Singer Ayaka (21) and actor Mizushima Hiro (24) announced yesterday that they got married back in February. The couple made the announcement at a joint press conference at the TBS TV studios in Tokyo. Their romance started in August of last year and Mizushima proposed about three months later. They tied the knot on February 22. Despite her youth, Ayaka already has a strong fan base and several hits under her belt, most notably the 2006 ballad “Mikazuki.” She also won several best newcomer awards that debut year. But she revealed yesterday that she plans to take an extended sabbatical as she battles with Graves’ disease. She has suffered from the condition, an immune disorder of the endocrine system known in Japan by the less common name of Basedow’s disease, since shortly after her debut. Mizushima spent much of his early youth in Switzerland because of his father’s work. On his return to Japan, he struggled with the language and faced bullying as a “kikokushijo” (returnee). A talented soccer player, his high school team reached the semi-finals of the national championship. While in university he was scouted to become a fashion model. After a few TV extra roles, he made his acting debut in the popular NTV drama series “Gokusen” in 2005. He landed the role of tokusatsu hero Kamen Rider Kabuto on TV Asahi and the big screen in 2006.
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4 months ago
If this gorgeous video doesn't tempt you to visit Kyoto, nothing will.
www.facebook.com/amankyoto/videos/666826444037241
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7 months ago
"Dual Sword Wielder" claims the top Words of the Year for 2021.
www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/c03828/dual-sword-wielder-ohtani-shohei-on-top-in-2021-words-of-th...
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“Dual Sword Wielder” Ohtani Shōhei on Top in 2021 Words of the Year
www.nippon.com
Japan’s “Words of the Year” are out for 2021, with riaru nitōryū and Shō taimu taking top honors. The phrases both describe baseball phenom Ohtani Shōhei, who “wielded two swords for real,...7 months ago
A look at how the recent increases in energy prices are hitting consumers and small business owners in Japan. A worrying winter lies ahead, I fear.![]()
www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-11-21/oil-price-rises-hit-japan-s-bathhouses-fisheries-gasol...
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From Bathhouses to Fisheries, Hidden Inflation Is Creeping Across Japan
www.bloomberg.com
Soaring energy prices are hitting consumers and businesses alike.7 months ago
This article does a good job of capturing the paradox at the heart (!) of the Tokyo megalopolis.![]()
Where does it start? Where does it end? And what makes it work so much better than it should?![]()
metropolisjapan.com/why-tokyo-works/
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Why Tokyo Works | Culture | Metropolis Japan
metropolisjapan.com
Understanding what makes Tokyo so special is noticing the aspects of Tokyo’s urban design that make the city so easy to be in.10 months ago
Prime minister Suga Yoshihide, the unpopular "sinking ship" who could have dragged his whole party down with him, has "fallen on his own sword." But was he pushed?![]()
And who will replace him? Could it be a former minister with "a dubious history of being photographed with members of Japan’s Nazi Party and praising Hitler’s election strategy"?![]()
asiatimes.com/2021/09/japans-pm-suga-falls-on-his-sword/
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Japan’s PM Suga falls on his sword
asiatimes.com
TOKYO – In a move that shocked Japan with its timing, but which had been widely predicted, unpopular Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced on Friday that he will not run again as leader of ...