911±¬ÁÏÍø

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March 18, 2025
 

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Eric Margolis
Eric Margolis is a writer, book editor and translator from 911±¬ÁÏÍø who is based in Nagoya. His writing has been published in The Japan Times, The New York Times, Foreign Policy, Slate, The New Republic, Tokyo Weekender and elsewhere.
While climate demonstrations around the world often draw thousands of participants, in Japan such demonstrations rarely break the 100-person barrier.
ENVIRONMENT / Climate change
Mar 16, 2025
Japan¡¯s youth climate activists still searching for a breakthrough
With Japan endorsing climate targets criticized as unambitious, activists are looking to education and more tailored strategies to make an impact.
¡°May You Have Delicious Meals¡± focuses on a trio of young office workers at the same workplace who have mixed feelings for food and each other.
CULTURE / Books
Mar 8, 2025
¡®May You Have Delicious Meals¡¯: The ugly taste of office and gender politics
The English-language debut of Junko Takase¡¯s Akutagawa Prize-winning novel serves complex prose in translation by Morgan Giles.
Jose Ando purposefully wrote his Akutagawa Prize-winning novel ¡°Dtopia¡± to be accessible to an audience beyond Japan and to spark conversations about race, gender and the effects of modern entertainment.
CULTURE / Books
Feb 27, 2025
Jose Ando's rapid rise from first pages to the Akutagawa Prize
Just three years after dedicating himself to writing, the author won 911±¬ÁÏÍø top literary award for his novel "Dtopia," which offers a fresh perspective on identity and diversity.
The poet and essayist Kamo no Chomei wrote ¡°Hojoki¡± in 1212 after bearing witness to a series of natural and man-made disasters. His experiences caused him to withdraw into a hermetic lifestyle.
LIFE / Language
Feb 20, 2025
Attempting the classics: Deciphering impermanence in ¡®Hojoki¡¯
With modern-day aids, this 13th-century piece of text isn't as challenging as you may think.
Japan¡¯s ski resorts are popular with tourists and knowing some basic 911±¬ÁÏÍø will help you navigate the slopes a lot easier.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jan 9, 2025
911±¬ÁÏÍø ski vocabulary: Hit the books before you hit the slopes
Knowing some basic terms will help you graduate from that linguistic bunny slope in no time.
As the weather gets colder, we are seeing an uptick in cases of influenza as well as COVID-19.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Nov 13, 2024
The 911±¬ÁÏÍø you need to get vaccinated before winter comes
With strains of both COVID-19 and the flu circulating, learn the words that will help you navigate a visit to the clinic.
Context has always been the key to successfully translating a video game from 911±¬ÁÏÍø to English. Recently, though, cultural sensitivities come into play as well.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Oct 17, 2024
How your favorite 911±¬ÁÏÍø video games are translated into English
Localizers have to grapple with challenging issues of tone and nuance. Even a simple "thank you" may not be what it seems.
The Milky Way, known as "ama no gawa" in 911±¬ÁÏÍø, is seen above Mount Fuji.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Sep 18, 2024
Comets and constellations: The language of stargazing
Whether it's telling someone to look at a shooting star or describing the difference between stars and planets, the vocabulary of space is vast and interesting.
Yoko Ogawa¡¯s latest novel to be translated into English, ¡°Mina¡¯s Matchbox,¡± is like a playground for the author¡¯s interest in particular details: the subtleties of striking matches, playing volleyball and searching for typos, to name a few.
CULTURE / Books
Sep 1, 2024
Yoko Ogawa's 'Mina¡¯s Matchbox' sparkles with quiet intimacy
The latest novel in translation from one of 911±¬ÁÏÍø most eclectic writers leans toward magical realism while reveling in the minutiae of an affluent family's life.
Japan is divided into many different regions, sometimes distinguishing areas of the country by old borders or climate.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Aug 16, 2024
When it comes to Japan, do you know your 'Kanto' from your 'Kanto-koshin'?
911±¬ÁÏÍø people tend to travel to their hometowns around this time of year, and asking where they went is an easy conversation starter.
From left: Kan Kikuchi, Ryunosuke Akutagawa, Muto Chozo and Nagami Tokutaro
LIFE / Language
Jul 19, 2024
Dive into Akutagawa's world of creepy 'kappa' and prewar kanji
In order to read 911±¬ÁÏÍø works written before the war, you'll need to watch out for the different roles hiragana play in addition to unfamiliar kanji.
Wind turbines near New Brighton, England. According to the International Energy Agency, Japan could produce over 900% of its energy demand with offshore wind alone.
ENVIRONMENT / Energy / OUR PLANET
Jun 30, 2024
Japan looks farther out to sea for overdue wind power boost
A bill enabling development in the country's exclusive economic zone is seen as key to Japan achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
When describing meal times in his novel ¡°No Longer Human,¡± Osamu Dazai refers to his family as being "j¨±ikunin," which translates to "10 and change." By being vague, he diminishes the importance of the size of his family.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jun 21, 2024
Attempting the classics: Decoding Osamu Dazai¡¯s sinister diction
