Noteworthy Japanese News
Noteworthy Japanese News
The following human-interest articles have been carefully selected from English versions of prominent Japanese newspapers for their use in the K-12 classroom. They can be used in a variety of ways: to introduce current events in Japan or as a basis for comparison with the United States. For each article, we've included a brief description and/or relevant excerpt.Traditional delicacy still enjoyed after 1,000 years
November 7,2009
Yomiuri Shimbun
November 15th is Kamaboko Day, celebrating the traditional, fan-shaped delicacy with a history of one thousand years. Read about its history and the artisanship involved in kamaboko production from veterans of Suzuhiro Co., one company that continues to make this food traditionally. Thought questions for your students include: how and why has this process evolved over 1,000 years? How do you think the process will change in the future?
Asia's Best Coffee - Japan
November 6, 2009
By Mark Robinson
Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal covers the history of the Japanese love of coffee and even defines some basics for ordering “American” in any coffee shop.
EDITORIAL: Poverty rate in Japan
November 5, 2009
Asahi Shimbun
An Asahi Shimbun columnist praises the Hatoyama government for acknowledging the growing problem of Japan’s working poor. The growth with equality which followed WWII has been replaced by a growing income gap and a large proportion of youth unable to secure permanent jobs.
Food scraps help power plant
November 1, 2009
Yomiuri Shimbun
A fast food company, Bikkuri Donkey, uses construction scraps to fuel its factories in Hokkaido and plans to halve its CO2 emissions by 2020.
Emissions goal draws fire from all sides
June 11, 2009
By Eric Johnston
The Japan Times
Criticism surrounds Japan’s new emissions cut goal.
A turning point in Japan for the right to equality?
June 10, 2009
By Craig Martin
Special to The Japan Times
This editorial about a Supreme Court decision that struck down a clause in the Nationality Act explores issues of nationality and equality in the legal system.
Oh! To have a married life
May 17, 2009
By Philip Brasor
Japan Times
This article discusses the low marriage rate and increasing divorce rate among young Japanese from a sociology and pop culture perspective. Note that 2 million yen is very roughly equivalent to $21,000.
A death from human kindness
May 10, 2009
By Philip Brasor
Japan Times
The suicide of a well-known pop singer prompts discussion about care of the elderly in Japan and in particular the role gender plays in the expectations placed on caregivers by society.
Shedding light with a green gadget
May 6, 2009
By Peter Crookes
Descriptions of new environmentally-friendly products.
Japanese Women Hunt for Husbands as Refuge From Deepening Slump
March 17, 2009
By Toru Fujioka
Bloomberg
"Women the Japanese call “marriage-hunters” are looking to tie the knot as companies from Toyota Motor Corp. to Sony Corp. fire thousands of workers and the nation heads for its biggest annual economic contraction since 1945. Marriages surged to a five-year high of 731,000 in 2008 as wages stagnated and the unemployment rate rose for the first time in six years."
'Bento day' catching on with schools, kids
February 27, 2009
By Junko Saimoto and Kozue Hayama
The Asahi Shimbun
For more about bentos, see Merry White's essay Obento.
"At 5:30 a.m. on a cold wintry day Eiji Fukatsu, a third-year student at Wakamatsuhara Junior High School in Utsunomiya, was hard at work in the family kitchen where the water from the tap was piercingly cold.
It was a "bento day" at Fukatsu's school and the 684 students got up early to make bento (boxed lunches). On this day, the students planned the menus and cooked the ingredients, rather than take lunches to school made by their parents.
The idea was born in 2001 at an elementary school in Kagawa Prefecture. It has since spread to nearly 300 elementary schools through universities across the country. Schools have reported that children's cooking skills improved, less food was wasted and families had something new to talk about."
1,000 years of 'Genji'
The world's first novel has been delighting readers for a millennium
Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008
By ERIKO ARITA/Staff writer
JAPAN TIMES
This article gives a brief historical overview and synopsis of The Tale of Genji before giving a more in-depth analysis of selected chapters. This article is of particular interest to English and Global Studies teachers.
"'Genji Monogatari,' known as 'The Tale of Genji' in English, is believed by many scholars to be the first full-length novel in world literature. Marking the 1,000th anniversary since its creation, today's Timeout introduces this masterpiece that draws readers into a beautiful world gone by full of passion, pleasures and sorrows of men and women."
Rental robotic suit helps disabled walk
Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008
JAPAN TIMES
"TSUKUBA, Ibaraki Pref. (AP) A robotic suit that reads brain signals and helps people with mobility problems became available this week to rent in Japan for ¥220,000 a month — an invention that may have far-reaching benefits for the disabled and elderly."
VENDING MACHINES: Anything, any time, anywhere
Those ubiquitous high-tech vending machines offer everything under the sun — and more
Tuesday, Sep. 23, 2008
JAPAN TIMES
Offering a window to the vending machine culture in Japan, this article can be used to start conversations with your students about consumer habits, technology, and society. Possible thought questions include: why haven't vending machines become as popular in the USA as they are in Japan? Why are Japanese vending machines more technologically advanced than those in the USA? Can students think of other ways vending machines may evolve in the future?
"Unlike most other countries, Japan is dotted with thousands of vending machines that allow consumers to buy a wide range of products at any time of the day or night, eliminating the need for inconvenient trips to the store."
How green are Japan's urbanites?
By TOMOKO OTAKE and ERIKO ARITA/Staff writers
JAPAN TIMES
"Still, each of these personal (environmentally friendly) gestures can make a difference. So for all those guilt-ridden readers, here is a reminder of how they help. The Japan Times' list of 10 green activities anyone can engage in is also a chance to check out how the Japanese consumer stacks up against others around the world. "
