Global warming often brings to mind its most extreme and dangerous effects. Many of us rightfully think of deadly heatwaves and rising seawater levels. Yet climate change also causes other problems that are more subtle but still damaging. Japanese...
Communal dining, or community kitchen, provides cheap and delicious meals in a relaxed environment where you share a table with people you meet for the first time. It gives you a chance to get to know new people (especially the locals) and an...
On the way to the interview, I was surprised to see so many shops with closed shutters in the city. Even for a weekday, the sight is often reserved for distant rural areas. But that impression was reversed nearing the location of “Waiwai...
Coastal cities are vulnerable to rising sea levels, making cities prone to flooding and storm surges. However, approximately a fifth of Japan’s population lives in low-lying coastal urban centers. Coupled with ever-more devastating typhoons and...
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Pacific and Caribbean are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of ongoing environmental threats. Rising sea levels and extreme weather events there are severe issues. For example, if climate change...
The term climate change refers to a significant long-term variation in the regional or global average of weather conditions. These include temperature, humidity and rainfall patterns. It also refers to the effects of Earth’s warming, such as rising...
Work as a narrator is difficult for visually impaired people, even if they had the talent. There are several hurdles they have to overcome. However, three sisters—Yukari Aramaki, Kotone Chen and Taki Miyagi—who have blind parents, stood up to these...
Climate change is a crisis that we are experiencing now, and it will only get worse in the future if action is not taken. We are already seeing a global increase in extreme weather such as heatwaves and severe storms. While not every instance of...
The world has a plastic problem. Did you know that the world produces more than 380 million tonnes of plastic each year? Most plastics are not biodegradable, and its excessive production has impacted the environment in many ways, such as pollution...
The outbreak of COVID-19 had numerous effects on our daily life, workstyle and well-being. During quarantine, many businesses in Japan implemented a work-from-home policy. It brought about change in lifestyles since commuting time has become free...