Celebrate with a glass of Japanese whiskey as this year marks the 100th anniversary of whiskey production in Japan. Japanese whiskey has come a long way since its inception in 1923, mastering European production methods and traversing a unique commercial history. In recent years, Japanese whiskey has gained global recognition, leading to shortages of longer-aged varieties and prompting major distillers to increase production and the establishment of new whiskey distilleries. So, why is Japanese whiskey so popular, and what sets it apart from other whiskeys? Let's take a closer look at the history, production methods, and unique characteristics of Japanese whiskey.   Whiskey production in Japan began at the Yamazaki Distillery in Shimamoto, Osaka Prefecture, in 1923, at the behest of Shinjiro Torii, founder of Suntory. The first domestically produced whiskey, Suntory Shirofuda, was launched in 1929, and demand for Japanese whiskey rose in line with economic growth. However, sh...

In 1981, Kikuo Ibe, a watch designer at Casio Computer Co., submitted an idea for a heavy-duty watch to a company program that encouraged employees to pitch new products and technologies. His inspiration came after his own wristwatch broke easily when dropped, leaving him frustrated and disappointed. Ibe's idea was initially approved by his boss, but he still needed to test the watch's durability from an engineering standpoint. He started by focusing on the core component of the watch, called a module, and quickly realized that cushioning was crucial in protecting a wristwatch when dropped. After months of testing, Ibe came up with the idea of covering the timepiece with parts made of rubber and metal to absorb shocks.   Finally, after eight months of trial and error, Ibe discovered that suspending the module in a ball-like structure might work. This discovery led to the birth of the G-Shock, which hit the market on April 12, 1983. The watch was almost twice as thick as o...

Attention to those who have been affected by the nuclear power plant accident announced by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (TEPCO). TEPCO has recently announced additional compensation for nuclear damage compensation in response to the decision by the Nuclear Damage Compensation Dispute Review Board to the "Fifth Supplement to the Interim Guidelines for Determining the Scope of Nuclear Damage Caused by the Fukushima Daiichi and Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accidents of Tokyo Electric Power Company (Revision of Guidelines Based on Final Judgments in Class Action Lawsuits)." If you have been affected and wish to claim compensation, it is important to note that the city cannot handle requests for compensation and other procedures. Claims cannot be made on the spot, and you will need to follow the steps below to make a claim: 1.     Confirm your current address and household composition. 2.     Receive an invoice from TEPCO. 3.   ...

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the world, bringing many aspects of daily life to a halt. However, as the world slowly recovers, we are starting to see signs of life returning to normal. Japan, for instance, is experiencing a rebound towards pre-pandemic levels in various sectors, including tourism and entertainment. In mid-April, the two-day Spring Takayama Festival, also known as Sanno Matsuri, was held in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, with an estimated 168,000 people in attendance. This number was more than triple the attendance of the previous year, which saw 53,000 people attending the festival. The festival's main event, a parade of floats, was held for the first time in four years, attracting many tourists from Japan and beyond. This surge in tourism is a welcome relief for the industry that was severely hit by the pandemic.   The tourism industry's impact was felt by businesses such as the Yakatabune pleasure boat, which saw a significant decline i...

The hustle and bustle of the Golden Week holiday period has arrived in Tokyo, with travelers crowding Tokyo Station on May 3 to embark on trips to their hometowns or other destinations. However, the latter half of Golden Week has not been without its challenges. According to Central Japan Railway Co., some trains on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line that departed Tokyo Station between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. were carrying 40 percent more passengers than capacity. This overcrowding has caused significant inconvenience for travelers, who have had to endure long lines and delays in their journeys.   Despite these challenges, many travelers remain committed to their holiday plans. Saki Endo, a 32-year-old company employee, was standing in line for unreserved seats on a bullet train around 1 p.m. to return to her hometown in Shiga Prefecture. She noted that she had stayed at home for a while in the morning, after discovering through Twitter just how congested Tokyo Station was during the ear...

