News

WOMEN

Recent JP Elections Highlight Continued Lack of Women in Politics

Where are the women? The recent Japanese diet elections have continued the country's long stint as among the world's least gender-balanced governments.

JAPANESE LANGUAGE

Pass the JLPT! Taking a JLPT Practice Test

On my first practice test, I would've automatically failed, simply because I couldn't finish the test. It was what I did next…

TRAVEL

Japan to Finally Relax Some Border Restrictions

After a year and a half of almost no movement, Japan's strict border control is finally being relaxed for business, trainee, and…

HISTORY

Banei Racing: Hokkaido’s Stubborn Settler Sport of Strength and Spirit

Hokkaido's fascinating Banei Racing, where massive draft horses pull weighted sleighs up slopes, is an intriguing remnant of a colonial history.

ENTERTAINMENT

Kwaidan: A Filmic Venture into Uncanny Japan

Eerie and beautiful, Kwaidan is the perfect introduction to the classic ghost stories of Japan. Further revelations await those who look deeper…

LIVING IN JAPAN

Tornadoes in Japan: A Rotating Rarity?

Tornadoes are far from the first natural disaster one thinks of in association with Japan - yet they occur more often than…

FOOD

Samurai Cultivator: The Birth of Modern Apple Cultivation in Japan

Apples, such as the delectable fuji, are ubiquitous in Japan. Yet cultivation of the fruit began relatively recently - during the waning…

JAPANESE LANGUAGE

Pass the JLPT! How to Study for the JLPT Listening Section

The JLPT listening section can be challenging, especially for those living outside of Japan. Here's what you should know to ace the…