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New Yorker, now councilman in Japan, aims to inspire American high schoolers

NEW YORK — Anthony Bianchi, a native New Yorker and current councilman in the rural Japanese city of Inuyama, recently hosted the first-ever Japan Day at his alma…

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Pharmaceutical firms trying to combat spread of fake drugs

TOKYO — Pharmaceutical companies in Japan are making strenuous efforts to combat the rapid spread of fake medicines, such as drugs for erectile dysfunction sold on the…

Gold coin collectors on the rise

Interest in large oval Japanese gold coins and commemorative gold coins is deep-rooted among Japanese collectors as exemplified in a recent successful bid at a…

Londoner to embark on 4-year horse trek to Tokyo

LONDON — A young British woman is preparing to travel from London to Tokyo on horseback following ancient trading routes. Becky Sampson, 24, will leave London at…

Yezo deer meat used for hamburgers in Hokkaido

SAPPORO — Kiichi Sogabe, 68, president of a quarrying and construction company, began raising Yezo deer at a ranch in Kushiro near Lake Akan in Hokkaido three…

Group turning used dentures into gold mine for charity

TOKYO — Old dentures can be stained and unsightly but for a project raising money for charity, they're a potential gold mine. The Japan Denture Recycle Association…

Will Muji, no name brand, catch on in U.S.?

NEW YORK — Can a Japanese retailer selling furniture, household items and stationery compete in the $4.2-trillion U.S. retail industry against the likes of corporate giants such as…

New generation of artisans breathe life into Japan’s traditional crafts

New generation of artisans breathe life into Japan’s traditional crafts

Kisui Nakazawa Calligrapher Few traditional crafts enjoy the popularity and prestige of shodo. All Japanese schoolchildren learn the basics of calligraphy, and stylized kanji grace…

Drop-by IV drip service helps stressed Tokyoites

Drop-by IV drip service helps stressed Tokyoites

TOKYO — Hard-working people suffer daily from exhaustion, insomnia, backaches and other minor ailments. Perhaps all they need is a dose of preventive medicine in the form…

The gloves come off in poetry boxing

The gloves come off in poetry boxing

TOKYO — As murmurs of excitement ripple through the rows of spectators, the two gladiators approach the ring. They may look unassuming at first glance, but this…