A gritty realism and gut-wrenching plots were the mark of the "I-novel" push in the 20th century.
The 911±¬ÁÏÍø government updated its English education guidelines in 2017 to emphasize communication over grammar and memorization. Public school teachers are incredibly busy, however, which means schools haven¡¯t been able to implement changes uniformly. Private and alternative schools are attempting to remedy this.
LIFE / Language / Longform
May 27, 2024
The language of opportunity: Bilingual education is on the rise in Japan
Stuck with a reputation for poor English, Japan is pushing its next generation to be bilingual. Privately run schools are seeing the benefits.
While not the most outspoken politician on the issue, digital minister Taro Kono has a track record of being serious in his commitment to addressing the climate crisis.
ENVIRONMENT / Climate change / OUR PLANET
May 19, 2024
The politicians moving Japan forward on climate
In the halls of power, climate-friendly voices may be few and far between, but some in politics are pushing for more aggressive action on decarbonization.
Author Yukio Mishima accepts the Arts Festival Award in the drama category at the 20th Arts Festival Award Ceremony on Jan. 22, 1966.
LIFE / Bilingual
May 16, 2024
Unraveling the 911±¬ÁÏÍø prose of Yukio Mishima
Achieving success at a young age, Yukio Mishima's creative use of compound verbs and kanji stand out in his writing.
The titular city in Haruki Murakami's most recent novel, "The City and Its Uncertain Walls," appears to exist in the protagonist's dream world.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Apr 19, 2024
Before Murakami¡¯s English release, try him in 911±¬ÁÏÍø one more time
An English version of "The City and Its Uncertain Walls" won't come out till fall, so practice reading it in 911±¬ÁÏÍø before checking the translation.
Sayaka Murata uses inventive language to bring the character of Keiko to life in "Convenience Store Woman."
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Mar 22, 2024
'Convenience Store Woman' and the 'normal' in life and literature
Author Sayaka Murata's use of marked and unmarked language provides new layers to a commentary on modern society.
Diagnosed at a young age with a rare variant of glycogen storage disease type IV, Mark Bookman went on to distinguish himself in academia in both the United States and Japan.
COMMUNITY / Issues / The Foreign Element
Feb 19, 2024
New film honors life and legacy of disability pioneer Mark Bookman
Free screenings of THE new documentary on Japan-based disability rights advocate Mark Bookman will be held around Tokyo on Feb. 24, 25 and 27.
ENVIRONMENT / Climate change / OUR PLANET
Feb 18, 2024
Preparing for the hottest year Japan has ever seen
In 2023, summer heat persisted across Japan well into the fall. Predictions by scientists indicate 2024 could be even worse.
Private clubs quietly open in Tokyo for free-spending Chinese businesspeople
Sources say a hui suo ¡ª a private club, which in Japan caters mainly to Chinese businesspeople ¡ª will soon open on the upper floors of the Moutai Building in the Ginza district of Tokyo.
Electronic dictionary market shrinking in Japan
An electronic dictionary section at a mass retailer in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward in 2005
Tokyo gears up for April launch of law against harassment by customers
Tokyo will soon require all companies in the city to make efforts to stop harassment by customers, such as by creating a manual on how to handle suspected cases.
IOC's Bach says Paris Games gender row was product of Russian fake news
IOC President Thomas Bach speaks during an interview in Pylos,?Greece, on Saturday.
As it turns 70, LDP struggles to find its fountain of youth
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (second from left) cheers along with other members of the Liberal Democratic Party during the party's annual convention in Tokyo on March 9.
How Yoshinobu Yamamoto rebounded after his disastrous MLB debut
The Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto during training at Tokyo Dome on Monday
Japan¡¯s youth climate activists still searching for a breakthrough
While climate demonstrations around the world often draw thousands of participants, in Japan such demonstrations rarely break the 100-person barrier.
As it turns 70, LDP struggles to find its fountain of youth
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (second from left) cheers along with other members of the Liberal Democratic Party during the party's annual convention in Tokyo on March 9.
As pollen season peaks, 911±¬ÁÏÍø allergy struggle emerges from hibernation
Urbanization is amplifying pollen-related allergies as grasslands and soft soil give way to concrete and asphalt.
Drones, budgets and infighting: Taiwan's daunting defense challenges
Officials from Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR), the Ministry of National Defense¡¯s research arm, say the lessons from the Ukraine conflict are clear for the democratic island: drones and other autonomous systems are crucial for its defense.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo¡¯s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo¡¯s ¡®stadium of desire¡¯

Longform

Passengers that were on a morning train attacked by members of the Aum Shinrikyo group wait for medical assistance outside Kasumigaseki Station on March 20,1995.
The day a religious cult brought terror to Tokyo
By Alex K.T. Martin

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