News

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

Japanese Company Suspends Controversial New “Cat Subscription” Service

A new service called "Cats Unlimited" will suspend operations after accusations that it amounts to a "cat subscription", its company said.

JAPANESE LANGUAGE

Beware These False Friends Between English and Japanese!

You may think you know what these words mean in Japanese. Think again! A rundown of the language's most famous "false friends".

FOOD

Google Translate Fail: Japan Restaurant Tells Customers “Go Away” in Korean

A Korean restaurant in Japan used Google Translate to greet its customers in Korean. They should've just asked an actual Korean person...

CULTURE

As Adult Age Lowers, Japan’s “Coming of Age” Ceremonies Rebrand

Japan's Coming of Age ceremonies are rebranding thanks to the age of adulthood changing this year from 20 to 18.

NEWS

Terao Saho: Singer-songwriter-essayist floats between real and ethereal

In his newest entry in his "Untranslated" series, Eric Margolis talks with singer-songwriter-essayist Terao Saho to explore her differing approaches to writing…

CULTURE

Marie Kondo: My Cleaning Method is “Tidying Up the Past”

Don't call it "cleaning": Japanese cleanliness guru Marie Kondo says her "magic" method is more than just mere "tidying up".

SEX & NIGHTLIFE

Tokyo Tax Bureau Fires Worker Over Sex Work

A woman who worked for the Tokyo Tax Bureau resorted to sex work to fund her host club habit - and lost…

SOCIETY

Japanese-Brazilian Woman Told “Go Back to Your Country” by Welfare Office

A woman was refused public assistance in the city of Anjo and told to "go home" despite being in desperate economic straits.