Japanese Language
Japanese Social Media Auto-Translation: a Blessing, or a Curse?
Is auto-translation on Japanese social media breaking language barriers or creating new problems? We look at the illusion of certainty and its…
Articles by K. Lou
64 articles · Page 4
Japanese Language
Women
“Masquerade Couples”: Why Partners in Japan Would Rather Stay Silent Than Get Divorced
One Japanese couple has barely spoken to one another in four years. But they refuse to divorce. How Japan encourages these so-called…
Travel
Japan Just Made Visiting More Expensive: Departure Tax, Visa Fees Jump
On the same day that departure tax and visa fees for travelers went up, passport application fees for Japanese nationals went down.
Culture
Japan’s New “Maid School” Trains Professionals for the Mansion, Not the Maid Cafe
Forget maid cafés. Japan Maid School is training professionals for luxury private homes, focusing on housekeeping, etiquette, and discretion.
Society
Japan’s Hikikomori “80/50” Crisis is Putting a Strain on Elderly Parents
Japan coined the word "hikikomori" for its withdrawn young people. But its reclusive population has quietly aged.
Business and Economy
Genericide, Japan Edition: How Japan’s Famous Names Slipped Into Common Speech
Like escalator and aspirin, Japan has its own list of trademarks that have succumbed to popular usage. But while some companies aggressively…
Travel
How Much Does a Private Guide in Japan Cost?
What does a private guide in Japan actually cost? Here's what you need to know and how to evaluate different types of…
Women
Why Japan’s Kyushu Got Labeled The Country’s Most Sexist Region
In early 2025, the net slang “sasu-kyū” branded Japan’s Kyushu its most male-dominated region. When Japanese gender experts and critics dug in,…