Japan has taken a significant step towards becoming a cashless society, registering a record 111 trillion yen ($830 billion) in cashless payments in 2022, a substantial increase from the previous year's 95 trillion yen. This marks the first time Japan has surpassed the 100 trillion-yen mark for cashless payments, and the trend is expected to continue as the government actively promotes it. This shift towards a cashless society has been driven primarily by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has reduced opportunities for making cash payments. The Japanese government is also promoting cashless payments to reduce the costs of transporting currency, and they have set a goal of having cashless payments account for approximately 40% of all expenditures by 2025.   According to the Japanese economy ministry, cashless payments accounted for 36% of all expenditures in Japan last year, with credit card payments accounting for the highest portion at 93.8 trillion yen. Code payments, including t...

If you're a senior citizen in Japan, you might be surprised to find out that many of your peers in their sixties are still in the workforce. A survey conducted by Kakehashi Skysolutions found that 66% of the respondents, all past the retirement age of 60, were still employed. Among those who were still working, the most common employment status was that of a contract employee, regardless of their age. However, 78% of those still working belonged to the 60-64 age group, and 51% of this subgroup were working for their original company under a continued-employment arrangement.   It's important to note that continued employment does not necessarily mean rehiring as a regular employee. Many companies in Japan offer continued-employment arrangements that provide benefits and job security but may not offer the same benefits as regular employment.   The survey also revealed that income from their current job was the primary source of income for 65% of those under 65 who do n...

As social media platforms continue to grow in popularity, it is becoming increasingly important to have a strong presence on these sites. One way to achieve this is by using Upleap.com, a service that provides  Instagram  users with real, organic growth.  Upleap.com  offers a range of services, including account management, targeted followers, and hashtag research. The service is easy to use and can be customized to meet the specific needs of each user.  One of the benefits of using Upleap.com is that it is a safe and secure way to grow your Instagram account. The service uses only real followers, so you don't have to worry about fake accounts or bots. Additionally,  Upleap.com  does not require your  Instagram  password, which means your account remains secure.  Another advantage of using  Upleap.com  is that it saves time. Rather than spending hours each day trying to grow your Instagram account,  Upleap.com  does...

Did you know that the average price of newly built apartments in Tokyo's central area reached a historical high of 217.5 million yen ($1.4 million) in March of this year? With prices soaring and demand increasing, what is driving the surge in Tokyo's real estate market? Read on to discover the factors behind this trend and what the future holds for Tokyo's apartment prices. Tokyo’s real estate market has been experiencing a significant increase in apartment prices, particularly in the central area of the city. In March of this year, the average price of newly built apartments in Tokyo’s 23 wards surpassed 200 million yen, reaching a historical high of 217.5 million yen. This represents a 2.7-fold increase from the same month the previous year. The trend was not limited to the capital city alone, as the average price of apartments in the wider Tokyo metropolitan area, including Kanagawa, Chiba, and Saitama prefectures, exceeded 100 million yen for the first time, reaching ...

Yokosuka, a city located south of Tokyo, has recently started a trial use of artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT across all of its offices. The city officials hope that ChatGPT will improve the efficiency of its operations. In the one-month trial, Yokosuka will use ChatGPT to make bulletins, summarize records of meetings, edit documents for typographical errors, solicit proposals for new projects, and gain advice for its policies. Chatbots are software applications trained using massive amounts of data from the internet, enabling them to process and simulate human-like conversations with users. The generative AI will only use non-confidential data entered by the city officials, and confidential data will be excluded. City officials will enter questions or instructions in LoGoChat, a chat tool already introduced for local governments and connected with ChatGPT for the trial.   Mayor Katsuaki Kamiji believes that ChatGPT is a tool that the municipal government can use to he...

Japan's aging population and declining birthrate have led to a growing problem of abandoned homes known as "akiya." These unclaimed properties are largely found in rural areas and have become neglected over time, posing a threat to residents, particularly in areas prone to natural disasters. The issue has become so pressing that some estimates suggest akiya will make up over 30% of Japan's housing stock by 2033. The challenges of renovating akiya are significant, as these homes often require extensive repairs and upgrades to meet modern safety standards. Many of these properties were built several decades ago and have fallen into disrepair, making them unappealing to Japanese buyers. However, a growing number of foreigners have been attracted to the low prices and unique architecture of these abandoned homes, seeing them as an opportunity to own a piece of Japan's history.   One of the major challenges of renovating akiya is the language barrier, as many of ...