Latest news with #Tokyo-born
Metropolis Japan
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metropolis Japan
Japanese Calligraphy & Sumi-e Workshop in Tokyo
Step into the serene world of Japanese calligraphy and Sumi-e (painting with black ink) with Tokyo-born artist Chiaki. In this immersive hands-on workshop in Tokyo, you'll explore the brush techniques, philosophy, and history behind Japanese calligraphy and ink painting. Chiaki's fresh, modern approach invites you to see calligraphy not just as writing, but as personal expression through art. Known for blending the timeless beauty of traditional calligraphy with minimalist contemporary design, Chiaki brings a truly global perspective to this ancient art form—drawing on her experience teaching and exhibiting in cultural institutions across Europe and Asia. No experience with calligraphy? No problem. You'll be guided step-by-step by Chiaki. During the workshop, you will get the opportunity to craft your own masterpiece on a traditional Japanese fan ( Uchiwa ), adding your personal touch. Don't miss out on this special opportunity to connect with Japanese culture through art in Tokyo this summer. The workshop is held in English and all materials are provided—just bring your curiosity and passion. No prior experience needed. Green tea and sweets will be served. Choose between attending on June 28 (6:00 pm-8:00 pm) or June 29 (2:00 pm-4 pm).
Korea Herald
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Tokyo-born scholar Yuji Hosaka steps into Seoul politics
Hosaka leads the DP's accusations against the PPP over alleged pro-Japanese remarks Yuji Hosaka, a Tokyo-born political scientist and professor at Sejong University in Seoul, is making his foray into South Korean politics, appearing alongside Democratic Party of Korea leaders at presidential campaign events — marking him as the latest foreign-born figure to enter the country's political arena. Although Hosaka publicly endorsed Moon Jae-in during the 2017 presidential election, he had not actively participated in party campaign events until recently. His affiliation with the liberal South Korean party further expanded on May 17, when he was appointed chair of the party's newly launched Committee to Eliminate Pro-Japanese Historical Distortion. The 14-member committee operates as part of the Democratic Party's official campaign structure through the June 3 presidential election. On Monday, during a press briefing at the Democratic Party's headquarters in Seoul, Hosaka accused the conservative People Power Party of promoting pro-Japanese narratives. His remarks came in response to recent controversial comments by People Power Party presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo, who claimed that Koreans under Japanese colonial rule were legally Japanese nationals. Hosaka strongly refuted the claim, saying it had no basis in the 1910 annexation treaty, the Meiji Constitution, or Japan's nationality laws at the time. 'The Japanese Empire treated Koreans as a separate group,' he said, 'placing them under surveillance as potential dissidents — not as fellow citizens.' 'New Right forces, backed by Japan, are working to distort historical facts to fit the claims of Japan's far right,' Hosaka added. 'Unless we eliminate these pro-Japan forces, another Yoon Suk Yeol will rise. This is a battle between common sense and absurdity, between defending the Constitution and destroying it.' The so-called New Right is a conservative movement in South Korea that emerged in the early 2000s. It seeks to reframe key historical events, including Japan's colonization of Korea, often portraying it as a period of modernization rather than oppression. In its statement Monday, the committee accused the New Right of reviving colonial-era narratives and undermining Korea's legal and historical identity. It denounced the theory of 'colonial modernization,' condemned the group's denial of wartime forced labor and sexual slavery, and warned against attempts to delegitimize Korea's sovereignty over Dokdo. The statement labeled the New Right 'an anti-state force.' According to the Democratic Party of Korea, the committee was created in response to a growing number of public statements by conservative politicians that downplay or justify Japan's colonial rule over Korea. 'This committee was not created for academic discussion,' one party official said. 'It is a response to direct political messaging that attempts to normalize the historical views of Japan's far right.' Hosaka has openly stated his alignment with the progressive bloc in South Korea. In a recent speech, he said, 'We must change the government and build a nation where people can live and realize their dreams. I will do everything I can to support those aiming to make that possible.' Asked whether he feared political retaliation, such as being blacklisted by conservative groups, Hosaka acknowledged the risk but said he would not be deterred. 