Youtube Discord
UNSEEN JAPAN

History

A tangle of power lines on a street facing Mt. Fuji

What’s With the Chaos of Japanese Power Lines?

Look up in a Japanese city, and you're likely to see a sky view partly obscured by power lines. Here's why Japan's utility lines are more visible than those in other advanced economies.
The Japanese Who Came to Call Peru Home - shows Japanese-Peruvian children in front of both countries flags, as well as images of Japanese immigrants and country symbols

The Story of the Japanese Peruvians

They're one of the world's most important Japanese diaspora groups. Meet the Japanese-Peruvians, and learn their dramatic history.
Iboshi Hokuto

Iboshi Hokuto: The Legacy of the Ainu Poet-Activist

Spurred by colonialist propaganda that called his people "a dying race," Iboshi Hokuto spent his short life in service to his belief that "only the Ainu could save the Ainu."
Haniwa

Haniwa! New Exhibit Showcases Japan Before It Became Japan

Want a rare peak into Japan's pre-history? An expanded exhibit at Tokyo National Museum is celebrating Haniwa, funerary statues from the country's Kofun Era, bringing some rare pieces together under the same roof for the first time.
Japanese astronaut Akiyama Toyohiro in front of a Japanese flag superimposed on an image of earth from space.

Akiyama Toyohiro: The Japanese Astronaut Who Hated Space

In 1990, journalist Akiyama Toyohiro became the first Japanese astronaut in space. Too bad he had such a rough time of it.
Shogun Minamoto no Sanetomo is faced down by a warrior wielding a sword amidst falling snow in an illustration.

To Kill a Shogun: The Sad Tale of Minamoto no Sanetomo

In 1219, the shogun Minamoto no Sanetomo, samurai lord of all Japan, was slain on the steps of Tsurugaoka Shrine in Kamakura, killed by his own nephew in cold blood. Who was Sanetomo - and why was he assassinated?

Stolen Ryukyu Artwork, Found in US, Returned to Okinawa

The rediscovery of Ryukyuan artwork lost during the Pacific War offers a ray of hope for those seeking to restore Okinawa's cultural history.
Black and white image of Ishikawa Satsuki superimposed on image of voters with Japanese text saying "murahachibu" and English text saying "she reported electoral fraud. She was ostracised."

Ishikawa Satsuki: The Whistleblower Whose Village Shunned Her

In 1952, a Japanese high schooler bravely revealed the political corruption underway in her home village. Her entire family was Ostracized.
Kanto Massacre

The Kanto Massacre: A Story of Disinformation and Denialism

Rumors and disinformation sparked the Kanto Massacre in the wake of the Kanto Earthquake. Today, denialism continues to dishonor the victims.

Unseen Japan is proudly hosted by Rocket.net. Get your first month of WordPress hosting on Rocket.net for just $1.

Links on Unseen Japan may point to affiliate programs from which we earn a commission at no additional cost to you. For more information, read our privacy policy.

Mastodon

Copyright © 2025 UJ Media Services. All rights reserved.

Before You Go...

Let’s stay in touch. Get our free newsletter to get a weekly update on our best stories (all human-generated, we promise). You’ll also help keep UJ independent of Google and the social media giants.

Want a preview? Read our archives.

Read our privacy policy