World First! Water-powered Batteries in Japan
Dry-cell batteries generate electric power from magnetized particles through a slow-acting chemical reaction. Normally the user does not play any role in this process. But Nakabayashi Co., Ltd. has just put on sale “Mizudenchi NOPOPO,” reusable batteries that can be activated by inserting water (plastic dropper provided). Their main advantage is that unlike ordinary dry-cell […]
Shared House Rentals Take Off in Japan
About Shared House Rentals in Japan By John Mori House sharing has become Japan’s newest popular trend, especially in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The capital city has seen a particularly rapid rise in shared-rental opportunities targeted at younger people. These homes offer each tenant an individual bedroom along with a shared kitchen and living room. […]
Drawing-your-face Business in Japan
Nigaoe Business Not long ago, in this column we noted the popularity of portrait artists. More recently this phenomenon seems to have set off a boom among children. Satoshi, who's in the 4th grade of primary school, will sketch your portrait for just 100 yen. In Japanese, it is called, "nigaoe". Perhaps because of the […]
Farming at the Office
The term "weekend farmer" took root about 10 years ago. The word applies to a new lifestyle in which people go to the countryside where they rent small plots of land on which they raise vegetables, which puts them in touch with natural surroundings, gives them a chance to teach something to their children and […]
Age Gap between Partners in Japan: An Acceptable Marriage Partner Could Be How Many Years Older Than You?
10 Year Difference Is Most Acceptable A long time ago, the remarriage of a 68-year-old comedian to a 23-year-old woman made the news. What are the young people of today thinking about the difference in age in their marriage partners? When males and females in their 20s were asked how many years older an acceptable […]
Behind Japan's Sad Young People
BEHIND JAPAN’S SAD YOUNG PEOPLE You were born just after the bubble economy which ended in 1992. You started work and then the Lehman Shock happened. You live in the era of the carnivorous woman. Maybe you’re just getting used to that world and then the Great East Japan Earthquake creates a whole new round […]
In Japan, Working Not for Yourself But Society
The Morning Meeting in a Japanese Company By John Mori A couple of years ago, I was at one of the Panasonic group companies in the US, working with a team of American engineers. They were embarking on an ambitious collaborative project which would involve intensive communication with Japan. I asked the people in the […]
Booming Japanese Language Test
<Increasing Number of People Studying Japanese and Proficiency Tests> Questions 1. How many people worldwide are studying Japanese? 2. In how many countries is Japanese being studied? What are your answers? A million people? A hundred countries? To tell the truth, the precise numbers are not known. The reality is that surveys are not useful […]
About Japanese Youth Profile: Lost Confidence
I think I’m a valuable person: Japan 7.5%, U.S.A. 57.2%, China 42.2%, South Korea 20.2% I evaluate myself positively: Japan 6.2%, U.S.A. 41.2%, China 38.0%, South Korea 18.9% I am satisfied with myself: Japan 3.9%, U.S.A. 41.6%, China 21.9%, South Korea 14.9% I think I’m excellent: Japan 4.3%, U.S.A. 58.3%, China 25.7%, South Korea 10.3% […]
Tsuruhashi in Osaka, Japan-- Japan's Largest Korean town
Tsuruhashi -- Japan's Largest Korean Town The Tsuruhashi district of Osaka has the distinction of being Japan's largest ethnic Korean neighborhood. Those who visit will be able to enjoy authentically spicy Korean cuisine, in a milieu that projects the sensation of daily life in the Republic of Korea. "The sheer variety of organ meats is […]