Japanese Language
Ikezu-Ishi: Are Kyoto’s “Rude Rocks” an Insult, or a Kindness?
Some domestic tourists point to one local custom, the "rude rock," as proof of Kyoto spite. But it isn't even specific to…
Articles by Jay Allen
1,182 articles · Page 4
Japanese Language
Japanese Language
How Higashino Keigo Improved My Japanese
In the wake of the beloved author's death, our author shares how Higashino Keigo's accessible writing made his own Japanese better.
Insider
Japan’s PM Says She Doesn’t Sleep. That’s Gonna Get People Killed.
Japan's PM bragged that she barely sleeps. Why the remark went over like a lead balloon in a country where "death by…
Society
Japan’s “Leg-Hair Harassment” Debate: What English Media Is Missing
Are Japanese women really accusing Japanese men of harassing them in the workplace with their body hair? Here are the facts.
Culture
Why There’s an 11-Meter Goddess Inside This Tokyo Department Store
It's impossible to miss: a soaring goddess ensconced inside a paragon of capitalism. What inspired a sculptor to carve this mysterious figure…
Insider
How “Cool Japan” Ruined Japan’s Cool
Japan could have won big by embracing "Otaku Japan." Instead, it tried to redefine a cool it already had. Here's how it…
Law & Crime
“He’s a Victim Too”: People Defend Japanese Man Convicted of Female Streamer Mogami Ai’s Murder
Takano Ken’ichi stabbed Satō Airi, known online as Mogami Ai, 55 times. A brutal murder. So why are men online defending him?
Travel
“Insta-Pests”: Why A Kyoto Temple Reportedly Banned Kimono-Clad Visitors
The temple's crackdown on visitors wearing flashy clothing isn't aimed just at tourists, but at influencers in general.