yakuza video game series...

Jan 26
February 2023: Events Not to Miss in Tokyo
In the blink of an eye, the first month of the year is over. We hope that 2023 has been good to you Cheapos so far, and if you made a New Year's resolution to go out and explore the city, here's your handy guide to Tokyo's events in February. Keep...
[more blogs…]