Unseen Japan Insider

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[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?

[Insider] “Uterine Love” – Or, “What Did I Just Watch?!”

Based on the manga series by artist Sasae Noriko, Uterine Love takes a…unique approach to describing the locus of a burgeoning love. Many who watch the key scenes have the same reaction: What the actual fuck did I just witness?

[Insider] Free Money…Or Tax Cuts?

Will Japan hand out free money again to offset the effect of Trump's tariffs? Here's why many aren't keen on the idea.

[Insider] Who is “Celebrity U”?

As the Nakai Masahiro scandal comes to a conclusion, there’s one offender still unidentified. Here's what we know about him.

[Insider] Is Japanese rice now cheaper in the US? And why?!

One X user who lives in the US reported that she found Toyama Prefecture-manufactured rice in a local US store selling for $19.99. In Japan, it's currently about twice that.

[Insider] Why Supermodel Rola’s Kanji Has Some Fans Worried

Supermodel Rola recently came out with a big announcement - but it's her kanji that has some fans worried for her.

[Insider] This Conservative Proved Too Chinese For Japan’s Racist Right

One conservative commentator wanted to run for public office in Japan - but was just too darn Chinese for the Japanese right wing's liking.

[Insider] Why Did The Nakai Masahiro Scandal Blow Up?

Why did the Nakai Masahiro scandal become so big when previous celebrity sexual assaults in Japan had been swept under the rug?