Culture

First-Ever Lawsuit Challenges Harassment in Japan’s Rakugo World

Is it education - or workplace harassment? In the first ever lawsuit of its kind, an apprentice rakugo performer has successfully sued his mentor over verbal and physical assault.

Matchmaking Party Promoted by Tokyo Rejects Disabled Man

A matchmaking party advertised by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government rejected a man with a mild disability because he wasn't "healthy." Is Tokyo's zeal for promoting marriage coming at the cost of equality?

The Scary Reasons Purikura Booths In Japan Ban Men

Purikura photo booths remain popular in Japan. But if you're an unaccompanied male, odds are you won't be allowed near one. The policy's designed to protect women - but some men say it's discriminatory.

Will Ghost of Yōtei Tackle the History of Ainu Discrimination?

Ghost of Yotei, a standalone sequel to Ghost of Tsushima, is due for release next year. Will this game created to explore "the beauty of feudal Japan" address the active discrimination against Japan's Ainu people?

As Summers Heat Up, Smelly Customers Challenge Japan’s “Omotenashi”

A user at one game center in Japan reeked so badly that customers complained, and employees said they "wanted to vomit." As Japan's summers heat up, businesses wrestle with how to tell their customers that they need to shower more.

Morioka’s Sansa Odori Festival Dances the Demon Away

It's a must see event if you'll be in Japan in August. Learn about the history and tradition behind the Morioka Sansa Odori Festival.

Review – Illusory Dwellings: Aesthetic Meditations in Kyoto

Mystified by the depths of Japanese aesthetic tradition? Then Allen S. Weiss' new book, "Illusory Dwellings: Aesthetic Meditations in Kyoto", may be for you.

Yosakoi Festivals: The Global Phenomenon of a Local Dance

Kochi's Yosakoi festival has spread around the world due to the way it uniquely centers creativity and freedom.

New Silent Cafe in Osaka Employs Mostly Deaf Staff

A new cafe in Osaka that employs mostly deaf and hard-of-hearing staff builds on Japan's growing tradition of cafes that revel in silence.

Culture

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