Essay

When Japan Ruled the Waves: The Forgotten Colonies of Micronesia

July 13, 2020
History, History, Video

How Japan defeated the German Empire in World War I and ruled over Micronesia for three decades - before it all came crashing down.

The Best Book to Learn Japanese

People often ask us what the best book for learning Japanese is. While there are a lot of good ones, this one in particular stands above the rest.

Mayim Mayim: The Hit Hebrew Folk Song of Japan

June 30, 2020
Culture, Featured, Video

How did Mayim Mayim, a song every Jewish kid knows by heart, end up a staple of Japanese society, featured in anime, films, and memes?

Kanno Sugako and Her Daring Revolution

How a writer and socialist revolutionary ended up undertaking a daring plot to take out the Meiji Emperor - and the price she paid for it.

The Lesser-Known Festivals of Japan: Let Loose Edition

A survey of three of Japan's more light-hearted festivals that focus on the less serious subjects of nudity, navels, and nasty words.

Battle Royale: From Dystopian Thriller to Cult Classic

How a book that was first rejected as too dark and too close to current events became a breakaway hit and a movie that gained worldwide attention.

Japanese Writing: Pronunciation Shifts in the Edo Period

How Japanese writing and Japanese written speech differed in the Edo period - and how pronunciation came closer to what's spoken today.

The Lesser-Known Festivals of Japan: Scary Edition

These festivals in Japan may not be as well known as some of their counterparts, but they're guaranteed to send a chill down your spine.

The Feminist Movement in Japan: 1980s to Present

As Japanese feminism entered the modern era, it debated hot button issues such as sex work and domestic violence - and also endured a furious backlash.

Essay

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