Region: Japan (1-16 of 16)

Regulating the Japanese cyberspace, one step at a time
Thursday, December 27, 2007
With little fanfare from local or foreign media, the Japanese government made significant moves this month toward legislating extensive regulation over web content, mobile phone access, and file sharing. (continue reading)
Interview with David McNeill
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
David McNeill writes regularly for the Irish Times and the Independent, teaches at Sophia University in Tokyo, and is also a coordinator of Japan Focus. We met David at a cafe near Sophia's Yotsuya campus to talk about his experiences teaching media studies and writing as a foreign correspondent in Japan. (continue reading)
Interview with Mr. Koide Hiroaki
Monday, September 3, 2007
In this interview we speak with Mr. Koide Hiroaki, a researcher at the Kyoto University Reactor Research Insitute who for 40 years has been fighting against nuclear power in Japan. (continue reading)
[Summary] Development, environment, human rights: An Interview with Kawamura Akio
Thursday, August 2, 2007
In this interview we speak with Kawamura Akio, an assistant professor at Kobe College with a specialization in international relations, about development, the environment and human rights. (continue reading)
Reflections on Video Art, Media, and a Life of Zen: An Interview with Michael Goldberg
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Michael Goldberg, a native of Montreal, Canada now living in Tokyo, Japan, has been active in video art and video production for over 40 years. We talked to Michael about his experience as a video artist as well as his new film, "A ZEN LIFE", about D.T. Suzuki. (continue reading)
An Interview with Matsumoto Hajime
Sunday, May 27, 2007
A noisy commotion hit the area around JR Kouenji station in the second half of the nationwide local elections. A group headed by Matsumoto Hajime, one of the candidates running in the Suginami ward elections, organized a campaign in which they played music day and night, organized events on the street near the station, and liberated the streets, all in an attempt to reclaim their city. (continue reading)
Voices of the Precariat: MayDay for Freedom and Lives
Thursday, May 3, 2007
On April 30th, the group of people referred to as the "precariat" -- freeters, part-timers, day workers, homeless, people forced into lives with neither security nor stability -- participated in "MayDay for Freedom and Lives" held in Shinjuku, Tokyo. (continue reading)
Accenture, JAPAN-VISIT, and the mystery of the 100,000 yen bid
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Just under one year ago, revelations emerged that a contract for a new biometric immigration system had been awarded by the Japanese government to Accenture Japan Ltd., a corporation previously hired in the role of "advisor" for the same project, at a price of only 100,000 yen (less than 900 USD). Key documentation related to the mystery of this "low-price bid" has been translated and summarized here. (continue reading)
Japanese personal savings fund development loan program
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
In their Spring/Summer catalogue, People Tree Japan featured an article, translated and summarized here, on research by environmental activist Tanaka Yu exposing the web of connections by which money from private citizens' savings accounts is used by Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA) Program to finance yen-denominated loans for third-world countries. (continue reading)
Peace march in Tokyo against occupation in Iraq
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Protest marches in Tokyo and across Japan on March 21st marked 4 years since the outbreak of war in Iraq. (continue reading)
[Summary] The Tachikawa flyering incident: 3 years later
Friday, March 23, 2007
On a clear and sunny Sunday earlier this month, on my way out for the day, I met a group in front of the train station gathering signatures for a petition. (continue reading)
Schools across Japan may switch to Linux
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported late last week that the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry plans to introduce the open-source operating system Linux for use within classrooms across the country in the near future. (continue reading)
From Gone to Here: An interview with Samm Bennett
Monday, February 19, 2007
Percussionist Samm Bennett talks about his unique background, the lyrics of his songs, his thoughts on social/political commentary in music, and the relation between simplicity and timelessness in musical expression. (continue reading)
Black Gold, Rising Sun: A review of "Gold Warriors"
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
With their recent book, "Gold Warriors: America's Secret Recovery of Yamashita's Gold", Sterling and Peggy Seagrave have provided a much needed antidote to tired, politically-correct caricatures of Japan, much trumpeted by its leaders and echoed in the mass media. (continue reading)
Doodles and coffee: The world of Sakai Takashi
Monday, January 29, 2007
Artist Sakai Takashi, who drew the logo featured in the gyaku banner, speaks about his influences, his unique artistic style, and his outlook for the future. (continue reading)
[Summary] International Conference on the ICC held in Tokyo
Saturday, December 9, 2006
On Dec. 4-5, at the Parliament Museum in Tokyo, the Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) held their 28th Annual Forum on Human Security. (continue reading)