Unseen Japan - Latest Headlines
Business and Economy
January 22, 2025
Law & Crime
January 22, 2025
Recent Popular Posts
Is Tokyo a Top Digital Nomad Destination for Winter?
January 23, 2025
Looking to work remotely as the winter trudges on? A new report names Tokyo as a prime location for digital nomads seeking an escape.
Tourist in Hokkaido Killed by Train While Trying to Take Picture
January 23, 2025
The location near Asari Station in Otaru has become a famous “hidden” tourist spot, especially among Chinese travelers.
I Bought Something from Akihabara’s “Cursed” Vending Machines
January 22, 2025
There’s still a lot of fun stuff to see and do in Akihabara. Then there are the vending machines selling oden, bugs, and even an old phone.
LUUP Suspends User Who Rode E-Scooter Onto Tokyo Highway
January 21, 2025
The Japanese e-scooter company is once again asking you not to take their devices on the expressway, you stupid *!&@ing idiots.
Kanagawa Police Stop Issuing Skirts to Female Officers
January 15, 2025
A sexist symbol of Japan’s past is no more: As of February 2025, Kanagawa Police say new female recruits will only receive slacks.
Tokyo May Fund Study Abroad to Counteract Weak Yen
January 13, 2025
The plan is coming under fire from some who say such programs should be spearheaded by the central government to benefit all of Japan.
Muslim Cemetery in Miyagi Prefecture Will Proceed Despite Resistance
January 12, 2025
The prefecture has received 400 objections to the proposed cemetery, which would be the 11th in the country.
Sexually Explicit Online Ads Are Rampant in Japan. Some Have Had Enough
January 12, 2025
The sexually explicit ads – some featuring scenes of sexual assault – often appear on aggregation and gaming sites that cater to kids.
Kinoko, Takenoko to Get Smaller as Shrinkflation Continues to Terrorize Japan
January 18, 2025
Are you a Kinoko no Yama fan or a Takenoko no Sato fan? It doesn’t matter – either way, you’re gonna get less than what you paid for.
Shiseido Parlour’s Valentine’s Day Parfaits are Works of Art
January 13, 2025
Looking for a Valentine’s Day date spot in Tokyo or Kawasaki? Shiseido Parlour’s upping the ante with its two V-Day parfaits.
Why This US Sushi Restaurant Ad Makes Japanese People Scream
January 10, 2025
A sushi restaurant in the US wanted to promote a “date night” feel for their store – and ended up promoting a Japanese chopsticks faux pas.
Mister Donut Renews Beautiful Collab with Chocolatier Pierre Marcolini
January 8, 2025
Ready to get your fancy donut on? Check out the new collaboration between the famous donut chain and the famous chocolatier.
Japanese Man Arrested for Infrared Camera Pics of Underage Swimmers
January 17, 2025
The arrest is part of a larger disturbing trend in which men attempt to take “see-through” shots of female athletes.
Japanese Police Increase Anti-Molestation Patrols Ahead of Exam Day
January 16, 2025
Tokyo Police say they’re taking action as social media users continue to brag about committing crimes as female students rush to exams.
Men Vastly Outnumber Women on Okinawa’s Outlying Islands
January 5, 2025
You’ll find a lot of natural beauty on Okinawa’s outlying islands. There’s something that’s harder to find, however: women.
As Japan’s Population Shrinks, More Traditional Festivals Let Women In
December 30, 2024
Japan’s aging and declining population, coupled with a flight to cities, is leading many festivals to re-examine old prejudices.
“Employee-San”: Why Japan’s Managers Are Shifting to Honorifics for Their Staff
January 22, 2025
Gone are the days of “chan” and “kun” in Japanese business. Recent research finds bosses are striking a more respectful tone.
Review: Native Camp – Take Unlimited, On Demand Japanese Lessons
January 17, 2025
Need more Japanese practice? This service offers on-demand access to native Japanese speakers – but it’ll cost ya.
I Tried AI for Japanese Speaking Practice – Here’s What I Learned
January 11, 2025
People keep telling me AI chatbots are the future of Japanese language learning. So I tried a few. Here’s why they’re wrong.
How to Ditch Duolingo and Actually Learn Japanese
January 5, 2025
Want an alternative to Duolingo now that they’re firing workers and resorting to AI slop? Here’s a much better way to study Japanese.
