{}

Tomodachi Menu

  • Top
  • Previous Issues
  • Topic
  • Country/Region

Close

Vol.15

Spring / Summer 2016

During a visit to Miyagi Prefecture, which is continuing its reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe joined local residents in making a jumbo seaweed roll (February 2016).

  • PDF
Feature

The Promising Potential of Japan’s Industries

The Quest for Advanced Regenerative Medicine

Foreign Firms Drawn by Japan’s Expedited Approval System

Regenerative medicine is drawing attention as a form of treatment using people’s cells and a method that can be used for testing new pharmaceuticals. Japan has been leading the world in this field, as exemplified by the research into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) by Dr. Shinya Yamanaka, winner of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Top-Quality Japanese Food Finds International Appeal

Beef, Rice, and Other Ingredients Gain Ground in World Markets

Recent years have seen a worldwide boom in the popularity of Japanese cuisine. Generally speaking, the Japanese diet packs fewer calories than its Western counterparts, and obesity is less prevalent among the Japanese as a result. This is one of the main reasons for the worldwide common interest in Japanese food. Now, though, attention is also focusing on the ingredients that make up these dishes.

Tapping the Potential of Japan’s Undeveloped Tourism Resources

The number of tourists visiting Japan has been rapidly increasing. In 2015 inbound tourists totaled 19.74 million, double the figure for 2013. A number of factors are seen as contributing to this growth, such as the depreciation of the yen, relaxation of visa requirements, and increased affluence in neighboring countries. The trend seems likely to continue.

Moments of Prime Minister Abe

Prime Minister Abe traveled to the United States to attend the Nuclear Security Summit held in Washington DC. While there, he held meetings with world leaders (March and April 2016).

The Charms of the G7 Ministerial Meetings Host Cities

Toyama: A Nature-Rich City with Environment-Friendly Policies

The city of Toyama, site of the G7 Environment Ministers’ Meeting, is about two hours from Tokyo on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, a high-speed railway line that came into service in March 2015.

G7 Japan 2016 Ise-Shima Photography Contest Winners

The Government of Japan held the G7 Japan 2016 Ise-Shima Photography Contest. More than 17,000 submissions were received from Japan and abroad. We are grateful for the many submissions.

Going Global with Yamagata Roots
Traditional Artisanship and Modern Style

A Renowned Designer Links Japan and the World from His Hometown

Industrial designer Ken Okuyama is globally famous as the first non-Italian to design a Ferrari.

Going Global with Yamagata Roots
Changing the World with Synthetic Spider Silk

A New Technology to Turn Protein into High-Performance Materials

Many of the recent media stories about the Senkaku Islands seem to be based on mistaken notions.

Hearing Better with the Comuoon System

Unique Speakers Offer Communication Support for Those with Hearing Problems

Japan, due to its aging population, has a growing number of senior citizens with age- related hearing loss. 

Sharing Travel Treats with the World

Japan’s Ekiben Win Favor in Franceith Hearing Problems

Railways developed as a major means of long-distance travel in Japan from the 1880s on, and along with this came demand for food to eat during the many hours on the train. 

Yurikamome:
Tokyo’s Automated Transportation System

Connecting Central Tokyo with the Rinkai Waterfront Area

New Transit Yurikamome is an automated guideway transit (AGT) system that connects central Tokyo with the Rinkai waterfront area, built on reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay.

Wagashi :
Traditional Japanese Confections

Ichigo daifuku

Daifuku , a confection of sweet an bean paste wrapped in mochi glutinous rice, has been on the scene for about 250 years. 

Spring in Full Swing with Beautiful Blossoms

Wisteria: Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture
Spring in Full Swing with Beautiful Blossoms

Friends of Japan
Shogi ─ A Japanese Game Wins a Devotee from Poland

The traditional Japanese game of shogi has a distinct sound: a sharp click as wooden pieces, called koma , are strategically placed on a burnished board.

The JET Programme:
A Great Way to Experience Japan
Joining a Network Spanning Japan and the Globe

I came to Japan on the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme in 2011, eager to take advantage of the opportunity to live and work abroad.
 
 
{}