Reflecting on the Tokyo Sarin Gas Attacks: 30 Years Later

March 25, 2025 By Leave a Comment

This year marks the 30th anniversary of one of Japan’s most tragic events—the Tokyo sarin gas attacks. On March 20, 1995, the Aum Shinrikyo cult carried out a deadly attack on Tokyo’s subway system, killing 14 and injuring more than 6,000 people.

The impact of that day continues to shape Japan’s public safety measures and its broader approach to security now.

In this Japan Today Spotlight video, we look back at that fateful morning, explore how it changed Japanese society and examine its lasting effects that pervade life in Japan to this day.

But our look at this shocking event is not just about the past—it’s about the present and the lessons we can still learn from that tragedy. We also discuss how public safety measures and attitudes have evolved over the last 30 years, and what it means for those living in Japan today.

Watch the full video here:

30 years later: Reflecting on the Tokyo sarin gas attack and its lasting impact.

30 years later: Reflecting on the Tokyo sarin gas attack and its lasting impact.

Remembering this event is a reminder of the importance of not forgetting history—no matter how old  or recent.

Take a moment to watch, think, and let me know your thoughts.

Filed Under: A/V Club, Japan Today Spotlight Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Japan’s Birthrate Crisis — What’s Really Going On?

March 18, 2025 By Leave a Comment

In the latest episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we dive into something that’s been a growing concern here in Japan for years: the country’s plummeting birth rate.

In 2024, Japan recorded just 720,988 births — the lowest number since records began in 1899. It’s the ninth straight year the number has dropped, and it’s creating serious problems for the economy, the social safety net and even daily life in both the larger cities and smaller, rural towns.

This isn’t just about people choosing not to have kids. There are deeper issues:

  • A demanding work culture that leaves little time for family life
  • Low wages, rising living costs and limited housing options
  • Very little support for single parents or unplanned pregnancies
  • Long-standing cultural expectations that are tough to change
  • And yes, even Japan’s rural depopulation and strained pension system play a role

In the video, I also touch on how Japan’s government is responding, what might be learned from South Korea (the country with the lowest birth rate in the world, which just saw a rare bump) and why immigration is a controversial — but potentially necessary — part of the conversation here.

Watch the full episode here: 

If you’re interested in what life is really like here, or curious about how Japan is handling some of the same challenges other countries are beginning to face, I think you’ll find it worth a watch.

Filed Under: A/V Club, Japan Today Spotlight Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Why Is Everything in Japan Getting More Expensive?

March 16, 2025 By Leave a Comment

If you live here in Japan (or have been in Japan recently), you’ve probably noticed that prices are creeping up everywhere — at the supermarket, at restaurants, and even on utility bills. The latest buzzword? “Cabbage shock” — because a head of cabbage now costs three times more than it did last year! (That’ about ¥350, or US$2.35, in case you’re wondering…)

But of course, it’s not just cabbage. Inflation is hitting food, electricity, and everyday essentials — and many of us are feeling it.

What’s Behind the Rising Prices?

In my Japan Today Spotlight episode on the subject, I break down what’s driving Japan’s price hikes:

  • Food Prices Are Soaring – Rice is up 70%, and electricity bills have jumped 18%. Not great news for anyone who enjoys eating… or having the lights on.
  • The Weak Yen – Japan relies heavily on imports, and with the yen being so low, imported goods — from groceries to fuel — are getting much pricier.
  • Extreme Weather & Crop Issues – Last summer’s heatwave, heavy rain, and even record snowfall have damaged crops, making fruits and vegetables more expensive.
  • Shrinkflation & Business Struggles – Have you noticed snack packages getting smaller while prices stay the same (or go up)? That’s shrinkflation. Restaurants are also serving smaller portions, and some are even closing down because they just can’t keep up.

How Are People Adapting?

It seems like everyone has their own strategy to deal with higher prices. Some are cooking at home more  (this is a big change for younger Japanese adults who haven’t started families — more on that in an upcoming post!). Others are hunting for late-night supermarket discounts, and I’ve even had people tell me in the comments that they are now bicycling long distances to budget stores like Gyomu Super to save a few yen.

Meanwhile, tourists keep convenience stores busy, even as locals find them a bit pricey.

Watch the Full Breakdown

I go into more details in the Japan Today Spotlight video. If you’re curious about how Japan’s inflation is playing out, check it out here:

Watch: Japan’s Rising Prices – What’s Causing Inflation?

A man in a brown blazer sits at a desk with an expressive look, discussing Japan’s inflation crisis. A large inset image shows cabbages with high price tags in a Japanese supermarket. The text overlay reads: ‘Cabbage Shock – Japan’s Prices Are Surging — Here’s Why!

Cabbage Shock?! Japan’s Prices Are Surging — Here’s Why! Watch now to see what’s driving the rising cost of living.

What’s Next?

The government is trying to push for wage increases, but so far, salaries aren’t keeping pace with rising prices. With more price hikes expected and big labor negotiations coming up, we might be in for more surprises.

