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Check Out These Four Unique Japan Cultural Experiences in Early 2026
January 22, 2026
Get away from the over-crowded tourist areas in Japan’s cities this year and enjoy one of these unique cultural experiences.
Shirakawago, a World Heritage Site, Strains Under Record Tourism Numbers
January 12, 2026
The village, which sees a swell of tourists in the winter, wants to remind people it’s a living community, not an open-air museum.
Osaka Ramen Shop Threatens to Ban Chinese Customers After Two-Tier Pricing Dispute
January 10, 2026
Social media users in Japan have accused the store of discrimination and of “embarrassing” Japan with its blatant double pricing.
Japan’s National Museums May Institute Two-Tier Pricing for Inbound Tourists
December 29, 2025
You could pay up to three times more to visit some of Japan’s best museums if their boards heed the government’s call.
Why Japan Hates the New “Bachelor Tax” Aimed at Reversing Population Decline
January 6, 2026
The new levy is intended to secure the country’s future – but some are calling for the agency that instituted it to be dissolved.
Why Foreign Workers Have Become Essential to Japan’s Elderly Care System
January 1, 2026
With a dwindling workforce, Japan is increasingly dependent on foreign workers to care for its rapidly aging population.
80% of Japan’s Singles are Exhausted From Seeking Marriage, Survey Shows
December 16, 2025
As Japan’s population continues to decline, many singles say the pressure to get hitched is taking a toll.
Vaccine Hesitancy Persists in Japan Despite Government Efforts
November 10, 2025
A combination of government missteps and online disinformation has steadily eroded public trust in the life-saving practice.
More Restaurants in Japan Enforce Customer Restrictions Based on Age, Gender
January 25, 2026
No old people. No young people. No babies allowed. Here’s why restaurants in Japan are increasingly setting rules on who can walk in the door.
Report: Nearly 30% of Japan’s Restaurant Managers Work 60-Hour Weeks
October 31, 2025
A new report finds that one-third of all restaurant managers are so busy that they’re at risk of working themselves to death.
Halal Ramen in Tokyo: A Look at the Expanding Scene
October 21, 2025
Wanna enjoy one of Japan’s signature dishes but still stay halal? These five shops in Tokyo serve noodles without the pork and booze.
Why Japan’s Combini Can’t Beat Mister Donut
October 16, 2025
Mister Donut is facing fierce competition from the likes of 7-Eleven and Krispy Kreme. Here’s why it remains Japan’s top donut choice.
Japan (Finally) Makes Morning-After Pill Available Over the Counter Nationwide
February 3, 2026
The approval process was long, taking three years from a trial run until approval of sale nationwide without a prescription.
Japan’s New Guidelines for Women’s Toilets Have Men Online Hopping Mad
January 21, 2026
The country will recommend buildings provide more facilities for women than men, bringing Japan closer to international standards.
Japan’s Prime Minister Avoids Challenging Sumo’s Gendered Ring Ban
January 19, 2026
Takaichi Sanae sidestepped an issue that would likely have caused a row amongst her right-wing supporters.
Japanese Mom’s Post “Quitting” Motherhood Ignites Social Media Debate
November 17, 2025
Many called the woman a bad mother and even an evil human being. But other overworked Japanese mothers sympathized.
These Are the Hardest Japanese Place Names to Read – Even for Native Speakers
September 1, 2025
Can you pronounce these difficult Japanese place names? If not, don’t feel bad: most native speakers can’t either!
Japan Prepares Official Hepburn Romanization Switch, Changing 70-Year Tradition
March 11, 2025
Japan will likely abandon its Kunrei-shiki romanization system that even most of its government doesn’t use.
Giccho?! Here Are Some Dead Japanese Words That Only Old Folks Use
March 9, 2025
You may still hear these words or see them in print – but you won’t hear them come from the mouth of a young person.
Event in Kyoto Celebrates Area’s “Culture of Unkindness”
January 29, 2025
How about some bubuzuke? A recent event in Kyoto tested people’s ability to pick up on the REAL meaning behind seemingly bland statements.
How an AI Manga Became a Bestseller on Japan’s Largest e-Book Store
January 8, 2026
How did a fully AI-generated manga hit number one in Japan? And what does its success portend for the future of the industry?
