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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.
A young Japanese woman with her eyes censored in front of a voting booth, in black and white. Japanese text reads "murahachibu."

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.
Uno Sosuke and Nakanishi Mitsuko

The Geisha Who Took Down a Prime Minister

In 1989, Uno Sōsuke burst onto the scene as the new prime minister of Japan. Only 69 days later, he'd resign - and all because of a geisha named Nakanishi Mitsuko.
painted background feating the American civil war. Text reads "how the samurai saw the U.S. Civil War."

How the Samurai Saw the U.S. Civil War

When the U.S. Civil War broke out in 1861, samurai still ruled Japan. How did the samurai - recently forced into trade with the US and on the cusp of their own war - react?
Oda Nobunaga

441 Years Since Honnō-ji: The Downfall of Oda Nobunaga

What happened on the fateful night of June 21st, 1582, that caused one of Oda Nobunaga's faithful retainers to turn on him?
Modern Girl of the Taisho Era

Moga: Japan’s “Modern Girl” of the Taisho Era

She was a symbol of prewar prosperity - and controversy. How the "modern girl" of Japan's roaring 1920s defined a new path for women.

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