NEWS

No.75 IN THE EYE OF ERIC RECHSTEINER

© Eric Rechsteiner   POLITICS Abe’s cabinet reshuffle anxious to speed up reform of japan’s pacifist constitution, aBe shinzo reshuffled his government on 11 september and altered the direction of the Liberal Democratic party. His grandfather KIsHI Nobusuke had already tried to achieve thi[...]

No.74 IN THE EYE OF ERIC RECHSTEINER

© Eric Rechsteiner   Shibamata, Katsushika district, Tokyo Often in competition with konbini (convenience stores), mini-markets that open 24/7, small independent neighbourhood shops are finding it very difficult to survive in large cities, particularly in the city centres. In the outlying dist[...]

No.73 IN THE EYE OF ERIC RECHSTEINER

© Eric Rechsteiner   Komaba park, meguro district, Tokyo With the approach of the summer holidays, one of the preferred activities of young Japanese people is to go hunting for insects, like these two boys in the heart of the capital city. Need we remind you that Japan still holds the French e[...]

No.72 IN THE EYE OF ERIC RECHSTEINER

© Eric Rechsteiner Port of Nagasaki, Kyushu island. This picture of a Japanese officer running by a coastguard ship illustrates in its own way the importance Japan attaches to the country’s self-defence today. In the face of China’s growing power increasingly revealing its maritime ambitions, t[...]

No.71 IN THE EYE OF ERIC RECHSTEINER

© Eric Rechsteiner Nakameguro river, Tokyo It’s a sight one never tires of. Every year, at the same time, the capital’s cherry trees show off their fabulous flowers, which only last a very short time. But no matter, what’s most important is to seize the opportunity to come and admire them. Th[...]

No.70 IN THE EYE OF ERIC RECHSTEINER

Sangenjaya, Setagaya district, Tokyo © Eric Rechsteiner   Social housing architecture in Japan has not changed much over the years, as testified by these buildings in Sangenjaya, to the west of the capital. On the right, these buildings built in the 1970s will be demolished and their inhabitan[...]

No.69 IN THE EYE OF ERIC RECHSTEINER

Kato Shrine, Kumamoto city © Eric Rechsteiner To devote an issue to Kumamoto Prefecture without mentioning Kumamon would be like talking about Paris without referring to the Eiffel Tower. Created in 2010 to promote the Kyushu Shinkansen in Kyoto, this mascot rapidly became the emblem of the Kumamot[...]

No.69 [PRESS] A daily in close touch with reality

Almost half the households in the prefecture subscribe to Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun.   Well-established in the region, the Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun vigorously defends its local roots. Situated around twenty minutes from Kumamoto station, the headquarters of the Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun,[...]

No68 [IN THE EYE OF ERIC RECHSTEINER］Shibuya, Tokyo

Since they were launched in 1995, the popularity of purikura hasn’t waned. These “Print Clubs” developed by Altus and Sega continue to attract numerous fans, particularly young girls, who often use them to have their picture taken with their friends. These booths, which can be found almost eve[...]

No67 [IN THE EYE OF ERIC RECHSTEINER] Goto, Nagasaki Prefecture

© Eric Rechsteiner Night has fallen and people are gathering in this carpark to take part in a nocturnal game of petanque. This sport is increasing in popularity in the archipelago, and is even giving gateball – a game that’s very popular with Japanese people of a certain age that needs to [...]