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Going to Japan just because the mood took you? Here’s how to pull together an enjoyable trip quickly and safely.
SASAYA Holdings, which operates multiple restaurants in Osaka and beyond, says it’s taken swift action after the incident went viral.
A couple’s vacation to Hokkaido turned out worse than expected when they got stuck at 1,750 meters elevation in street clothes.
Some bars, coffee shops, and taxi services in Japan are experimenting with tips. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
The city of Nagoya and the 2025 Osaka Expo may be instrumental in reversing a habit that the 1970 Osaka Expo helped popularize.
The existence at Expo of the carbonated barley drink, whose parent company is almost wholly owned by the Church, caused an online backlash.
Many people in their 20s in Japan continue to mask up. However, some say they’re not doing it for health reasons.
Why are single men in Japan unhappier than men in other nations? One writer argues that the unfair expectations placed on women are to blame.
Why is this chain about to close a third of its stores in the Tokyo area? Some fans are blaming its lack of consistency.
It’s not just foreign influencers causing trouble in Japan. Two girls in Osaka are facing charges after going viral for disgusting behavior.
Hiroshi Suzuki, Japan’s ambassador to the UK, caused a stir when he brought together two British tastes that some insist don’t go together.
The Kameido store says it’s “repulsed” watching senior employees trick juniors into eating their 2,000+-calorie large bowls.
Why did Kawasaki police fail to act on nine reports of stalking, doubts from the attacker’s own family, and the suspect’s suspicious behavior?
Tochonika Pepe, age 25, is the proprietress of a long-running kaisendon restaurant – and a TikTok and Instagram sensation.
The city’s Chamber of Commerce has a Leonard DiCaprio Rule for new geisha, saying they can’t be older than 25.
Some women said they waited 40 minutes to get access to facilities at Yoyogi Park during this year’s hanami festivities.
Japan will likely abandon its Kunrei-shiki romanization system that even most of its government doesn’t use.
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.
How about some bubuzuke? A recent event in Kyoto tested people’s ability to pick up on the REAL meaning behind seemingly bland statements.
Gone are the days of “chan” and “kun” in Japanese business. Recent research finds bosses are striking a more respectful tone.
A Japanese cosplayer opened up recently about the slander and threats she received for appearing at Expo as the popular character.
The retailer of manga and anime figures says it won’t allow pre-orders or send shipments to the US until things settle.
Yep, it’s another Conan film – but one that’s entertaining for non-fans while giving fans a deeper look at a recurring character.
Here’s what’s made the Detective Conan series so popular – and the silly things you should ignore to enjoy it.
What happened the last time the famed Mt. Fuji erupted? Learn about the Hoei Eruption, and the great crisis it caused during the Edo era.
Look up in a Japanese city, and you’re likely to see a sky view partly obscured by power lines. Here’s why Japan’s utility lines are more visible than those in other advanced economies.
They’re one of the world’s most important Japanese diaspora groups. Meet the Japanese-Peruvians, and learn their dramatic history.
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.”
It’s the fourth straight ruling for advocates of marriage equality in recent years. The question is: will it lead to change?
Ichikawa City in Chiba Prefecture will become the first in Japan to extend a marriage benefits program to sexual and gender minorities.
The government is still investigating whether same-sex couples in common-law marriages are covered by an additional 130 laws.
The report says 54.2% of school nurses neglect to obtain a student’s permission before sharing their gender or sexuality concerns.
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.
A case in Saga Prefecture tells of a bold new example of “yami-baito” targeting Japan’s infamous (and dwindling) crime families.
The incident puts a spotlight on how police interrogation tactics play a role in Japan’s lauded 99.9% conviction rate.
The conflict has cost over 90 lives in blood-soaked scenes that wouldn’t have been out of place in a Takashi Miike film.
Japan will soon only have a single Cold Stone anywhere in the country. Some are blaming the staff’s habit of breaking out into song.
Some experts say a third release from the country’s reserves might not have any effect and that prices will remain high until autumn.
At long last, the craft beer scene is booming in Tokyo. We sat down with the craft entrepreneurs at Sakamichi Brewing to learn more about the local scene.
There are only 36 Costcos in Japan – but there are nearly three times as many stores whose whole business is reselling the company’s products.
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