Gaia Series 79: Hometown Tax Payment ‟Summit Battle"!

This week’s episode takes a closer look at how Japan’s hometown tax system is evolving amid new regulations and local adaptations. A longstanding tradition in Japan, the hometown tax system, which allows taxpayers to donate to regional municipalities in exchange for tax deductions and local gifts, has seen a surgeContinue Reading

Gaia Series 79: Hometown Tax Payment ‟Summit Battle"!

This week’s episode takes a closer look at how Japan’s hometown tax system is evolving amid new regulations and local adaptations. A longstanding tradition in Japan, the hometown tax system, which allows taxpayers to donate to regional municipalities in exchange for tax deductions and local gifts, has seen a surgeContinue Reading

Gaia Series 78: Shimbashi, Tokyo - The Sacred Place Of Salarymen Is Changing

This week’s episode spotlights a historic hub for Tokyo’s working-class culture at a crossroads as redevelopment plans stall and new projects reshape the area. A historic hub for Tokyo’s working-class culture, Shinbashi is undergoing a transformation that could reshape its identity forever. Once a bustling gathering place for salarymen lookingContinue Reading

Gaia Series 76: The Ambition of the East and West "Hot Spring King"!

A high-stakes merger sees Japan’s top onsen hotel chains blend operations and traditions to bring new experiences for locals and tourists alike. Shirahama Town in Wakayama Prefecture, a famed hot spring destination, witnesses the grand reopening of TAOYA Shirahama Senjo. On November 1, with fresh floral decorations adorning its entranceContinue Reading