Unseen Japan - Latest Headlines
Living in Japan
March 23, 2025
Recent Popular Posts
Osaka World Expo Plagued By Low Interest, High Food Price Backlash
March 26, 2025
World Expo 2025 is set to open in Osaka in April. However, with less than a month out, the event continues to be plagued by
Japanese Shrine Bans Tourists, Laments “Destruction of Japanese Culture”
March 24, 2025
A beautiful shrine on the island of Tsushima has dropped the ban hammer after what it calls an “unforgivable act of disrespect.”
Tokaido Shinkansen to Add “Half-Private” Luxury Seat Option in 2027
March 19, 2025
JR Tokai says it’s adding even more luxury options to some runs of its critical line between Tokyo and Osaka.
Six Great Book Cafes in Tokyo to While Away Your Time
March 18, 2025
Looking for a space to relax in Tokyo? Check out these not-so-crowded cafes that combine good coffee with a book lover’s aesthetic.
Osaka Street Piano Apologizes For Telling Bad Players to Practice at Home
March 25, 2025
A street piano at an Osaka food court is no more after its management company made it clear it only wanted TikTok-level performances.
A Hokkaido Aquarium Loans Free Baby Strollers. People Are Stealing Them
March 24, 2025
Many netizens are blaming the aquarium for handing out fancy strollers with zero guarantees, such as an address or deposit.
Survey: 52% of Young Japanese Don’t Want Kids
March 21, 2025
Clear majorities say that Japan needs to provide better financial support as well as more flexible working options.
Grave Friends: Lonely Seniors in Japan Vow to Spend Eternity Together
March 14, 2025
As Japan continues both to age and become more single, some senior citizens are looking to one another for comfort in the afterlife.
More Restaurants in Japan Move to Smartphone Menus. Here’s Why Some Customers Hate It
March 22, 2025
It’s not just old people who are grousing. Even young Japanese say they resent restaurants sucking up their battery life and bandwidth.
Japanese Beef Bowl Chain Sukiya Apologizes for Mouse Miso Soup
March 22, 2025
The chain apologized for failing to inform the public about the two-month-old incident, which just went viral in the past few days.
Six Great Book Cafes in Tokyo to While Away Your Time
March 18, 2025
Looking for a space to relax in Tokyo? Check out these not-so-crowded cafes that combine good coffee with a book lover’s aesthetic.
How This Tea Company Connects Small Japanese Producers With Drinkers Worldwide
March 18, 2025
Japan’s traditional tea businesses are struggling. Here’s how one business is helping by connecting them to a global tea-loving audience.
Japan’s Police Get With The Times By Getting Rid of Skirts
March 21, 2025
The move will also remove other small (and silly) gender differences, such as rank insignia being smaller on women’s uniforms.
Fuji TV’s Female Announcers Flee After Nakai Masahiro Scandal
March 19, 2025
The scandal has shaken the faith of many employees – and station insiders say other companies are using the opportunity to poach talent.
Dishwasher Use Remains Low in Japan, Thanks To Sexism
March 17, 2025
Most kitchens in Japan remain too small to fit a dishwasher. Blame the male-dominated real estate industry, says one critic.
Scene of Streamer Mogami Ai’s Murder Defiled as Details of Her Life Emerge
March 16, 2025
The site of a livestreamer, murdered by a man to whom she owed money, has become a scene for angry incels to pay their final disrespects.
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.
“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.
Fuji TV’s Female Announcers Flee After Nakai Masahiro Scandal
March 19, 2025
The scandal has shaken the faith of many employees – and station insiders say other companies are using the opportunity to poach talent.
When Did Japanese Light Novel Titles Become So Insanely Long?
March 11, 2025
Help! I Was Researching This Post About Light Novel Titles When I Got Reincarnated In Another World As Their Strongest Harem Leader!
Japan’s Prince Hisahito is an Otaku Who Loves Light Novels – Including Writing His Own
March 5, 2025
The Japanese prince, second in line to the throne, apparently has a hobby that’ll endear him to many geeks both in Japan and abroad.
Popular Running Barn Owl Pic Memorialized by Japan’s Irasutoya
March 1, 2025
A popular photo has been immortalized as a fun illustration thanks to Japan’s premier free stock illustration site.
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.
Nagoya High Court Rules Lack of Marriage Equality in Japan Unconstitutional
March 8, 2025
It’s the fourth straight ruling for advocates of marriage equality in recent years. The question is: will it lead to change?
Japanese City Will Grant Marriage Support to LGBTQ Couples
February 6, 2025
Ichikawa City in Chiba Prefecture will become the first in Japan to extend a marriage benefits program to sexual and gender minorities.
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.
A Hokkaido Aquarium Loans Free Baby Strollers. People Are Stealing Them
March 24, 2025
Many netizens are blaming the aquarium for handing out fancy strollers with zero guarantees, such as an address or deposit.
Is This Sex Offender Map in Japan Legal?
March 22, 2025
Japan still has no official sexual offender database. Someone just launched one – and experts say it may well be illegal.
Scene of Streamer Mogami Ai’s Murder Defiled as Details of Her Life Emerge
March 16, 2025
The site of a livestreamer, murdered by a man to whom she owed money, has become a scene for angry incels to pay their final disrespects.
Last Chance To Learn All About The Last Yakuza
March 15, 2025
On March 31st, the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan will host a talk by author Jake Adelstein on his book, The Last Yakuza. Learn more, below.
Sakamichi Brewing: Crafting Japanese Beer Culture in Tachikawa
March 10, 2025
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.
Japan’s Costco Resale Shops Struggle to Distinguish Themselves
February 8, 2025
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.
Will Chinese Cabbage Save Japanese Tonkatsu From Rising Prices?
February 6, 2025
High cabbage prices in Japan show no sign of abating. That’s led supermarkets to get desperate. And by “desperate,” we mean relying on China.
“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.
