Youtube Discord
UNSEEN JAPAN

Day:

Kuroyanagi Tetsuko

Kuroyanagi Tetsuko: Japan’s Queen of TV Talent

An institution in Japan, Kuroyanagi Tetsuko has been on Japanese TV for as long as it's existed. But her beginnings were less promising.
Akutagawa Prize Winners

Inside the Akutagawa Prize, Japan’s Biggest Literary Award

The Akutagawa Prize has made the career of many up-and-coming Japanese writers - but it's not without its controversies. Learn more about Japan's prize for new novelists.
Traffic cone strapped to bench in Nakai

Bad Benches: Shinjuku Uses Hostile Architecture Against Street Drinking

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.
The Boyfriend on Netflix

The Boyfriend: Japan’s First Same-Sex Dating Reality Show’s A Global Hit

Critics worldwide are hailing Japan's The Boyfriend as great TV - and LGBTQ advocates say it's just the message that Japan needs right now.
Hokkaido Two Tier Pricing

Hokkaido Urges Businesses to Adopt Two-Tier Pricing for Travelers

Hokkaido joins the call for two-tier pricing for tourism in Japan, calling on businesses to give prefectural residents a discount.
Various products meant to help cool one off during the hot Japanese summer superimposed in front of a thermometer and a bright sun.

Do These Summer Heat-Beating Japanese Products Actually Work?

Japan has a slew of products on shelves aimed at dealing with the intense summer heat. Are they worth it?

Before You Go...

Let’s stay in touch. Get our free newsletter to get a weekly update on our best stories (all human-generated, we promise). You’ll also help keep UJ independent of Google and the social media giants.

Want a preview? Read our archives.

Read our privacy policy