'That possibility definitely exists,' he said, 'but I'm a rationalist. My political orientation has always been with the opposition here in Korea.' Reflecting on the 2015 comfort women agreement between Korea and Japan under the administration of former President Park Geun-hye, Hosaka criticized the process as fundamentally flawed. 'Even if you're conservative, you should be rational and trustworthy,' he said. 'The government failed to persuade the people. I believe the agreement must be renegotiated, but before that, we need to investigate why it was made in the first place.' Born in 1956, Hosaka moved to South Korea in the 1980s for academic research and became a naturalized Korean citizen in 2003. Over the years, he has emerged as a prominent advocate against historical revisionism and a vocal defender of Korea's sovereignty over disputed issues such as the Dokdo islets — called Takeshima in Japan. Since 1998, Hosaka has dedicated his academic career to Dokdo-related research and currently serves as the director of Sejong University's Dokdo Research Institute. His work focuses on gathering historical, legal and cartographic evidence to support Korea's territorial claim to the islets.
Japan Times
20-03-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Myoko ski resort area feels trepidation as foreign money pours in
Three winters from now, Japan's snowy Myoko highlands will be home to a $1.4 billion mega-resort built by a Singaporean fund, with hotels charging some $1,350 a night. The project by Patience Capital Group (PCG) promises to create 1,000 jobs and spur winter tourism. But for many Myoko locals, foreign interest has become a double-edged sword, threatening overdevelopment, sky-high prices and the sweeping away of traditional culture. Even before news of PCG's interest, many inns, ski rental shops and restaurants in Akakura — one of five major ski resort towns in the Myoko region — had been snapped up by foreigners. But they're only interested in the snow, and once that melts, those businesses shut. The town, also once a bustling hot-spring destination, no longer has enough going on to attract many visitors during the rest of the year. "If you come to Akakura in summer, it's pitch dark at night," said Masafumi Nakajima, owner of local inn Furuya and head of the 200-year-old town's hot spring-inn tourism association. He estimates only 10 of about 80 inns in Akakura operate year-round. Located roughly 2.5 hours from Tokyo by train in Niigata Prefecture, Myoko, along with the more famed Japanese ski resorts of Niseko and Hakuba, is known for powder snow, dubbed "Japow." The resort areas are a huge part of Japan's tourism boom, also fueled by a weak yen, which saw inbound tourist numbers jump 17% in February, hitting a record high for that month. Nakajima said many foreign business owners in Akakura have refused to join the local tourism association. One consequence is a lot of broken rules on the part of businesses and tourists that range from not disposing of garbage properly, to overparking to late-night fireworks. "We have no idea who they are and what they're doing. They just come in December and disappear when spring comes," he said. Nakajima recently started approaching foreign businesses to offer lectures on the town's rules. A visitor snowboards at the Myoko Suginohara Ski Resort in Myoko, Niigata Prefecture, on March 5. | REUTERS Many locals fear Myoko could go the way of Niseko. The resort on the northern island of Hokkaido has become a world-renowned winter sports destination on the back of high-end foreign developments, but the surge in property prices brought higher taxes for locals choosing not to sell. Inflation there — from labor costs to a bowl of ramen — has gone through the roof, pricing locals and most domestic travelers out of the market. Hakuba, in the Japanese Alps, has followed a similar path, while one township in Myoko has already seen land prices jump as much as 9% last year. PCG's Tokyo-born founder, Ken Chan, said he's mindful of local fears about his project, which will span 350 hectares and two ski slopes. To attract visitors year-round, PCG wants to promote its two planned luxury hotels for business conferences and is considering discounts during non-peak times for local residents who want to ski or snowboard, he said. He also intends to host a meeting with residents in the coming months. Myoko City mayor Yoji Kido said he's cautiously optimistic about PCG's development plans but has heard few specifics. Kido has been fielding more enquiries from foreign investors, and conscious of local concerns, the city is considering new regulations for larger projects from the 2027 fiscal year. "It's going to be an unusually big development for our city," he said. "I can't deny that things aren't worry-free." Koji Miyashita, the owner of a half-century-old shop in Akakura that sells steamed buns filled with red bean paste, said he sometimes feels like he doesn't live in Japan as Westerners throng the town's streets. Development in Myoko should sustain the region's culture, he said, adding: "We don't want to be another Niseko."
