Unseen Japan Insider

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[Insider] Why Japan Isn’t Demonstrating Against Foreign Tourists (Yet)

In Spain, they're shooting tourists with water guns. Why aren't we seeing the same level of revolt against tourists in Japan?

[Insider] Why Hasn’t Japan’s Far Right Taken Over The Country?

Japan's far right has been left behind. Is this because of Japan's "unique culture"? Or is there something else going on?

[Insider] What Happened to “The Harajuku of the Plateau”?

It was the home to the father of American Football in Japan. Now, its downtown is largely abandoned. What happened?

[Insider] Japan Reacts to Abe’s Widow Visiting Putin

Abe Akie is a private citizen now. So what was she thinking when she met the man who's led a years-long assault on a sovereign nation?

[Insider] Does Japan Need More Garbage Cans – or Fewer Trashy Tourists?

Would more garbage cans help Japan's growing trash problem? It might - but there may also be other solutions.

[Insider] On Orientalism and Punctuation in the Japanese Language

How a silly post about punctuation led to a wild theory showing that the Orientalization of Japan is far from dead.

[Insider] Could Osaka Expo Go Up in Smoke?

A World Expo. A worrying quantity of methane gas. Nicotine addicts with no place to go. What could possibly go wrong?

[Insider] Will Separate Spousal Surnames Finally Become Law?

A new bill would allow women in Japan to keep their maiden names. Does it stand a snowball's chance in hell of passing?

[Insider] Comedian Attempts to Outrun Sex Assault Accusations

Comedian Matsumoto Hitoshi is betting he can simply ignore the accusations against him and move his career to his own on-demand service. He figures he can abandon Japanese broadcast TV (which is, frankly, dying) and speak directly to his fans instead. Will it work?

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