News

LAW & CRIME

The Town of Abu vs. The Gambler

A small town accidentally gave a man a small fortune. What the man did next has made national headlines in Japan.

SOCIETY

Acceptance for “Kira Kira” Names? How Japan’s Koseki Rules May Change

The rise of Japanese "kira kira" names with unexpected kanji readings has sparked controversy over the past few decades. Will altering the…

HISTORY

Lost and Restored: The Equestrian Statue of Date Masamune

A massive earthquake struck northern Japan, damaging the famed statue of Date Masamune in Sendai. But Date - and Sendai - are…

HISTORY

Abortion In Japan: A History

A look at how abortion in Japan evolved throughout the ages, from a financial necessity to a call for the acknowledgment of…

FOOD

Volunteer Efforts May Help Save Historic Yuki Sake Brewery

After a fire devastated Yuki Sake Brewery, a historic Japanese cultural landmark, volunteer efforts commence to aid its revival.

JAPANESE LANGUAGE

Yabai (やばい) Meaning: 24 Ways It’s Actually Used in Japanese

There's no word quite like "yabai" in Japanese - an extremely popular slang term that can mean anything from "awful" to "risky"…

TRAVEL

Japan’s Tourism Reopening: What We Know So Far

Last week, Prime Minister Kishida announced Japan would reopen to tourism from June. The actual details are a bit more complex -…

LGBTQ

Tokyo Rainbow Pride Protest Raises Questions About LGBTQ-Friendly Workplace Policies

A certain realization led one Tokyo Rainbow Pride participant to protest, and call attention to one company's much-needed policy updates.