From the 2022 Longform archives: Battle to stop Kagoshima seawall highlights divide over coastal engineering

Concrete seawalls are a fixture on the coast of Japan, but on the island of Amami Oshima in Kagoshima Prefecture, a campaign against the construction of a seawall on Katoku Beach is a rare example of opposition to this kind of infrastructure in Japan.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2022/10/24/environment/japan-seawalls-coastal-erosion/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Mastodon

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#environment #Japan #beaches

From the 2022 Longform archives: For some shrinking towns in Japan, depopulation isn't all bad news

As the nation grays, municipalities such as Tokigawa are questioning conventional wisdom and searching for creative ways to keep their communities vibrant by drawing in new ideas and talent.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/03/28/national/social-issues/japan-tokigawa-depopulation/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Mastodon

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#Japan #demographics #aging

From the 2022 Longform archives: Beneath the surface: Are Japan’s iconic hot-spring resources sustainable?

The public and private use of hot springs in modern times is leaving a significant imprint on the environment.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2022/01/17/environment/japan-hot-spring-sustainability/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Mastodon

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From the 2022 Longform archives: Is Japan happy? Exploring the nation’s evolving views of well-being

Japan placed 54th among the 146 countries and regions covered by the World Happiness Report published by the U.N. in March, up two notches from the previous survey but still one of the lowest among developed nations.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2022/05/30/lifestyle/japan-happiness-wellbeing/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Mastodon

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From the 2022 Longform archives: Collapsing pyramid: EV shift strikes at heart of Japan’s auto sector

The Japanese auto industry's shift toward electric vehicles is finally gaining momentum, but that it threatens to undermine the special structure that has made the sector an economic pillar.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/11/07/business/ev-shift-japan-auto-industry/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Mastodon

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From the 2022 Longform archives: What evil lurks in the shadow of anonymity?

Fueled by pandemic-induced stress, nameless netizens are directing myriad harmful and threatening messages on the internet with little fear of retribution.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/06/27/national/social-issues/japan-anonymity-culture/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Mastodon

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From the 2022 Longform archives: Plastic love: Proliferation of PET bottles in Japan complicates a sustainable future

Japan recycles and reuses its ubiquitous plastic container more than almost any other country — but some say it’s still not enough.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2022/03/14/environment/japan-pet-bottles/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Mastodon

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From the 2022 Longform archives: As the crow flies: A bird’s eye view of Japan’s urban ecology

Tokyo’s once booming crow population has plummeted amid the COVID-19 pandemic. What does that mean for the world’s largest city?

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2022/04/11/environment/tokyo-crows-pandemic/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Mastodon

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From the 2022 Longform archives: Empire of steel: Japan’s railways after 150 years of evolution

Much has changed since the country’s first railway line between Tokyo and Yokohama laid the foundation for a world-renowned network of trains to be created.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/10/10/national/history/japan-railways-150-anniversary/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Mastodon

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In the final days of 2022, we’re posting a selection of our Longform features from the past year. Enjoy!

First up, a toast to the ancient origins of Japan’s wine culture:

Recent excavations have uncovered Jomon artifacts that could push back our understanding of the nation’s early winemaking techniques by several millennia.

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https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2022/09/12/food/jomon-wine-origins/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Mastodon