Fuji TV Loses Over 50 Advertisers Over Nakai Masahiro Scandal
January 20, 2025
Will Fuji TV disappear from Japan’s airwaves? That’s what some are wondering as the company loses most of its sponsors.
As Nakai Masahiro Scandal Grows, Fuji TV Promises Investigation at Closed-Door Presser
January 17, 2025
The president of Fuji TV held what may be the world’s most cowardly press conference, forbidding it from being streamed live or rebroadcast.
Bleeding Cash, NHK to Collect “Internet Only” License Fee
January 11, 2025
The station reported a loss for the third year running. To help plug the hole, it says it plans to collect fees from residents without TVs.
After Drunken Home Invasion, Japanese Actor Loses Beer Commercial Contract
January 7, 2025
Actor Yoshizawa Ryo is out of a contract with Asahi Beer after drunkenly wandering into an apartment that wasn’t his.
The Story of the Japanese Peruvians
November 20, 2024
They’re one of the world’s most important Japanese diaspora groups. Meet the Japanese-Peruvians, and learn their dramatic history.
Iboshi Hokuto: The Legacy of the Ainu Poet-Activist
October 27, 2024
Spurred by colonialist propaganda that called his people “a dying race,” Iboshi Hokuto spent his short life in service to his belief that “only the Ainu could save the Ainu.”
Haniwa! New Exhibit Showcases Japan Before It Became Japan
October 26, 2024
Want a rare peak into Japan’s pre-history? An expanded exhibit at Tokyo National Museum is celebrating Haniwa, funerary statues from the country’s Kofun Era, bringing some rare pieces together under the same roof for the first time.
Akiyama Toyohiro: The Japanese Astronaut Who Hated Space
September 1, 2024
In 1990, journalist Akiyama Toyohiro became the first Japanese astronaut in space. Too bad he had such a rough time of it.
Japan Recognizes 24 Laws That Cover LGBTQ Couples
January 21, 2025
The government is still investigating whether same-sex couples in common-law marriages are covered by an additional 130 laws.
Report Finds Half of School Nurses Rat Out LGBTQ Students to School
January 12, 2025
The report says 54.2% of school nurses neglect to obtain a student’s permission before sharing their gender or sexuality concerns.
Votes Exist to Pass Marriage Equality in Japan: Report
December 15, 2024
Could marriage equality finally pass in Japan? A ruling from the Fukuoka High Court last week is putting pressure on legislators to act. Now, one report says that there may be enough votes in the House of Representatives to make it happen.
Japanese Nonbinary Person Asks Court to Change Their Family Registry
December 13, 2024
A Kyoto resident is asking a court to allow them to update their family registry to reflect their nonbinary gender identity. The petition asks to change the listing on their registry from “eldest daughter” to the gender-neutral “first child.”
Tokyo Man Reportedly Catfished Men as a High School Girl to Extort Them
January 22, 2025
He met them on a dating app. He maintains he didn’t want money, though – only to teach the men a lesson.
Police: Doctor in Japan Pulls Icepick on Coughing Man on Train
January 19, 2025
The 59-year-old doctor from Yokozuka denies telling a soldier he’d kill him if he didn’t stop hacking up a lung.
Japan Begins Compensating Victims of Its Former Eugenics Law
January 18, 2025
After years of legal struggle, victims of Japan’s forced sterilization practices will receive financial recompense from the government.
Report: 20 Japanese People May Be Held By Myanmar-Based Scammers
January 16, 2025
A Chinese-led group is reportedly forcing people from multiple countries – including Japan – to run scams on its behalf.
“Employee-San”: Why Japan’s Managers Are Shifting to Honorifics for Their Staff
January 22, 2025
Gone are the days of “chan” and “kun” in Japanese business. Recent research finds bosses are striking a more respectful tone.
Is 7-11 Becoming Japan’s Worst Combini?
January 7, 2025
7-11 Japan say a new discount campaign is winning back customers. But many say the chain’s offerings are still a raw deal.
Why This Bookstore in Tokyo is Charging Admission
December 26, 2024
Would you pay to shop in a bookstore? Many in Japan would. Here’s why Bunkitsu and other admission-based bookstores are booming.
Half of Japanese Businesses Say 1500 Yen Hourly Wage “Impossible”
December 17, 2024
Prices continue to climb in Japan while wages remain stagnant, putting many in a rough spot. The government says it wants to raise the minimum wage to 1500 yen (USD $9.80) by the 2030s. However, in a survey, nearly half of businesses said they can’t afford that.
