JAPANESE LANGUAGE
Japanese Social Media Auto-Translation: a Blessing, or a Curse?
Is auto-translation on Japanese social media breaking language barriers or creating new problems? We look at the illusion of certainty and its…
News
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
TRAVEL
Tokyo Overhauls Lodging Tax as Accommodation Fees Spread Across Japan
Most inbound tourists won't notice it, but the increase will enable Tokyo to better accommodate the rising wave of travelers.
WOMEN
“Masquerade Couples”: Why Partners in Japan Would Rather Stay Silent Than Get Divorced
One Japanese couple has barely spoken to one another in four years. But they refuse to divorce. How Japan encourages these so-called…
RACE IN JAPAN
Award-Winning Author Yu Miri Harassed Online After Criticizing Japanese Government
Yu Miri is one of Japan's most celebrated authors. Yet some feel that, due to her background, she has no right to…
TRAVEL
MUJI Opens “Anti-Tourism” Hotel in Busiest Tourist Location in Kyoto
MUJI's latest BASE hotel pitches itself as "anti-tourism." So why is it in one of the most heavily touristed parts of Japan?
TRAVEL
Japan Just Made Visiting More Expensive: Departure Tax, Visa Fees Jump
On the same day that departure tax and visa fees for travelers went up, passport application fees for Japanese nationals went down.
CULTURE
Japan’s New “Maid School” Trains Professionals for the Mansion, Not the Maid Cafe
Forget maid cafés. Japan Maid School is training professionals for luxury private homes, focusing on housekeeping, etiquette, and discretion.
SOCIETY
Japan’s Hikikomori “80/50” Crisis is Putting a Strain on Elderly Parents
Japan coined the word "hikikomori" for its withdrawn young people. But its reclusive population has quietly aged.