Japan's New Copyright Law Creates Confusion
Japan’s revised copyright law was partially enforced on October 1, 2012, and now penalizes the act of illegal downloading and DVD ripping for personal use. If arrested, one will be sentenced for up to...
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Police Raid Video Blogger's Home in Japan
This post is part of our special coverage Japan Earthquake 2011. Police from the Fukui Prefecture raided Fukuoka-based video blogger Yuzuru Kaneko's home on October 1, 2012. He has been covering...
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Are Japan's Upcoming Elections Unconstitutional?
A group of lawyers appealed to the Tokyo District Court that Japan's upcoming lower house general election will be unconstitutional. However, their case was rejected by the courts on November 21, 2012....
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Photos From Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant
A freelance photographer Takashi Ozaki published photos from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Image by OZAKI TAKASHI , (CC BY-NC-ND 2.1) taken on October 12, 2012 The plant was the scene of a...
View ArticleJapan's Live Streaming Platform to Host Cross Party Talks
Japan's popular live streaming platform Nico Nico Douga will host cross party talks on November 29, 2012. Niwango, the company that runs Nico Nico Douga invited the presidents of 14 different political...
View ArticleStanding Up for Stalking Victims in Japan
Forty-nine different groups that campaign to end violence against women came together and made a joint statement [ja] on November 19, 2012 calling for concrete measures to support stalking victims and...
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Japan's First Live Streamed Political Debate
Campaign season has begun in Japan. On December 4, 2012 the government officially announced that the House of Representatives general election would be held on December 16. Now each party is eager to...
View ArticleJapan's Indigenous Ainu Head to New Zealand
Ainu, the indigenous people of Northern Japan seek cultural exchange with Māori, the indigenous people of New Zealand. (more…) Written by Keiko Tanaka · comments (0) Share: Donate · facebook · twitter...
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Hashtag Criticising Mass Media Trending in Tokyo
Screenshot taken from twipple, twitter analytic service showing hashtag #マスコミ断罪 [convict mass media] trendingFormer Sankei Newspaper journalist Sumio Yamagiwa, organized an online campaign to tweet...
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Election Laws Hinder Japan's Political Online Activity
While Japanese citizens enjoy considerable Internet freedom, in times of election, things are a little different. The country's Public Offices Election Act [ja], restricts political candidates from...
View ArticleFilm Festival on Organic Farming in Japan
The international Film Festival on Organic Farming was held in Satta Hall at Hosei University in Tokyo, December 16, 2012. One participant ama_san [ja] commented on Twitter: Yesterday I went to the...
View ArticlePolice Accuses “2channel” for Assisting in Drug Trade
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department sent papers on Hiroyuki Nishimura, the founder and former operator of Japan's popular online bulletin board “2channel” [ja] to prosecutors on December 20 2012,...
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Japan's Kanji of the Year 2012
kanji of gold, pronounced “kin” in Japanese The Kanji of the year is “gold” (金). The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation announced [ja] that the kanji of the year 2012 is gold (金) at the...
View ArticleJapan: Digital Backyard in Sapporo
The three-day conference “Digital Backyards” initiated by smal.jp and berlinergazette.de will take place in Sapporo on January 10-12, 2013. There will be a barcamp-style networking event on January 10...
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Earthquake Debris Disposal Divides Japan
Photo taken on August 24, 2011 by flickr user infradept (BY -NC-ND-2.0) showing a pile of debris accumulated during reconstruction efforts following the 311 Tohoku Tsunami in Rikuzentakata, Japan One...
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Is Japan Leaning Towards the Right?
Image captured from http://zzhh.jp/questions/129, modified with English caption YES/NO (more…) Written by Keiko Tanaka · comments (0) Share: Donate · facebook · twitter · reddit · StumbleUpon ·...
View ArticleNaming the Victims of the Algerian Hostage Crisis
If the press have the energy to expose the names of victims and their pictures, why can't they pour the same energy into covering the information and wisdom that would prevent further tragedies? A...
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Japan Gears Up for the Open Data Revolution
Following the death of Aaron Swartz, an open data activist, the issues around open access and data ownership have been reignited around the world. But for Japan, the seeds of open data just started...
View ArticleJapan's Press Freedom Ranking Drops
Japan has dropped from the 22nd spot to 53rd, recording the biggest drop of any Asian country, on the 2013 Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders. The report highlights lack of...
View ArticleDear PSY, Don't Dance with the Prime Minister of Malaysia
Dear our idol, PSY, we love your song and we love how Gangnam Style could rock the party, however, please do not come to Malaysia. [...] If you come to Malaysia, you will become the political tool and...
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