Articles by marieamelie

The akiya problem has so many ramifications that finding a long-lasting solution seems almost impossible. One person who has written extensively about those issues is […]

The akiya (vacant house) issue in Japan has been long seen primarily as a rural problem; an outcome of depopulation and youth migration from the […]

On September 8, 2012, I made my way to central Tokyo to meet video journalist Watai Takeharu. Riding the subway, my boss’s brief kept going […]

In 2025, NHK chose to dedicate its annual saga to the man who promoted the flourishing of books in the 18th century. Like every year […]

The number of bookstores continues to decline and authorities are slow to implement a policy to help them. Japan faces a bookstore crisis as these […]

For Kakio Inja, the world’s difficult situation for bookstores can be explained by past bad decisions before anything else. Most people lament the disappearance of […]

The second-largest foreign community in the archipelago after the Chinese, their presence can be explained by many factors. Japan’s ties with Vietnam are quite old, […]

Head of the prefecture for more than 10 years, Mikazuki Taizô is trying to implement a new lefistyle there. Mikazuki Taizo has been the governor […]

For the famous mangaka and director, the view on nature has an almost religious dimension. Miyazaki Hayao’s work is often defined as quintessentially Japanese, particularly […]

Among the many mangas that focus on nature, those dedicated to fishing hold a special place. In the world of Japanese comics, the ever-busy editors […]

Fifty-five years after the 1970 event, Kansai’s capital is hosting its second World Expo. Universal exhibitions are strange beasts. These events are akin to gargantuan […]

Designed by artist Okamoto Tarô, the monument was supposed to disappear after 1970. It still stands. If the memory of the 1970 exhibition still survives […]

The monster that first appeared on screen in 1954 has become a national and international symbol. In Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out […]

It’s the same old story: everybody knows such iconic pop culture characters as Superman, Batman, Hello Kitty and James Bond, but few people can name […]

A series of circumstances and a unique context contributed to the emergence of the famous Japanese monster. In the 1950s, Japan was a country in […]

Although the Japanese express their appreciation for Taiwan, they still know very little about their southern neighbor. What are the roots of Japan’s long relationship […]

By exploring the island since 2009, Japanese documentarian Sakai Atsuko has learned a great deal about her own country. Throughout the years, Japan and Taiwan […]

Fishing is a pastime enjoyed by millions of people in the Archipelago. And has been for a very long time. Japan is attracting millions of […]

There’s no need to move to the countryside or go out to sea to indulge your passion  I’m pretty sure that when people think about […]

Founded nearly 80 years ago, the monthly magazine remains the standard reference for anglers and maintains its unique approach. To get an idea of fishing’s […]

We cannot talk about Japan’s foreign affairs without mentioning Article 9 of the Constitution. Article 9 is a clause in the Constitution of Japan outlawing […]

Back to the effects of the Covid pandemic on Japanese society. Other countries see Japan as a peaceful place where harmony is highly valued. However, […]

A leading figure in the debate about ideas, the intellectual agreed to paint an uncompromising portrait of Japan. Few people have shaped the social, political […]

With their re-translation from the English, Mariya Marie and Moriyama Megumi have broken new ground. Many people have tried their hand at translating The Tale […]

For its Sunday soap opera, this year, NHK has chosen to focus on the author of The Tale of Genji. Hikaru kimi e (Dear Radiance […]

Written by Murasaki Shikibu in the 11th century, the world’s first novel is still the subject of much debate. The Tale of Genji is a […]

Though housing was apparently less affected, the earthquake has severely damaged agricultural infrastructure. Tome, nestled in the mountains of Oku-Noto, is a succession of narrow […]

Heading north down the mountain towards the Sea of Japan, you reach Wajima and gradually discover the extent of the destruction on the plain. On […]

The memory of the Fukushima accident was rekindled by the earthquake. But the local plant was undamaged. On hearing news of the powerful earthquake on […]

As the people of Suzu and other towns celebrated the New Year, the earth shook, causing chaos. The 7.6 magnitude earthquake that rocked the Noto […]

The best-known museum devoted to manga has set the standard since it first opened its doors in 2006. One of the biggest and most important […]

Founded with the support of Matsumoto Leiji, the Kitakyushu Manga Museum takes a regional approach Though Tokyo and Osaka are usually seen as the main […]

Over the past two decades, dozens of museums dedicated to manga have opened their doors. Manga’s and anime’s presence in Japanese culture is so prevalent […]

In recent decades, the West has been seduced by this school of thought without always grasping its significance. Interest in all things Zen has reached […]

Zazen is one of the essential elements of Zen practice. Here are its main features. When was the last time you disconnected from all your […]

Zen is still a well-established practice in Japan today, which is found in all aspects of everyday life. Next time you’re in a Shinkansen station, […]

A cornerstone of Zen aesthetics, dry gardens hold many mysteries, but are a source of well-being. “To comprehend the beauty of a Japanese garden, it […]

By their nature, humans are omnivorous animals, and the Japanese are by no means an exception. Today’s Japanese diet ranges from meat to fish, vegetables […]

The first big sporting event of the year, the team relay marathon between Tokyo and Hakone is hugely popular. During the New Year’s festivities, a […]

A daily appointment with rajio taiso, a radio programme that encourages millions of listeners to get moving. It’s 6.30 a.m. on a muggy summer’s day. […]

In Japan, Sport Day is an institution no Japanese person can avoid. An elementary school stood above the dunes. I went around to the back […]

Amid the great loss of property and human life caused by the Great Kanto Earthquake, a particularly grisly and shameful detail that should not be […]

On 1 September 1923, at 11:58 a.m., a 7.9 magnitude  earthquake shook the Kanto region encompassing Tokyo and its surrounding prefectures including Kanagawa, Saitama and […]

The Great Kanto Earthquake has generated a vast literature even in Western languages. One of the more interesting products of all the resulting research is […]