Reuters
20-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
In Japan's ski resort area of Myoko, trepidation as more foreign money pours in
MYOKO, Japan, March 20 (Reuters) - Three winters from now, Japan's snowy Myoko highlands will be home to a $1.4 billion mega-resort built by a Singaporean fund, with hotels charging some $1,350 a night. The project by Patience Capital Group (PCG) promises to create 1,000 jobs and spur winter tourism. But for many Myoko locals, foreign interest has become a double-edged sword, threatening overdevelopment, sky-high prices and the sweeping away of traditional culture. Even before news of PCG's interest, many inns, ski rental shops and restaurants in Akakura - one of five major ski resort towns in the Myoko region - had been snapped up by foreigners. But they're only interested in the snow and once that melts, those businesses shut. The town, also once a bustling hot-spring destination, no longer has enough going on to attract many visitors during the rest of the year. "If you come to Akakura in summer, it's pitch dark at night," said Masafumi Nakajima, owner of local inn Furuya and head of the 200-year-old town's hot spring-inn tourism association. He estimates only 10 of about 80 inns in Akakura operate year-round. Located roughly 2.5 hours from Tokyo by train in Niigata prefecture, Myoko, along with the more famed Japanese ski resorts of Niseko and Hakuba, is known for powder snow, dubbed "Japow". The resort areas are a huge part of Japan's tourism boom, also fuelled by a weak yen, which saw inbound tourist numbers jump 17% in February, hitting a record high for that month. Nakajima said many foreign business owners in Akakura have refused to join the local tourism association. One consequence is a lot of broken rules on the part of businesses and tourists that range from not disposing of garbage properly, to overparking to late-night fireworks. "We have no idea who they are and what they're doing. They just come in December and disappear when spring comes," he said. Nakajima recently started approaching foreign businesses to offer lectures on the town's rules. PRICED OUT Many locals fear Myoko could go the way of Niseko. The resort on the northern island of Hokkaido has become a world-renowned winter sports destination on the back of high-end foreign developments, but the surge in property prices brought higher taxes for locals choosing not to sell. Inflation there - from labour costs to a bowl of ramen - has gone through the roof, pricing locals and most domestic travellers out of the market. Hakuba, in the Japanese Alps, has followed a similar path, while one township in Myoko has already seen land prices jump as much as 9% last year. PCG's Tokyo-born founder, Ken Chan, said he's mindful of local fears about his project, which will span 350 hectares and two ski slopes. To attract visitors year-round, PCG wants to promote its two planned luxury hotels for business conferences and is considering discounts during non-peak times for local residents who want to ski or snowboard, he told Reuters. He also intends to host a meeting with residents in the coming months. Myoko City mayor Yoji Kido said he's cautiously optimistic about PCG's development plans but has heard few specifics. Kido has been fielding more enquiries from foreign investors and conscious of local concerns, the city is considering new regulations for larger projects from the 2027 fiscal year. "It's going to be an unusually big development for our city," he said. "I can't deny that things aren't worry-free." Koji Miyashita, the owner of a half-century-old shop in Akakura that sells steamed buns filled with red bean paste, said he sometimes feels like he doesn't live in Japan as Westerners throng the town's streets. Development in Myoko should sustain the region's culture, he said, adding: "We don't want to be another Niseko." ($1 = 149.4600 yen)
