1+ mon, 2+ week ago (226+ words) The internet has become the main source of daily news in Japan, overtaking commercial television for the first time, a survey by the Japan Press Research Institute has shown. When asked about which news source they use on a daily basis, a question added in fiscal 2018, 46.5% of respondents chose the internet, according to the latest survey, released Saturday. Commercial TV broadcasters, which had previously held the top spot, came second, at 46.1%. The proportion of those who picked TV services by public broadcaster NHK stood at 35.8%, while newspapers logged 33.4% and radio 9.2%. The newspaper subscription rate fell 3.7 percentage points from a year earlier to 50.1%, continuing to decline since marking 88.6% in fiscal 2008, when the survey began. Meanwhile, 42.5% of respondents said that commercial television influenced their voting decisions for an election of the House of Councilors, the upper chamber of the country's parliament, this…...

8+ mon, 1+ week ago (129+ words) Women remain underrepresented in the Japanese news media industry, where employees willing to work long hours have traditionally been valued as news can break anytime, anywhere. But taking that ... Women remain underrepresented in Japan's news industry Women remain underrepresented in the Japanese news media industry, where employees willing to work long hours have traditionally been valued as news can break anytime, anywhere. But taking that for granted has often hindered reforms to working styles and corporate organization while reducing career opportunities for female journalists, who are still more likely to bear the main burden of child care. Correcting the gender gap is an urgent issue in the industry, with such a change expected to bring the perspectives of women to newsrooms, leading to more diverse viewpoints in news production....

3+ mon, 2+ week ago (147+ words) Learn how the Japanese tell time " from zero o'clock to 27 o'clock, and why 10 minutes 'before' isn't always clear. First, the good news: Clocks in Japan tick just the same as they do everywhere else in the world, so there's no need to know the Japanese language to know the time.That being said, it's certainly helpful to know how to tell the time in Japanese, and understand all the nuances compared to English.The time is given in " (ji, hours), " (fun, minutes) and, depending on the degree of precision, " (by, seconds) The number that contains the hour normally gets the Sino-Japanese reading, aka the " (onyomi), except for 4 o'clock, which is 4yoji rather than shiji For 7 o'clock, shichiji is more common than nanaji " though the latter is also possible And 9 o'clock reads kuji, not ky'ji....

8+ mon, 3+ week ago (96+ words) Date and time: Sunday, April 20, 10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Organized by: The Japan Times, Ltd. Doors open: 10:00 a.m. Keynote speech: Michael Rob Gray, former principal, Institut Le Rosey Panel discussion and talk session by schools with exhibiting booths: Staff from each school will give a 20-minute presentation. Individual consultation booths will be open throughout the event. Please note that the program is subject to change without notice. The Japan Times Agency, Ltd. Boarding & International School Day Office The press release may be downloaded in PDF format...

5+ mon, 4+ day ago (262+ words) A survey by news app operator SmartNews released Thursday showed that 18% of people in Japan consciously avoid news sometimes or often. The research was conducted between January and March by an internal think tank at SmartNews and sought responses from 4,460 people between the ages of 18 and 79. Valid responses were received from 2,117. Regarding the frequency of news avoidance, those who answered "very often" accounted for 2.9%. The share stood at 15.2% for those who chose "sometimes" and 30.8% for those who picked "occasionally." When asked why they avoid news, with multiple answers allowed, 60.8% said that news makes them feel depressed and sick. Those who do not want to consume news in which they have no interest totaled 30.3%, while 26.6% said, "There are too many stimulating and sensational headlines that shout for attention." Respondents who chose "There is too much news about crimes and other incidents…...

4+ mon, 1+ week ago (143+ words) A variety of scenarios await the country should the ruling coalition lose its majority in the Upper House " from an enlarged coalition to an opposition-led government. Voters head to the polls Sunday for an Upper House election that could considerably alter the Japanese political landscape.Opinion polls have indicated the ruling Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito coalition could lose its long-held majority in the upper chamber, a development that would likely exacerbate instability amid significant challenges at home and abroad.Since the Lower House election, which saw the coalition fall short of a majority, the LDP hasn't been able to rehabilitate its standing in the eyes of many voters Sunday's vote will offer a snapshot of the current mood around Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who also serves as LDP leader and whose political standing has long been tarnished by low approval ratings....

5+ mon, 6+ hour ago (148+ words) Japan's 195 major food makers are slated to raise the prices of 2,105 products in July, up about fivefold from a year earlier, research company Teikoku Databank said Monday. The number of food and beverage products with higher prices compared with the preceding month will top 2,000 for the first time in three months, and climb year on year for the seventh consecutive month. The total number of higher-priced food and beverage products known so far this year has reached 18,697, and the cumulative annual figure may top 20,000 during July. "The momentum of price hikes this year has remained stronger than last year," a Teikoku Databank official said. Higher raw material, energy and labor costs are primary factors behind the expected price hikes in July. Calbee and Koike-Ya will effectively raise prices of some potato chip products by reducing their volumes....

4+ mon, 1+ week ago (123+ words) As Japan's foreign population continues to rise both in terms of quantity and diversity, one of the talking points during Sunday's election was how the country should deal with the increase of ... As Japan's foreign population continues to rise both in terms of quantity and diversity, one of the talking points during Sunday's election was how the country should deal with the increase of international residents.While foreign nationals do not have the right to vote unless they naturalize, as residents they contribute to the economy, pay taxes and raise families in Japan As electoral results could impact their lives, The Japan Times asked several foreign residents to weigh in Interviews have been edited for brevity and clarity.Mark Williams (55)...

4+ mon, 5+ hour ago (172+ words) After a series of major scandals in recent years, Japan's TV industry appears to be growing more sensitive to issues of harassment and misconduct. How the Japanese TV industry is changing Compliance violations and misconduct in Japanese entertainment had long been overlooked, with the sector placed on a pedestal and many dismissing issues as just "part of the business." But a recent wave of scandals involving TV figures may present an opportunity for the industry to make permanent changes. After a series of major scandals in recent years " beginning for many with the sexual abuse allegations against entertainment mogul Johnny Kitagawa and more recently the "sexual trouble" involving former boy band member Masahiro Nakai and a Fuji TV announcer " the TV industry appears to be growing more sensitive toward issues of harassment and misconduct. Several major celebrities who were once…...

9+ mon, 3+ week ago (52+ words) Anonymous author and YouTuber 'Uketsu' deals in a quiet horror that has delighted millions of readers. Japan's bestselling books often converge around practical life advice: Mental math tricks for kids, tips on how to sound smart and personal finance hacks have all been top sellers in recent years Translated by Jim Rion...