Youtube Discord
UNSEEN JAPAN

Essay

Governor Minobe Ryokichi stands behind a podium in a black and white photograph

When Tokyo was Socialist: The Story of Governor Minobe

Japan is often described as a one-party, conservative state - and yet, for over a decade, a highly popular socialist led the government of Tokyo. Meet Governor Minobe.
Lawson - combini in Japan

Combini: Japanese Convenience Stores and Life in Modern Japan

Convenience stores ("combini") in Japan are everywhere. But what do people use them for? A look at combini and everyday life in Japan.
Drawing of two business people without facial details - a man (left) and woman (right) - bowing.

The Myth of Japanese Indirectness and “Subtlety”

Stereotypes of Japan as a land of vague meaning and blunted expression are just straight up Orientalism that obscure a complex reality.
Thorns and roses - Thorn Puller

Review: Poetry and Prose Dance in Ito Hiromi’s The Thorn Puller

Ito Hiromi's The Thorn Puller tackles subjects like aging, death, and suffering while also illuminating the bittersweet joy of being alive.
A samurai family sits to a meal, with one child saying "mama, papa" in katakana words within a word bubble.

Mama, Papa: How the Japanese Words for Parents Lost Out to English

"Mama" and "papa" are such ubiquitous parental terms in Japan that it's easy to forget they're foreign words - words the government once tried to ban.
Kitamura Harue

Kitamura Harue: The Legacy of Japan’s First Female Mayor

A look at the life of Japan's first female mayor, Harue Kitamura, and the legacy she left behind for aspiring women in politics.
A scenic view of Meiji Mura buildings near a stone stairwell, fringed on either side by lush greenery.

Meiji Mura: A Journey to Japan’s Modern Past

In Japan, the recent past is often obscured beneath endless concrete. Meiji Mura is one of the few places to discover the atmosphere of modernizing, turn-of-the-century Japan.
Sendai Tanabata decorations hanging from a sign in a covered shopping area.

Tanabata in Sendai: An Old-School Star Festival

Tanabata is one of Japan's most famous holidays. In northern Sendai, however, it's a little extra special. Discover the story of one of Japan's greatest festivals.
A faded image from Meiji Japan featuring the Asakusa Twelve Stories, also known as the Ryounkaku

The Disappearance of Meiji: Why it’s Hard to Find Tokyo’s Recent Past

In Tokyo, the recent past is often obscured beneath endless concrete. Take a journey through the city's history to discover why.

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