WOMEN
An Ex-Gyaru Built Share Houses for the Single Mothers Japan’s Landlords Won’t Take
Japan's rental market can be tough on single mothers. Meet the former gyaru building share houses for families that landlords often turn…
News
WOMEN
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
Keigo Overload? Why Being TOO Polite in Japanese Can Backfire
Why some Japanese people are tired of hearing "sasete itadakimasu": changing attitudes toward keigo and the backlash against over-politeness.
SOCIETY
In Japan, Parents Attend Matchmaking Events to Get Their Kids Hitched
Dairi konkatsu, or proxy marriage hunting, seems to be a modern twist on the old omiai tradition. But how well does it…
RACE IN JAPAN
Why French and Japanese X Users Declared War On Each Other
The riots in France somehow devolved into a nasty spat between the two nations on social media. Here's how it went down.
WOMEN
Butsukari Ojisan: The Misogynistic Japanese Men Who Love Assaulting Women
Some Japanese men hate their lives so much that they've taken to body-checking random women to let off steam.
FOOD
Vegetarian in Japan? Watch Out for the Fish Stock
While Japanese cuisine might seem vegetarian-friendly on the surface, one of its most common seasonings is fish-based and hard to spot.
TRAVEL
Overwhelmed Tourist Spot in Japan Closes After Only One Week
Exactly what caused this crater lake destination to close down after just one week? In a nutshell, operational difficulties.
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
Why Are Fewer Japanese Men Calling Themselves “Ore”?
Japan’s masculine pronoun “ore” doesn't have the juice it used to. Instead, men are choosing boku, watashi, and jibun in everyday life.