Apart from the societal changes I have treated earlier on this website, changes in technology and services are also happening in Japan. In early June 2022, Tobu Railway (a railway company in the Greater Tokyo Area) terminated its free Wi-Fi services. Until then, trains used on the Tobu Skytree Line and Tojo Line provided free…
Join the Second Edition of Kokoro Conversations!
Dear reader, Why don’t you join us for the second edition of Kokoro Conversations? Kokoro Conversations are events in which you can get your voice heard and join fellow Kokoro Media readers for open-hearted conversations about the joys and the challenges of life in Japan. There, you can meet new people to exchange thoughts, compare…
Moving to Japan? Learn Katakana First.
If you’re moving to Japan (or even taking an extended vacation), you’ll want to start learning the language, including how to read. Register for a class or buy a coursebook. You’ll start first from hiragana, then katakana, and finally kanji. It’s a natural progression. Actually, it’s not. Or at least, not for everyone. Hear me…
Changing Perceptions of Marriage in Japan
On June 14, 2022, Japan’s Gender Equality Bureau Cabinet Office published a new report under the theme “Marriage and Family in the Age of 100 Years of Life: How to Face the Changing Shapes and Challenges of the Family.” The results, based on a governmental survey with responses from 20,000 people, have gathered the attention…
Chanmina is the Culture-Challenging Musician We Should All Be Listening to
Chanmina is a Korean-Japanese rapper and musician bending, blending, and breaking culture and borders. You may have already heard of her–since her debut in Japan in 2016, much of her music has peaked on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 charts and sometimes even international charts. Born in South Korea to a Korean ballerina mother and…
Public Photography in Japan: Laws, Rules, and Etiquette
After more than two years of isolation, Japan is on the cusp of reopening, albeit ever so slightly, to international tourists. This means, barring any COVID-19 flareups, it’s only a matter of time before shutterbugs from around the world once again descend upon Japan, a paradise for photography lovers. However, before you dust off your…
Interact with Fellow Readers at the First-Ever Kokoro Conversations Event!
Dear all, We are very excited to announce the birth of a series of online events designed just for you! We invite you to join fellow Kokoro Media readers for “Kokoro Conversations”: open-hearted conversations about the joys and the challenges of life in Japan. Meet new people, exchange thoughts, compare your experiences, ask for advice,…
Turning a Japanese Abandoned School into a Sustainable Factory
In summer 2021, I interviewed Go Nakano, CEO and founder member of the peanut butter company Happy Nuts Day. During our talk, he explained why he left a big advertising company and went on to create Happy Nuts Day with his skateboarding friends. He was thriving, creating products that reflected his values, surrounded by people…
Get Free Books at Temple University Japan on May 7!
Temple University Japan Continuing Education will be holding a “book fair” on May 7, 2022. Come and get free Japanese language textbooks, as well as books on finance, management, marketing, design, and much more. It will also be an opportunity to donate (or trade) books you no longer use to the TUJ library. When you…
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