MAIJS Student Blog – Japan in Norwich

Sports: Organisers vs public opinion

I have written about the Tokyo Olympics in several of these blog posts and while there are so many other things going on in Japan to write about, given the global significance of the Olympic Games, they are hard to ignore. As I have written about before, during this past year, public sentiment in JapanContinue reading “Sports: Organisers vs public opinion”

Friday Food For Thought: Olympic relay underway & Jōmon posts to come

Last Thursday saw the long-awaited beginning of the Olympic torch relay in Fukushima Prefecture. Take a look at what CJS has in store while the torch makes its way around Japan.

Friday Food For Thought: Japan cautious as 6 of G7 back Chinese sanctions

In response to the appalling treatment of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang, China by the Chinese government, the G7 have together issued a slew of hard-hitting sanctions – all except Japan. Oliver explores the fine balancing act of Sino-Japanese relations behind this decision.

Cash is king in Japan – but for how long?

If you’ve ever been to Japan, then you will know that it is incredibly common to pay for things in cash, carrying wads of 1000¥ notes in your wallet at any given time. In the UK, I’ll usually pay by card for anything over £20, or even for lower amounts if I have neglected toContinue reading “Cash is king in Japan – but for how long?”

Friday Food For Thought: More Tokyo 2021 gaffes and body-shaming in Japan

In the aftermath of Yoshiro Mori’s resignation as the head of the Olympics Committee for his derogatory comments on women, another senior head of the committee has rolled after creative chief Hiroshi Sasaki announced his resignation after suggesting plus-size comedian Naomi Watanabe could feature as an “Olympig”. It’s difficult to believe that after Mori’s blunderContinue reading “Friday Food For Thought: More Tokyo 2021 gaffes and body-shaming in Japan”

Disaster Tourism in Fukushima: Respectful or Dark?

In Oliver’s Friday Food For Thought, he wrote of a call from some Fukushima residents to turn ruins of the tsunami into a heritage site, similar to the Genbaku Dome in Hiroshima. The disaster should certainly be remembered, but what is the right way to do so? In 2018, CNN described Fukushima’s tourism “comeback”, citingContinue reading “Disaster Tourism in Fukushima: Respectful or Dark?”

Friday Food For Thought: What is a ‘natural’ disaster?

Following the 10th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, or ‘3/11’ as it is known colloquially, it is no wonder that the nature of disasters should be on our mind. In this Friday’s Food For Thought, Oliver asks what makes a disaster ‘natural’?

International Women’s Day

Today is International Women’s Day, an occasion which seeks to promote anti-discrimination, anti-sexism, and women’s rights, with roots in the history of women’s suffrage. In many countries it is a national holiday. While this is not the case in the UK or Japan, many people still mark the day. On SISJAC’s Twitter feed we haveContinue reading “International Women’s Day”

Friday Food For Thought: The future for women in Japan

Following the Olympics scandal with Yoshiro Mori, women in Japan like Yokohama Mayor Fumiko Hayashi are speaking out against the mindset of men.

Finding Company in Covid

Coronavirus lockdowns have been isolating experiences for many of us across the world, and for those that live alone, even more lonely. While lockdowns may be easing in some parts of Japan, it remains important to social distance and work from home if possible, making socialising difficult. To help with this, later this year YamahaContinue reading “Finding Company in Covid”