Language | BILINGUAL Dec 30, 2022
There’s more going on in a haiku than just the 5-7-5 syllable rule
Dive into one of Japan's most fascinating art forms during the holidays and think up a couple of haiku poems to celebrate the season.
Books / Reviews Dec 10, 2022
Take a journey through the mythic and mundane in 'The Thorn Puller'
Hiromi Ito's semi-autobiographical, transnational novel probes the complexities of life as it follows the struggles of a woman shouldering an impressive load of family troubles.
Travel Oct 29, 2022
In pushing adventure travel, rural towns see paths forward
Where tourists who flock by bus clog up sidewalks and restaurant reservation slots, those who travel further afield bring some positive baggage with them.
DEEP DIVE Oct 5, 2022
Deep Dive is back! And the climate crisis is still a problem.
Oscar Boyd, Hanae Takahashi and Eric Margolis join new Deep Dive host Shaun McKenna to talk about how people in Japan get their climate news and what we need to do as citizens to aid in the fight.
Issues | THE FOREIGN ELEMENT Oct 3, 2022
'I feel like I can’t live the life I had before Feb. 24'
How do you tell the world about a war? A Japanese publisher and pro-Ukrainian group team up in an attempt to get the story told by the people most affected by it.
Language | BILINGUAL Sep 30, 2022
How can you fight climate change in Japan? Learn how to talk about it.
A good approach to speaking about hot-button topics in Japanese is to use so-called softeners so that your don't come off as too direct with your opinions.
National / Social Issues | Longform Sep 5, 2022
Japan’s foreign workers face a new post-COVID landscape
Tighter border controls amid the pandemic have kept technical interns and specified skilled workers from entering Japan. With restrictions now easing, can the government lure them back?
Issues | THE FOREIGN ELEMENT Aug 15, 2022
What can we do to fight the climate crisis from Japan?
Dealing with the climate crisis means more than just recycling at this point. Educating yourself and others may now be the best thing you can do.
Language | BILINGUAL Jul 29, 2022
Cherry blossoms, cranes and the language of Japanese symbols
The bald eagle of the United States and the orchids of China have deeper meanings in their respective cultures. What items do the Japanese give symbolic weight to?
Books May 19, 2022
Li Kotomi's 'Solo Dance' flows across prose and borders
A beautiful translation by Arthur Reiji Morris of "Solo Dance" will solidify Li Kotomi’s place in the next generation of Japanese writers.