Our featured content features a range of topics, from Japanese history to culture, social issues, and learning the Japanese language.
Melonpan, the sweet baked good that delights people across East Asia, was the creation of one Armenian man living in the diaspora in Japan. This is his – and his diaspora’s – story.
How a rebellion by rich girls against their own status became a rollicking fashion phenomenon.
Bombings, battles with the police, hijackings. Read about the Japanese Red Army – the revolutionary group that would shock Japan to its core.
Discover the history of the indigenous Ryukyu people, the culture that inhabited Okinawa before it was ever even a part of Japan.
Want to learn Japanese online? I introduce the methods and apps that will help you read your Japanese language goals.
How the case of Furuta Junko led Japan’s press to break the rules, and citizens to question the country’s juvenile criminal law.
As far as we’re concerned, the more people who can speak Japanese, the better! Here are some in-depth resources to get you started.
From ginger ale honoring shrines to coconut cookies for exam takers, these product names prove that the appeal of bad puns is universal.
Want to learn Japanese online? I introduce the methods and apps that will help you read your Japanese language goals.
Want to watch something from Japan besides anime? Here are your best Japanese TV viewing options – and the pros and cons of each.
Have trouble with your Japanese business etiquette? You’re in good company: a recent Twitter thread highlights how even native speakers struggle with polite Japanese.
People often ask us what the best book for learning Japanese is. While there are a lot of good ones, this one in particular stands above the rest.
Want to learn to speak Japanese? No need to wait to go to Japan – just open your mouth! Here’s how to start speaking NOW from your own home.
Most of our content is free. Our 330+ members get full access to special, in-depth content about Japan that you won’t find anywhere else. You’ll also get other benefits, such as UJ goods and access to member-only events. Click an article to see a short excerpt of what we have to offer. If you’re ready to join, click the Join button at the bottom of an article for immediate access!
Wanna go cashless in Japan? You have options. Almost too many, in fact. Here’s what’s available – for both tourists and residents.
In 1952, a Japanese high schooler bravely revealed the political corruption underway in her home village. Her entire family was Ostracized.
In 1989, Uno Sōsuke burst onto the scene as the new prime minister of Japan. Only 69 days later, he’d resign – and all because of a geisha named Nakanishi Mitsuko.
When the U.S. Civil War broke out in 1861, samurai still ruled Japan. How did the samurai – recently forced into trade with the US and on the cusp of their own war – react?
She was a symbol of prewar prosperity – and controversy. How the “modern girl” of Japan’s roaring 1920s defined a new path for women.
In 1938, a disaffected young man stalked his mountain village, killing dozens of his neighbors. Was the Tsuyama Massacre the first incel mass murder?
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We also maintain a rapidly growing YouTube channel of feature-length videos and live broadcasts where we discuss current issues in Japan. Check out our latest below!
Masuyama Eiko, 88, has passed away. As Fujiko in Lupin III, she voiced one of the most recognizable female anime characters in history.
In the wake of a famous entertainer being accused of harassment, Tokyo-based standup comedian Yuki Nivez discusses the type of comedy she wants to see in the world.
In 1952, a Japanese high schooler bravely revealed the political corruption underway in her home village. Her entire family was Ostracized.
In 1989, Uno Sōsuke burst onto the scene as the new prime minister of Japan. Only 69 days later, he’d resign – and all because of a geisha named Nakanishi Mitsuko.
In 1990, journalist Akiyama Toyohiro became the first Japanese astronaut in space. Too bad he had such a rough time of it.
In 1219, the shogun Minamoto no Sanetomo, samurai lord of all Japan, was slain on the steps of Tsurugaoka Shrine in Kamakura, killed by his own nephew in cold blood. Who was Sanetomo – and why was he assassinated?
The 2024 Shogun TV series stacks up pretty well to history, says a Japanese historian – but the surrounding conversation around “colonialism” is ridiculous.
Kirishima Satoshi, a member of a notorious ’70s terrorist group, may have finally been found after nearly 5 decades in hiding.
Hot springs are a hallmark of Japanese culture. Japan’s oldest onsen is 1300 years old and still going strong. Here’s how Keiunkan in Yamanashi Prefecture has weathered the centuries – and why you should visit.
Is Tokyo a foodie’s paradise? A new survey argues the city is one of the best capital cities in the world for culinary experiences.
Has hostile architecture come to Japan? Social media users decry the rise of benches in Tokyo that seem designed to prevent the one thing a bench was meant to enable: sitting.
Two-tier pricing is trending in Japan. Kyoto isn’t immune, with some stores charging inbound travelers up to $63 for rice and fish.
The major Azabudai Hills development, home to Japan’s new tallest building, opened late last year. What’s it like – and what does it mean for Tokyo?
A restaurant in Tokyo had to close temporarily after its owner ranted on social media about a non-Japanese couple who came to the store.
The weak yen is a big boon to tourists coming to Japan. But for Japanese traveling abroad, it’s forcing them to economize, with some bringing their food with them.
Want to get in some reps but also need to do your laundry AND belt out some karaoke hits? Good news! This gym in Japan’s got you covered.
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