Stories by Harumi Ozawa

Betrothal of Japan’s princess highlights male royal succession woes

TOKYO: Emperor Akihito’s granddaughter’s upcoming engagement to her college sweetheart, a commoner, will cost ...

Published 19 May, 2017 06:46am

Hijab design takes centre stage at Tokyo Fashion Week

TOKYO: Among the aspiring Asian designers competing for the limelight at Tokyo Fashion Week, one of the most ...

Published 23 Mar, 2014 07:54am

Tokyo hotel shrinks in new-style urban demolition

TOKYO: Passers-by in Tokyo's busy Akasaka district have started to notice something odd about a 40-floor hotel — it has shrunk to about half its original height.

Published 28 Feb, 2013 03:34am

Japan sees nationalism gain ground as election looms

TOKYO: Park Jeong-hun always found Japan a reasonable place to live; a place where, as a second generation Korean, she rubbed along well with her neighbours.

Published 07 Dec, 2012 03:11am

Japan-China dispute: little islands, big problem

TOKYO, Aug 19: The governor of Tokyo wants to buy them, Taiwan says it would like them back and China has made their return a national priority. But for the Kurihara family, the islands Japan knows as Senkaku are

Published 19 Aug, 2012 08:14pm

Japan resort a hotspot for men with virtual girlfriends

ATAMI (Japan) Long a favourite of lovers and honeymooners, a Japanese beach town with fading sparkle has found a new...

Published 31 Aug, 2010 12:00am

Japan`s trainee programme termed human trafficking

TOKYO A Japanese human rights lawyer on Thursday labelled a government-backed foreign trainee programme as a “form ...

Published 24 Jul, 2010 12:00am

Japan`s powerful media hold key for new PM Kan

TOKYO Japan`s new Prime Minister Naoto Kan will have to keep the country`s powerful media on side if he wants to...

Published 07 Jun, 2010 12:00am

In quake-prone Japan, preparation and wealth save lives

TOKYO Most Japanese know the drill keep a backpack near the door, filled with bottled water, dried or canned food, a...

Published 05 Oct, 2009 12:00am

Mission to prevent suicides in Japan

TOJINBO Retired policeman Yukio Shige is still on patrol, walking daily along the Tojinbo cliff, one of the...

Published 07 Jan, 2009 12:00am

Mission to prevent suicides in Japan

TOJINBO: Retired policeman Yukio Shige is still on patrol, walking daily along the Tojinbo cliff, one of the...

Published 07 Jan, 2009 12:00am

Tokyoites go farming to escape urban woes

TOKYO Tomohiro Kitazawa makes an unlikely farmer. He works neither under the sun nor in the fields, instead ...

Published 07 Nov, 2008 12:00am

Tokyoites go farming to escape urban woes

TOKYO: Tomohiro Kitazawa makes an unlikely farmer. He works neither under the sun nor in the fields, instead...

Published 07 Nov, 2008 12:00am

Fukuda makes US debut amid disagreements

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda heads Thursday to Washington in his diplomatic debut as he tries to...

Published 16 Nov, 2007 12:00am

Japan aims to force China’s hand: North Korea sanctions

TOKYO: Japan has demonstrated firm resolve on North Korea by banning all its imports but has also shown it has few...

Published 16 Oct, 2006 12:00am

Japan may reconsider nuclear arms taboo

TOKYO: North Korea’s announcement on Monday that it has tested a nuclear bomb is set to push Japan to expand its own...

Published 10 Oct, 2006 12:00am