Travel News

Is the Unification Church About to Lose Its Protected Status?

In our latest news roundup, we report on the Unification Church as the prime minister orders a probe into the controversial groups, which could be about to lose its protected status as a religious corporation. Also this week, the yen continues to depreciate, hitting a 32-year low against the dollar. Japan’s oldest restroom is damaged after a driver hits the accelerator by mistake. There’s a brawl in Ikebukuro and a former Olympic executive is arrested for the fourth time. In sport, Ventforet Kofu cause a big upset in the Emperor’s Cup final.

PM Kishida has pledged to launch an investigation

Travel News

How Do You Live: The Legendary Japanese Novel that Almost Never Was

When Genzaburo Yoshino penned How Do You Live? in 1937, a work of anti-authoritarian genius that remains on the classical arts curriculum today, it was an exercise in sociopolitical legerdemain. For purposes of stealth, Yoshino packaged an ethics book of then-outlawed Western ideas as a coming-of-age children’s novel to avoid the prying eyes of the TokyoImperial Japan’s “Thought Police.”

If one were to read only the chapters narrated by an omniscient voice that follows the protagonist, a 15-year-old boy in interwar Tokyo nicknamed Copper, the sleight of hand wouldn’t be so apparent. These chapters are often as not wholesome,

Travel News

North Korea Continues to Provoke Japan

In this week’s roundup, we report on the latest missiles from Pyongyang as North Korea continues to provoke Japan and several other countries. There’s sad news domestically as two Japanese icons pass away and the body of a 7-year-old girl is found in the Edo River. In Myanmar, filmmaker Toru Kubota is handed a 10-year prison sentence. And in sport, NBA players delight Japanese fans at the Saitama Super Arena.

J-Alert Warning Shocks Residents in Northern Japan

Residents in Northern Japan were given a fright on Tuesday morning as alarms began bleeding from cellphones and public speakers. For the

Travel News

Tracing Japan’s Robot Heritage to Feudal-Era Karakuri Dolls

Autonomous robots, package-delivering drones and towering mecha are no longer wild imaginations from the realm of science fiction. From Skeletonics’ Gundam-style robot suits and Cyberdyne’s wearable HAL (Hybrid Assistive Limb) cyborgs to SkyDrive’s flying vehicles, we’re inching closer to what used to be considered impossible. Robots like Sony’s Aibo opened the doors for consumer use in the late 1990s, but what if we told you Japan’s fascination with household humanoid (and in Aibo’s case, canine) robots started much earlier?

Aichi: Home of Mechanical Innovation

For the tech-savvy, it will come to no surprise to learn that Aichi Prefecture is a

Travel News

Collier, Naples, Marco issue curves; schools remain closed

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6:30 pm | Collier, Lee schools now closed for rest of week

Collier and Lee schools announced they will remain closed through the end of the week.

All school district sites will be closed, all after school-programs canceled. All extracurricular activities including athletic practices

Travel News

11 Things To Do in Tokyo This Week: September 26–October 2

There’s plenty to keep you occupied in Tokyo this week, including a Czech Festival, Nigo’s Vintage Archive, “The Power of Clothing: History of Cross-Dressing in Japan” exhibition and Oktoberfest. Here’s what to look out for in Japan’s capital over the coming seven days.

1. Czech Festival

The Czech Festival is one of the largest events in Japan that introduces the charms of the Czech Republic. Visitors can purchase accessories, character goods, toys, books and other Czech products. There will be a continuous program of Czech music performances, mini-Czech language classes and talk shows about Czech history, culture and tourism.

when:

Travel News

Kenji Kohashi: Making Miracles in Japan

Kenji Kohashi was struggling to see a light at the end of what had been a dark tunnel. As an actor, he made quite a name for himself appearing in movies such as Azumi and the NHK morning drama Churasan, but at 27, he gave it up to go traveling. Returning to Japan two years later, he was excited about trying something new. Things, however, didn’t work out how he’d hoped. Mostly bedridden at his parents’ house, he was out of work, suffering from depression and all his savings were gone. Then came the diagnosis that his liver was

Travel News

Artist Luke Jerram Brings the Moon to Shimokitazawa

Tokyo Weekender recently spoke to internationally-renowned artist and moon enthusiast, Luke Jerram, to coincide with his “Museum of the Moon” exhibition showing in Japan for the first time. Visitors to Shimokitazawa this weekend will be greeted by a huge moon hanging over the old Odakyu tracks for a third and final time.

Installation View, Shimokitazawa Moon Art Night Photo: Startbahn

Running until September 25, Moon Art Night Shimokitazawa also includes an exhibition by Australian artist Amanda Parer titled “Intrude” that displays giant glowing rabbits around Kitazawa Hachiman Shrine. In front of the station lies the giant “Museum of the Moon”