The operators of the Tokyo Games made it to the finish line without serious problems. What impact will the first Olympic and Paralympic Games ever held amid a major global pandemic have on preparation...

I am hungry for sheep meat. Mutton and lamb are less commonly found in Japanese supermarkets than beef, pork or chicken, and the long state of emergency in Tokyo severely limited opportunities to din...

“I’d like to cover what problems people living alone might have if they get infected with the novel coronavirus.” No sooner had I discussed this idea with my editor than I wound up infected myse...

After ordering the suicide of Sen no Rikyu by ritual disembowelment in 1591, warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi needed a new tea ceremony master. For the role, he tapped Furuta Oribe, a high-ranking retainer ...

Japan’s birth rate over the years has declined while the number of people not getting married continues to rise. Amid these trends, The Yomiuri Shimbun published a story on March 21 about how local ...

NHK has declared that it will begin streamlining its organization over the next three years as it faces more pressure than ever to reform its business model, such as reducing the receiving fees collec...

The first COVID-19 inoculations were administered in Japan on Feb. 17, but the general public is skeptical about whether the vaccine is safe. While vaccines are seen by many as an effective measur...

I’ve acquired a new skill to help pass the time spent at home amid the coronavirus crisis — Gunpla, or the assembly of Gundam plastic models. When anyone in my generation, those of us in our late ...

Vegetables unique to the Kyoto region are often called Kyo-yasai. Shishigatani squashes could be mistaken for very large decorative gourds, but they can be used in many dishes. Shogoin daikon are roun...