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May 21, 2025
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Last-Minute Japan Travel Guide: Stress-Free Planning and Accommodation Tips
May 21, 2025
Going to Japan just because the mood took you? Here’s how to pull together an enjoyable trip quickly and safely.
Japanese Restaurant Chain Apologizes For “No Chinese” Sign, Closes Store
May 14, 2025
SASAYA Holdings, which operates multiple restaurants in Osaka and beyond, says it’s taken swift action after the incident went viral.
UK Couple Rescued From Hokkaido Mountain in T-Shirts, Shorts
May 14, 2025
A couple’s vacation to Hokkaido turned out worse than expected when they got stuck at 1,750 meters elevation in street clothes.
Some Restaurants in Japan Set Up Tip Boxes For Confused Tourists
May 13, 2025
Some bars, coffee shops, and taxi services in Japan are experimenting with tips. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Will Japan (Finally) Start Standing on Both Sides of The Escalator?
May 14, 2025
The city of Nagoya and the 2025 Osaka Expo may be instrumental in reversing a habit that the 1970 Osaka Expo helped popularize.
Osaka Expo Shop Stops Sale of Drink Tied to Controversial Unification Church
May 13, 2025
The existence at Expo of the carbonated barley drink, whose parent company is almost wholly owned by the Church, caused an online backlash.
Mask Generation: The Unusual Reason Japan’s Young Continue to Mask Up
May 4, 2025
Many people in their 20s in Japan continue to mask up. However, some say they’re not doing it for health reasons.
Why Japan’s Single Men Are The Unhappiest In The World
May 1, 2025
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.
Is This Ramen Chain Closing Stores Because It Sucks?
May 16, 2025
Why is this chain about to close a third of its stores in the Tokyo area? Some fans are blaming its lack of consistency.
Japanese Girls Charged Over “Food Terrorism” at a Sukiya
May 15, 2025
It’s not just foreign influencers causing trouble in Japan. Two girls in Osaka are facing charges after going viral for disgusting behavior.
Japan’s Teaboo UK Ambassador Gets Grilled Over Crumpet Topping
May 5, 2025
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.
Jirō Ramen Asks Customers to Stop “Jirō Harassment” of New Employees
April 21, 2025
The Kameido store says it’s “repulsed” watching senior employees trick juniors into eating their 2,000+-calorie large bowls.
Murdered Woman in Japan Reported Ex Nine Times for Stalking
May 7, 2025
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?
Tattooed Sashimi Chef Inherits Japanese Restaurant, Overcomes Hate Over Appearance
May 1, 2025
Tochonika Pepe, age 25, is the proprietress of a long-running kaisendon restaurant – and a TikTok and Instagram sensation.
Japanese Business Org Only Wants Geisha Under 25 Because Men Like ‘Em Young
April 13, 2025
The city’s Chamber of Commerce has a Leonard DiCaprio Rule for new geisha, saying they can’t be older than 25.
Patriarchy Strikes Again: Women Wait Forever for Toilets at Cherry Blossom Viewing
April 10, 2025
Some women said they waited 40 minutes to get access to facilities at Yoyogi Park during this year’s hanami festivities.
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.
Why a Marcille Cosplay at Osaka Expo Resulted in Death Threats
May 18, 2025
A Japanese cosplayer opened up recently about the slander and threats she received for appearing at Expo as the popular character.
Otaku Apocalypse: Good Smile Restricts US Purchases Amidst Trump Tariff Chaos
April 24, 2025
The retailer of manga and anime figures says it won’t allow pre-orders or send shipments to the US until things settle.
Review: Detective Conan – One-Eyed Flashback Is What You Want From a Conan Flick
April 20, 2025
Yep, it’s another Conan film – but one that’s entertaining for non-fans while giving fans a deeper look at a recurring character.
Detective Conan: What Makes Japan’s Popular Anime Fun – and Patently Ridiculous
April 20, 2025
Here’s what’s made the Detective Conan series so popular – and the silly things you should ignore to enjoy it.
The Last Time Mt. Fuji Erupted… And What Might Happen Next
May 20, 2025
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.
What’s With the Chaos of Japanese Power Lines?
April 11, 2025
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.
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.”
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.
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.
Bold “Dark Part-Time” Thieves in Japan Are Now Stealing From Yakuza
April 17, 2025
A case in Saga Prefecture tells of a bold new example of “yami-baito” targeting Japan’s infamous (and dwindling) crime families.
Hyogo Police Compelled 12-Year-Old Girl to Confess to False Report
April 10, 2025
The incident puts a spotlight on how police interrogation tactics play a role in Japan’s lauded 99.9% conviction rate.
The Great Yakuza War is Over! (Maybe)
April 9, 2025
The conflict has cost over 90 lives in blood-soaked scenes that wouldn’t have been out of place in a Takashi Miike film.
Cold Stone Creamery May Disappear From Japan. Is It Because of The Singing?
April 18, 2025
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.
Japanese Consumers Groan As Rice Prices Just Keep Climbing
April 8, 2025
Some experts say a third release from the country’s reserves might not have any effect and that prices will remain high until autumn.
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.
