March 2008

BUILDING A SAFE & SECURE JAPAN

SAFE AND SOUND

Long revered as a safe place, Japan faces both natural and man-made challenges to overcome if it is to remain a peaceful place in the future. In our special feature, read about how Japan is being kept safe and sound.

GLOBAL WARMING

The Ministry of the Environment’s “Stop Global Warming ‘One-Village, One-Product’ Project” is encouraging everyone in Japan to become involved in initiatives to counter global warming.

MEDIA ARTS FESTIVAL

The Japan Media Arts Festival is further enhancing Japan’s growing reputation as a leading hub for such media arts as animation, manga and video games.

KOREA VISIT

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda visited the Republic of Korea from February 24 to 25 to attend the inauguration ceremony of new President Lee Myung-bak.

MYRIAD MANGA

Shotaro Ishinomori has published more comics than any other author, and his long involvement in the art has greatly contributed to the global appeal of manga.

CHARMING PICTURES

Two Japanese illustrators of children’s books have been internationally recognized for their ability to transcend national borders and captivate children across the globe.

DANCING FREE

Internationally renowned classical ballet dancer Yasuyuki Shuto has turned to the world of pantomime in a bid to search for the true origins of classical ballet.

NATURAL LIGHT

Nature — in the form of electroluminescent (EL) television displays — is being made welcome in the living room with Sony’s new space-saving TV.

DESIGNER GOODIES

Function is losing out to form as sleek design wins over consumers who are opting for appliances and goods with aesthetic appeal.

LITTLE LIVES

A recent survey reveals the main interests of Japanese children outside of school, and the dreams they hold for the future.

PRODUCT • ART • CINEMA

Our monthly take on products, art and movies that are making waves in Japan.

WHITE HERON CASTLE

One of the finest examples of castle architecture in Japan, the Himeji Castle was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.