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May 15, 2024

A Brief History of the Meikyoku Kissa

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Meikyoku kissas (名曲喫茶), or “classical music cafés,” are a distinctive part of Japanese culture, particularly in Tokyo. These establishments emerged in the early 20th century and provided a unique space for music enthusiasts to enjoy classical music in a café setting.

Heralded kissas like Lion Cafe have been garnering media and tourist attention as of late, with some calling it Tokyo’s “worst best kept secret.”

A brief history of these wonderfully unique establishments may help contextualize why they are so revered by enthusiasts and regulars, yet also so often misunderstood by non-Japanese visitors.

 

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April 29, 2024

OpenAI Opens First Asia Office in Tokyo

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OpenAI continued its push for greater global market share and major influence today as it opened its first Asia office in Tokyo and unveiled a Japanese GPT-4 model.

The Microsoft-backed company is “committed to collaborating with the Japanese government, local businesses, and research institutions to develop safe AI tools that serve Japan’s unique needs and to unlock new opportunities.” Read more

 
March 6, 2024

Uber Eats Launches Robots in Tokyo

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Uber Eats has announced its plans to launch food delivery using self-driving robots in select parts of Tokyo starting this Wednesday. The company anticipates that this service will help alleviate staff shortages.

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December 24, 2023

A Non-Traditional Christmas Movie, Tokyo Style

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You could lazily stream a set-it-and-forget-it classic Christmas movie marathon, as most do during this yule time stretch.

Or, you could check out Satoshi Kon’s Tokyo Godfathers for a change. It stars an atypical cast of “heroes” that go through all kinds of misadventures while wrestling with the holiday spirit.

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November 15, 2023

Shinji Ohmaki: Interface of Being

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Shinji Ohmaki is known for creating large-scale installations that inquire into the nature of being and disrupt the somatic senses of viewers.

He has presented these ambitious works to high acclaim not only in Japan but also in many other countries across Asia and Europe.

The National Art Center, Tokyo is presenting Interface of Being, a solo exhibition of installations reflecting Ohmaki’s deepening psychological exploration. The exhibition is scheduled to present new works rooted in fundamental questions surrounding our reasons for living.

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November 10, 2023

U.S. Airlines Propose New Direct Flight Service to Tokyo

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Editorial Staff

In the intricate dance of international aviation, securing slots at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport is no simple feat for U.S. airlines. The meticulous control exercised by Japanese authorities over takeoff and landing permissions for long-haul flights at Haneda adds an additional layer of complexity.

Back in 2019, a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Transportation and Japanese authorities resulted in the allocation of extra slots at Haneda to select domestic carriers. These allocations, however, came with a ‘use-it-or-lose-it’ stipulation, temporarily relaxed during the pandemic but now a thing of the past as of last month.

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