How are you handling higher prices in Japan (or wherever you are)? Have you changed your spending habits? Let’s chat in the comments!

Filed Under: 100% geek-free social media, A/V Club, Japan news, Japan Today Spotlight Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Shiori Ito and ‘Black Box Diaries’: What Happens Now?

March 6, 2025 By Leave a Comment

The Oscars are over, and Shiori It0’s Black Box Diaries didn’t win. Now, the real question is: will this story disappear in Japan?

For weeks, we’ve been talking about this exact possibility in the comments on Japan Today and the Japan Today Spotlight video we did. When a Japanese film or filmmaker wins international recognition, they are often celebrated at home. But when they don’t? Silence.

Shiori Ito’s fight for justice has always been about more than just her own case. Black Box Diaries exposes deep issues within Japan’s justice system and the country’s approach to press freedom. The film’s struggle for visibility in Japan was already an uphill battle. Now that it hasn’t won an Oscar, it’s even easier for those in power to ignore it completely.

Regardless of awards, the issues raised in Black Box Diaries are still urgent. Will Japan acknowledge this film? Will theaters now take the risk of screening it? Or will it be quietly forgotten (as I suspect it will).

If you care about this story, keep talking about it. Watch the documentary if you can. Support investigative journalism. Because if we stop paying attention — those who want this story buried will get exactly what they want.

Watch my in-depth take on Japan Today Spotlight:

Why won't Japan screen Shiori Ito's "Black Box Diaries"?

Why won’t Japan screen Shiori Ito’s “Black Box Diaries”?

Do you know where folks in Japan can actually see Black Box Diaries? Let me know!

Filed Under: A/V Club, Japan news, Japan Today Spotlight Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

PM Shigeru Ishiba’s Trump Meeting: What’s the Real Game Here for Japan?

February 15, 2025 By Leave a Comment

Shigeru Ishiba, Japan’s newest prime minister, met with Donald Trump on Feb. 7, 2025.

Now that’s a political move I didn’t see coming — not from him, anyway. He’s been trying and failing for months since his election. Ishiba has spent years as the LDP’s resident outsider, the guy who critiques from within but never quite gets the backing to lead. And now he’s cozying up to Trump? Interesting.

Let’s be real — Trump isn’t exactly known for having a nuanced grasp of Japan’s internal politics. If you’re a Japanese politician meeting with him, it’s not about deep policy discussions. It’s about optics, influence and signaling to power players back home. So what’s Ishiba’s angle? Is he trying to rebrand himself as a bridge to Trump’s Republican circle? Or is this just a case of “why not?” — a move to keep his name in the headlines while Japan’s political future remains uncertain?

In my latest “Japan Today Spotlight” video, I break down what this meeting could mean.

Here’s something, though, I didn’t say on camera: Ishiba has always played the long game, but his moment never quite arrives. Now that it’s arrived, could this finally be his way of forcing relevance?

Check out the video here:

Shigeru Ishiba met with Donald Trump — what’s the real strategy behind this move?

What do you think — smart move or just another round of political chess with no endgame?

Filed Under: 100% geek-free social media, A/V Club, Japan Today Spotlight Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

A Shocking Tragedy in Saitama

February 8, 2025 By Leave a Comment

This week, I covered a deeply concerning incident in Japan — something that really shook people here, both literally and emotionally. A massive sinkhole opened up in Saitama, swallowing a car and tragically taking a man’s life. It’s the kind of story that makes you stop and think about the unseen risks beneath our feet.

In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, I dive into what happened, the possible causes and why Japan — despite its reputation for strong infrastructure — still faces these kinds of disasters. If you’re curious about life in Japan beyond the usual headlines, I think you’ll find this one eye-opening.

Watch the episode here:

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. And if you know someone interested in Japan, feel free to share!

Stay safe and take care.

Filed Under: 100% geek-free social media, A/V Club, Japan news, Japan Today Spotlight, Podcast Tagged With: , , , , , ,

A Lot Has Changed — Let’s Catch Up

February 1, 2025 By Leave a Comment

It’s been a minute since I was last here. A lot has happened since my last update.

There was that little pandemic. That was a hoot.

The company I work for, GPlusMedia, was sold—which is a good thing, considering we were previously owned by Fuji Media Holdings. If you’ve been following the news, you’ll know they and Fuji TV are  currently caught up in a major, industry-shifting scandal. Timing is everything.

On the personal side, two of my nieces left Japan to start university in Canada—one at the University of British Columbia, the other in the design program at Langara College. The youngest is still here (for now), performing around Tokyo as she plots her global takeover. I, of course, am her humble guitar tech and designated string changer.

Work wise, I transitioned to remote work during peak pandemic, and we’re now hybrid—I go into the office once a week.

And speaking of work… “Japan This Week” came back in April last year! I’ve been recording from my home studio and keeping a consistent Friday afternoon (JST) release schedule. I’ll be updating the site soon to publish all the episodes below. ?

