Alex K.T. Martin

The second life of Japan's net cafes Once symbols of urban solitude, these spaces are finding new purpose as coworking hubs for a changing, wired generation.

Back in the 2000s I’d sometimes stop by internet cafes in Tokyo — to read manga or grab a quick nap. They seemed to be everywhere back then. That got me wondering: what happened to the once-ubiquitous business? Here’s what I found out: www.japantimes.co.jp/business/202...

The image of Japan’s net cafes used to be all smoky rooms and sketchy behavior. Not anymore. Today’s spaces are sleek, clean — and affordable. 👉 ebx.sh/iOj6Mt

That’s great! I’ve heard about similar experiences from folks who used the station before it was closed - wish I could’ve experienced it myself ☺️

Inside Tokyo's 'phantom' stations — and the stories they tell A sealed 1930s subway platform beneath Shimbashi Station still holds traces of what the capital looked like before the war.

Tokyo’s so-called “phantom” stations no longer serve passengers and are often closed to the public👻 I explored a few of them — weathered, industrial traces of how the city has expanded, reconfigured and adapted to a growing metropolis🎃 www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10...

死者の霊呼ぶ巫女の「イタコ数珠」、絶滅動物の骨を使用か　奥州市えさし郷土文化館長調査 | 岩手日報ONLINE 奥州市江刺のえさし郷土文化館長の高橋憲太郎さんは、県内各地に伝わる「イタコ数珠」の調査に取り組んでいる。死者の霊を呼ぶ口寄せなどを行う巫女（みこ）の持ち物で、クマやシカ、キツネなど動物の体の一部が使われている。高橋さんは特に、絶滅したニホ…

www.iwate-np.co.jp/article/2025...

Rethinking that second drink: Japan’s Gen Z gets ‘sober curious’ Young Japanese are saying no to booze — and yes to mocktails, gaming and sober nights out. Breweries are pivoting to meet them.

I very much enjoy my booze, but stats show Japan’s 20-somethings aren’t drinking like we did. Breweries are pivoting hard to low- and no-alcohol drinks. Big culture shift underway. My story: www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09...

『クマのお話』 毎日の様にクマのニュースが流れる今日この頃。北海道の羅臼岳山中で登山中の若者が襲われ命を失った事件は大々的に報道され、親クマと2頭の子クマが駆除されました。知…

ameblo.jp/canisyagi/en...

The Great Kanto Earthquake: A wall of fire, a picture of hell On Sept. 1, 1923, a massive earthquake struck off the coast of Kanagawa Prefecture. It came to be defined by fire and vigilantism.

102 years ago today, the Great Kanto Earthquake flattened Tokyo and killed more than 100,000 people. I looked back on the catastrophe for its 100th anniversary in 2023:
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/08...

From ashes to high-rises: A survivor’s account of Tokyo’s postwar past One man’s experience traces the capital's arc from wartime devastation to modern megacity in a story of resilience and reinvention.

I traced how Tokyo rose from the ashes of the 1945 firebombing and became today’s megacity, through the eyes of a survivor who lived through black-market stalls, postwar nightlife and the Olympic-era build-up. "But that hardship still lingers," he says. www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08...

🙏

The rise of AI companionship in a lonely Japan AI chatbots are becoming stand-ins for pets and partners — offering comfort, connection and raising new concerns.

Loneliness and social isolation are growing concerns in aging, shrinking Japan, and AI is being explored as a source of companionship and emotional support. Questions remain, however, about how effective or healthy these interactions really are. My story: www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07...

What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji Mount Fuji’s deadliest weekend still echoes today. Luckily, area rescue squads have leveled up their game.

With Mount Fuji’s official climbing season starting today, I spoke with police and other mountain rescue experts about the dangers of hiking Japan’s highest and most iconic peak. www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/06...

#このホラーがすごい

暑すぎる。Too damn hot today💦

I’ve been there! Gorgeous place. But unfortunately didn’t have space to cover it in this story😢

Haha, you need to take me there next time!

Revitalizing the space under Tokyo’s train tracks Rail underpasses in big cities are being transformed into vibrant spaces for artisans, foodies and travelers — without erasing their past.

Many of my favorite watering holes in Tokyo are tucked away beneath elevated railway tracks, known as ガード下. But on a recent tour, I discovered there’s much more to these hidden urban spaces. My story: www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2025/06...

How Japan's youth are slowly changing the country's work ethic Labor shortages and shifting mindsets are driving younger Japanese workers to challenge the country’s traditional office culture.

“Back then, resignation services probably still had a somewhat shady image, but now they’re everywhere — like bubble tea shops.” My story on how Japan’s younger employees are reshaping the country’s work culture: www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/06...

That sinking feeling: Japan’s aging sewers are an infrastructure time bomb A tragic accident in Saitama shows how aging pipes, soft soil and climate threats are straining the country’s infrastructure.

“Basically, it’s a race between the advancement of inspection technology and the rapid progression of sinkholes.” I explored the deteriorating state of Japan’s sewer systems: www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/05...

If the 'Big One' hits, this city could face a 31-meter-high tsunami Last year the government issued its first 'megaquake' advisory. Ever since, those living in the areas it's expected to hit have been preparing for the worst.

Shimoda could face a 31-meter-high tsunami if a Nankai Trough megaquake strikes, according to the government's latest projections. I visited the coastal community in the south of the Izu Peninsula to learn how residents are preparing for the worst-case scenario. www.japantimes.co.jp/environment/...

The Return of the Dire Wolf Colossal Biosciences has genetically engineered the first dire wolf to live in over 10,000 years. Here's what that means for other extinct species.

time.com/7274542/colo...

Why Japan is running out of rice — and farmers to grow it Outdated government policy, changing diets and even an earthquake scare have had an impact on the national food staple.

Here’s my take on Japan’s ongoing rice crisis: www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2025/04...

『秩父のニホンオオカミ』 3月中旬の或る日。蒼穹号の散歩に、何時もの丸山公園まで足を運びますと、近くの林の中からウグイスの鳴き声が聞こえて来ました。例年ですと３月初めにはその鳴き声が聞…

ameblo.jp/canisyagi/en...

The day a religious cult brought terror to Tokyo Thirty years after Aum Shinrikyo attacked Tokyo’s subways, the nation continues to prepare for the unthinkable.

The day a religious cult brought terror to Tokyo www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/03...

Dusk. 夕暮れ。

#chichibu #japanesewolf

信州おさけ村｜長野県酒類販売株式会社 信州おさけ村は、新橋駅前ビル1号館1Fで営む長野県産の日本酒がそろう直売所兼スタンドバーです。70蔵以上の酒蔵からの多彩な日本酒だけでなく、長野産の地ワイン、地ビールもラインナップ。店内に信州地酒直売所も併設しております。ぜひお越しください。

www.nagano-sake.com/vil/

As the rest of Japan shrinks, Tokyo grows Women and young people are leading a migratory wave that the government is struggling to halt.

Some decry Tokyo as a "black hole" that sucks in people, industry and resources from the rest of Japan. My latest on the migratory and demographic trend: www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/03...

#possessions #憑き物

The race to save 20th-century history Analog recordings are at risk of disappearing as old tech breaks down and spare parts run out.

“Video playback machines have many consumable parts, and replacement parts are no longer available.” Footage of everything from rare festivals to television dramas recorded on magnetic tape is at risk of being lost forever due to out-of-date tech. My story: www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/02...