The first non-Japanese Shinto priest recognized by an official association talks about the past, present and future of his spiritual journey — and some of his favorite foods. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2025/10/24/our-lives/florian-wiltschko-shinto-priest/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #community #ourlives #shinto #shintoism #expats #mieprefecture #spirituality #hayaomiyazaki
Even with granular rules in place, driver’s license conversion is anything but straightforward — and Japan Times readers had plenty to say about it. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2025/10/22/issues/drivers-license-conversion-horror-stories/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #community #issues #expats #cars #driving #nationalpoliceagency #npa #japanesepolice
I’d love dual citizenship, but the reality is that permanent residency just isn’t enough for this naturalized Japanese citizen. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/10/17/japan/choosing-japanese-citizenship/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #visas #immigration #expats #foreignworkers #immigrationservicesagency #immigrationbureau #citizenship
Nagoya radio host Chris Glenn will make history this month as the first non-Japanese to play Oda Nobunaga in the city’s annual samurai parade. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2025/10/17/our-lives/chris-glenn-oda-nobunaga/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #community #ourlives #odanobunaga #shogun #samurai #nagoya #expats
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Japanese craftwork became a lifeline for a New Yorker as she contemplated a major move with her husband. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2025/10/13/voices/sashiko-embroidery/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #community #voices #sashiko #craft #japanesecrafts #expats #kyoto
An Indian woman in Japan is blazing trails in the workplace and on the cricket field, pursuing her passions and finding her balance. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2025/10/09/our-lives/shrunali-ranade-cricket-engineering/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #community #ourlives #expats #indiancommunity #engineering #engineers #cricket #womenssports
Anecdotes shared by Sanae Takaichi's hometown friends and supporters render a softer side to the hard-line conservative, who cites Margaret Thatcher as her hero. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/08/japan/politics/takaichi-supporters-hometown-nara/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #ldp #sanaetakaichi #nara #women039sissues #expats
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Komeito and Nippon Ishin no Kai on Friday confirmed that foreign students who are not expected to settle in Japan are ineligible for the country's tuition-free high school program. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/03/japan/society/foreigners-high-school-free-tuition-eligibility/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #expats #highschools #education #ldp #komeito #nipponishinnokai
After a long career in preschool education, Australian Linda Joyce is now taking up sustainable tourism as a bilingual concierge in rural Tochigi Prefecture. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2025/09/25/our-lives/linda-joyce-tochigi-tourism/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #community #ourlives #expats #tochigiprefecture #tourism #overtourism #sustainabletourism #hotels #rurallife
Assume you’re not eligible for Japanese tax-advantaged investments as an American taxpayer? Think again. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2025/09/24/how-tos/american-residents-investment-options-japan/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #community #howtos #investments #expats #retirement #nisa #pensions #pensionfunds
A breathtaking piece of property in the heart of Tokyo has become the ultimate souvenir for wealthy foreign nationals. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/09/17/markets/foreign-property-buyers-tokyo/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #markets #expats #tokyo #realestate #housing #china #inflation
The early bird gets the worm: how a student in Sendai found connection and renewal thanks to Japan’s famed calisthenics routine. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2025/09/15/voices/rajio-taiso-sendai-calisthenics-intergenerational/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #community #voices #sendai#miyagiprefecture #expats #rajiotaiso #elderly #aging
History, housing, harmonies: Tokyo-based artist Melos Han-Tani draws inspiration from the everyday for his games, music and writing. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2025/09/12/our-lives/melos-han-tani-game-designer/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #community #ourlives #expats #videogames #gaming #composer #music
Meet Jon Heese, the Saskatchewan native who has remained staunchly independent throughout his career in Japanese domestic politics. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2025/09/08/our-lives/jon-heese-ibaraki-politician/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #community #ourlives #expats #ibaraki #localgovernment #canada
The Tokyo-based event platform More Than Music is not just about live shows — its founders are in the game to uplift musicians, seed connections and make community. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2025/08/25/issues/more-than-music-concerts/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #community #issues #livemusic #expats #musicfestivals #musicians #shimokitazawa #zushi#kanagawaprefecture #japanesebeaches
Carl J. Green, who opened the Ford Foundation’s Japan office in 1975, dies at 85. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2025/08/20/our-lives/carl-j-green-obituary/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #community #ourlives #obituary #expats #americancommunity #fordfoundation #washington #dc #georgetown
In the name of solidarity, the volunteers of the Tokyo chapter of Food Not Bombs are cooking up meals, donating supplies and coalescing a community for those in need. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2025/08/18/issues/food-not-bombs-tokyo-volunteers-homeless/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #community #issues #homeless #expats #volunteers #homelessness
Being home to more foreign residents is good for Japan, economists say, but more support is needed. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/08/14/foreign-residents-survey/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #expats #foreignworkers #surveys
From Argentina to Asakusa: While teaching at a kindergarten in Tokyo, a writer far from home finds community, comfort and even a sense of belonging. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2025/08/11/voices/buenos-aires-tokyo-koganji-kindergarten/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #community #voices #expats #foreigncommunity #englishteachers #asakusa#taitoward #argentina #buenosaires #matsuri
The number of Japanese nationals in Japan fell by around 910,000 during 2024, to 120.7 million, while the population of foreign residents rose 10.65%, to 3.68 million. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/07/japan/society/japan-population-foreign-residents/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #population #depopulation #expats #foreignworkers