Real-Life Love Live!: Japanese High School To Start Official School Idol Club
November 6, 2025
Nagano Nichidai High School even says it’ll fast-track non-students for matriculation if they’re accepted into the club.
Japanese Idol Fired After Alleged Boyfriend’s Picture Caught in Cup’s Reflection
November 6, 2025
The controversy renews the debate around the implied (and, sometimes, contractual) rule that idols don’t deserve a personal life.
Japan’s Latest Hit Capsule Toy Is Random People
October 31, 2025
The photos of random government IDs are the latest in a long line of offbeat collectibles that span the toy’s 60-year history.
Shinjuku: The Birth of Kabukicho
January 12, 2026
How Kabukicho, Japan’s biggest red light district, arose from the ashes of post-war Japan.
Shinjuku: The History and Origins of the World’s Biggest Nightlife District
January 12, 2026
The world’s largest nightlife district, Shinjuku is nearly synonymous with Tokyo itself – yet wasn’t even part of old Tokyo. Where do Shinjuku’s origins lay?
The War of Brides and Babies: Behind Japan’s “Anti-Communist” Mixed-Race Baby Boom
November 12, 2025
How the Red Cross and other organizations used war brides and the adoption of mixed-race children to fight the Cold War.
Shinjuku’s Moulin Rouge: The Theater That Danced Through War and Censorship
October 6, 2025
Japanese imperial authorities frequently raided it and censored its scripts. Despite this, the women at the Shinjuku Moulin Rouge danced on.
Small City, Big Pride: Japanese Prefecture Gets Its First Pride Parade
February 1, 2026
The parade in Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture, shows how Japan’s LGBTQ+ citizens are committed to raising awareness in smaller cities and towns.
LGBTQ People, Advocates Ask Japan’s Politicians to Legalize Marriage Equality Swiftly
December 17, 2025
After a bitter court loss, LGBTQ people in Japan continue pressing politicians for fast action.
Surprise, Anger, and Frustration as Tokyo’s High Court Rules Against Marriage Equality
November 30, 2025
Supporters of marriage equality in Japan were met with an unexpected setback after a series of affirmative rulings.
Sanseitō Rep Likens Being Transgender to a “Contagious” Disease
September 16, 2025
Wada Keiko further stated she believed transgender people needed medical treatment instead of accommodation and understanding.
Couple Die in Tokyo Sauna Fire After Door Breaks, Emergency System Left Off
December 23, 2025
Japanese social media users were aghast at reports of the deaths, which raised serious questions about how the facility managed safety.
Child Sex Tourism to Laos from Japan Booms, Driven By Social Media
September 14, 2025
Japanese men are flocking to Laos to participate in the heinous practice. Some who live in Laos are even conducting tours.
Trouble in TOKIO: Another Sexual Harassment Scandal Rocks Japanese TV
June 22, 2025
Following in the wake of the Nakai Masahiro scandal, another pop/TV star stands accused of multiple acts of harassment against staff.
The Host Is Toast: Japan Approves Law To Crack Down On Host Club Hustlers
May 22, 2025
Hosts, Japan’s grey zone version of aggressive gigolos, are about to find themselves in serious trouble. The predatory practices of these good looking guys with too much hair gel are now punishable by law.
Kanagawa Prefecture Considers Four-Day Workweek for All Government Staff
December 10, 2025
The prefecture is the latest in a string of local governments and private companies in Japan experimenting with flexible schedules.
Is Japan Poor? Combini’s New “Rice and Sauce” Dish Sparks Social Media Debate
November 22, 2025
Is Lawson Store 100’s new dish a sign of Japan’s dire economic straits? Or is it just responding to consumer demand?
Double-Edged Harmony: What “Hōrensō” Reveals About Japanese Work Culture
November 5, 2025
Japan’s famous “hōrensō” work mantra promises harmony and trust. Its roots reveal a system that also silences and protects power.
Japan Shopping Giant Mercari Eyes the Global Market With New App
October 10, 2025
Japan’s most popular online marketplace is only available in a handful of other countries. That’s all about to change.