Breaking down the Fuji TV scandal on Japan Today Spotlight—talking about Masahiro Nakai, the allegations, and why advertisers are pulling out. This one’s a wild ride.

Then, last month, we took things up a notch with video. I launched a YouTube show called “Japan Today Spotlight,” starting with a deep dive into Donald Trump’s re-election and how his administration could impact Japan. We’re still fine-tuning the writing, workflow, and—let’s be honest—I’m only starting to get used to being on camera. My goal is to develop a stronger on-screen presence, bring out more personality in the writing, and ask sharper, more insightful (maybe even opinionated) questions. There’s always a bigger story lurking beneath the headlines, and that’s where we aim to focus the spotlight.

Originally, we were doing this bi-weekly, which gave us a nice 30,000-foot view of the media landscape. Now, we’re shifting to a weekly schedule—which means keeping that broader perspective while tightening the turnaround time.

We’re also working on a new deep-dive interview podcast with Patrick Parr, the author of our popular Japan Yesterday series. The idea? Explore some of the biggest names who have visited Japan, uncover what made them famous (or infamous) here, and dig up behind-the-scenes details that didn’t make the final article.

To go with that, we’re planning new additions to the series, re-releases of past stories, and—if all goes well—a book.

But that’s a story for another post.

Filed Under: A/V Club, Late night musings, Podcast, Technofilia

‘Japan This Week’ Wraps Up January

January 27, 2025 By Leave a Comment

Well, it was a busy start to the year — and we put out a January news wrap-up on “Japan This Week.”

We also put the audio podcast on hiatus while we figure out what to do with it and so we can focus more on the “Japan Today Spotlight” video series.

In the episode, I share a few things that have been happening over here in Japan — some big, some weird, some just very, well… Japan.

A few highlights from the episode:

  • Japan’s interest rates went up for the first time in 17 years. This might not sound exciting, but for a country that’s basically had zero interest forever, it’s a big shift.
  • Kyoto is hiking hotel taxes because tourists are taking over the city. If you’ve ever tried walking through Fushimi Inari’s torii gates during peak season, you know what I mean.
  • Osaka is cracking down on smoking in public ahead of Expo 2025. Japan still has a complicated relationship with smoking — smoking rooms in restaurants are still a thing — but this is a step toward change.
  • Someone paid ¥207 million (about $1.4 million) for a single tuna. Yep, Japan’s New Year’s tuna auction madness continues. That’s a very, very expensive sushi dinner.
  • And in case you thought Japan had normal seasons: it just officialy had its hottest year on record. Summer here is already brutal, so this isn’t great news.

Also, a little update — Japan This Week is may be taking a little break, but we’ve got some new things in the works with “Japan Today Spotlight” and the upcoming “Japan Yesterday” podcast. More on that soon!

If you’re curious, you can listen to the full episode here: https://youtu.be/rhGURPmsfVw

Anyway, just wanted to share a bit of what’s going on over here. Hope you’re all doing well — drop me a message if you want to catch up!

Filed Under: Mindless drivel Tagged With: , , , , , ,

My First ‘Japan Today Spotlight’: Trump’s Re-election and Its Impact on Japan

January 16, 2025 By Leave a Comment

A quick update about something new I’m trying out. We just launched the very first episode of Japan Today Spotlight — a video series where we dive deep into one of the week’s biggest stories in Japan. The first topic? Well, I took a look at how Donald Trump’s re-election might affect Japan. It’s a topic that’s been making waves, so the chief editor thought it would be an interesting one to kick things off.

As with anything new, there are a few growing pains — you know, the usual tech issues, getting the rhythm of the show down, and working out the flow. But I’m excited to keep improving and make these deep dives a regular thing.

I’m hoping to dig into a mix of major headlines and a few of the lesser-known stories that don’t always get the attention they deserve.

If you’ve got a minute, I’d love for you to check out the first episode. The link is right here, and I’d appreciate any feedback you have as I keep tweaking things!

And don’t worry, this isn’t replacing the Japan This Week podcast— we’re just mixing things up a bit with some extra content. This Spotlight series is a new experiment in that direction.

Thanks for your support!

Catch you soon,

~Jeff

Filed Under: A/V Club, Late night musings, Podcast Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

April 19, 2019: Micro Racism, Trump Sumo Summit, Toilet Bowl Baby, Train in Vain and Poop Museum

April 28, 2019 By Leave a Comment

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In this week’s news from Japan Today: A survey of foreigners in Tokyo released this week reports that 50% of respondents have faced discrimination; Donald Trump plans to watch a sumo tournament when visiting Japan in May — and might present the winner’s trophy; a woman was arrested in Saitama Prefecture after giving birth in a 7-Eleven restroom and leaving the newborn in the toilet bowl; in punctual Japan, an elderly man in Nagoya who stopped a train from leaving the station by repeatedly preventing the doors from closing goes viral in a video and… that’s it? Plus a poop museum opens in Yokohama.

This weeks stories:

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Visit the Japan Today website.
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