Japan in Focus

Kyudo: A look into Japan’s oldest martial art

Japan in Focus

Among Japan’s famous martial arts there lies one that has remained almost unheard of in the West. Kyudo, the martial art used with a bow and arrow, dates back thousands of years and is being kept alive by its many athletes.

American football finds a way in Japan

Japan in Focus

How a former gang member in Japan found a new path through Christianity

Japan in Focus

‘It’s like a dream’: Artists and fans connect over the love of comic books at Japan’s biannual Comiket

Japan in Focus

Japan’s ‘listening lounges’ offer pure music with a side of drinks

Japan in Focus
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How Tokyo developed a culture of transit in a world of cars

Japan in Focus

Despite a population of 37 million, there’s relatively little congestion and pollution here since the majority of its residents rely on public transit rather than cars. But while Tokyo’s mass transportation system may serve as a global success story, it may not be replicable, because its organic growth over the decades has fostered a unique culture of transit.

Japan’s tourism boom presents a special challenge for Kyoto

Japan in Focus

The city of Kyoto is known as Japan’s cultural and spiritual capital. It’s for good reason: Kyoto has hundreds of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, some of which are associated with the country’s imperial history. They’re popular with tourists, but some of the locals in Kyoto say they’re overwhelmed.

How Japan keeps its trains safe from earthquakes

Japan in Focus

Japan experiences more earthquakes than any country. But its transit system remains remarkably safe. The bullet train, for example, has never seen a death or serious injury due to an earthquake or tsunami. Japan may offer lessons to other countries as climate change causes more natural disasters globally.

Japan’s transit system is private. Should other countries consider the same?

Japan in Focus

Transit in most global cities is government-run. But in Japan, that’s not the case. There, private companies run a sprawling network of trains, subways and buses, often considered the best in the world. What can other countries learn from Japan’s unique system? 

As Japan’s economy adapts to a tourism boom, so does daily life 

Japan in Focus

Tourism numbers are sky-high in Japan. The country saw record numbers of travelers throughout 2024, and government officials are hoping to see the numbers double by 2030. But workers are in short supply. So, to adapt to the tourism boom, Japan is turning to everything from robot hotel receptionists to contactless restaurants.

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