Young Entrepreneurs: What’s the Rumpus?
Host Michael Penn interviews Yu Asabe about the eco-system for young entrepreneurs and technology start-ups in Japan.
Lift Off for Terra Drone
Terra Motors expanded its shares in the international electric vehicle market, and predicts that it will make 30 billion yen (US$270 million) in this market period.
The Dippy Opposition
Well, they’ve done it again. Just when you see glimmers of hope that Japan’s opposition parties might just be getting their acts together, they go and show you once again just how incompetent they really are.
Falling Workforce Hits Convenience Stores
The declining workforce is already having an economic and social impact across Japan, and one industry which is already facing major changes is that of convenience stores, which depend on the existence of a pool of cheap labor in order to thrive. The largest chains such as Seven & i Holdings, Lawson, and FamilyMart are on the front lines.
Uniformed Officers Gaining Control of Defense Ministry
Uniformed Self-Defense Forces officers are currently demanding a larger role in setting military policies, which will for the first time utilize the security legislation forced through the Diet by the ruling coalition last September. Civilian defense bureaucrats have so far rejected the demands of the uniformed officers, fearing that acquiescing will decisively tilt the power balance between the two sides within the ministry.
Black History: What’s the Rumpus?
Host Michael Penn interviews columnist and book author Baye McNeil about the meaning and significance of Black History.
Five Star Hotels: What’s the Rumpus?
What’s the Rumpus? Five Star Hotels! SNA President Michael Penn interviews book author Yuko Seki.
Shioya Resists Role as Fukushima Radiation Dump
As the Japanese nation approaches the fifth anniversary of the March 11 tragedy, the burden of dealing with the widespread radioactive contamination from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster continues to expand. Now this issue is seriously impacting even a small community in Tochigi Prefecture called Shioya.
Shioya’s Struggle against Fukushima Radiation
One small town’s desperate fight to prevent their community becoming a dump for highly radioactive materials from Fukushima.
Robots in Japan: What’s the Rumpus?
Host Michael Penn interviews journalist and book author Tim Hornyak and learns why the Japanese really love their robots.