This article is brought to you through a partnership between the Heart of Japan blog, a project by　the Hyogo International Association, and the Hyogo Times. Izushi is a castle town in northern Toyooka City known as “Little Kyoto†–a small town that is filled with traditional architecture, performances, festivals, and soba noodles. Without a…
Since sweeping back into power in December 2012’s lower house victory, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pursued a series of reforms aimed at keeping his increasingly marginalized country a tier-one power. Among these efforts, Abe’s plan for reviving the long-stagnant Japanese economy, dubbed “Abenomicsâ€, has received the most attention. In the past several months,…
As with the beginning of every new year, people everywhere look toward the future, hopeful that the year will be better and brighter than the last. Sadly in 2013 from January 16 to January 19 those hopes were cut short for 40 people when Algerian extremists attacked and overran the Tigantourine gas plant near In…
With February upon us it is time to celebrate the birth of famous suffragette leader, Anna Howard Shaw, on Anna Howard Shaw Day, or, as some people like to call it, Valentine’s Day. Like most Japanese appropriations of Western holidays, a sensation of “same same but different†permeates February 14 in the land of…
To stay, or not to stay? That was the question we recently asked ourselves. By now your papers are signed and handed in. For JETs choosing to re-contract, I offer my congratulations! I hope the incoming year will offer more unforgettable experiences. For JETs choosing to make the next big (and scary) step, CLAIR is…
Back home I was a frequent gig-goer. I enjoyed summer festivals filled with music and moshpits. Since my move to Japan, the meaning of ‘summer festival’ has somewhat changed; cue yukatas and bon dances. But good music travels far, so I occasionally peruse the net hoping for familiar bands to fly to this side of…
On a beautiful Saturday morning in November, I went with two of my close friends and boarded the Shinkansen heading for Hiroshima. We had quite an ambitious plan: visit Hiroshima Peace Park and Memorial Museum, roam around Miyajima and then finish off the day playing with bunnies on Okunoshima. I have to admit that we…
Just Ask Ava Do you have a burning question or cultural conundrum? Well, the Hyogo Times is proud to introduce the scintillating and savvy Ava Hart, here to answer all your concerns in her new column Just Ask Ava.  Dear Ms Hart,  Winter in Japan is a joke. People here don’t know…
I’ve saved a special temple for January – temple 23 of our 33, the temple dedicated to winning. 「ã™ã¹ã¦ã¯è‡ªåˆ†ã«å‹ã¤ãŸã‚ã«ã€â€Everything you do is to win against yourself.†Now spelledå‹å°¾å¯º (win, tail, temple), formerlyå‹çŽ‹å¯º (win, monarch, temple), it is said that the characters were changed when Emperor Seiwa regained his health after the offering of fervent prayers…