Japan is addressing challenges with tourism congestion, foreign real estate purchases and visa and other exploitation by nonresidents, which has become a hot-button political issue. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/11/11/japan/roots-of-japans-foreign-national-problem/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #expats #foreignworkers #immigration #sanaetakaichi
One man's trash is another man's art — meet the Tsukuba-based British artist crafting intricate sculptures out of aluminum cans. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2025/11/08/our-lives/jon-homewood-tsukuba-artist/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #community #ourlives #expats #artists #waste #tsukuba #ibarakiprefecture
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government plans to compile a revised version of policies regarding foreign nationals by January, aiming to enforce stricter measures against violators of Japan’s laws and regulations. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/11/04/japan/society/japan-immigration-ministerial-meeting/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #expats #foreignworkers #immigration #sanaetakaichi
Thousands of miles from home, Indonesians in Japan are finding solidarity through art and activism to call for social and political reforms in their homeland. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2025/11/01/voices/indonesia-protest-diaspora/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #community #voices #expats #indonesia #jakarta #hiroshima #protests
Twelve years after reading about an ancient weapon in “The Tale of the Heike,” an American in Tokyo learns the ins and outs of the Japanese polearm at a community dojo. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2025/10/27/voices/naginata-dojo/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #community #voices #naginata #weapons #kitaward #expats
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