News

HISTORY

Karafuto: How Japan Gained – and Lost – a Prefecture

The story of how, for a brief period of time, the island of Karafuto controlled by Russia became an official part of…

CULTURE

Fetishizing German Ad “Based on Japanese Culture” Draws Fire Across Asia

Is it Dolce & Gabbana all over again? German company Hornbach's attempt to lampoon a sexual fetish has sparked an online protest…

CULTURE

Burakumin: Japan’s Hounded “Untouchables”

While Japan has no formal caste system today, one "underclass" still finds itself routinely hounded and persecuted.

CULTURE

Is Time Running Out for Japan’s Idol Culture?

A high profile abuse case has the Japanese press saying to idol groups: Don't let the door hit you in the ass…

CULTURE

Where Have Japan’s Fashion Subcultures Gone?

Why have wild fashion subcultures largely disappeared from Tokyo's streets? Blame Uniqlo and the Internet.

TECHNOLOGY

Why Do Japanese Programmers Get Paid So Little?

Programmers, systems engineers, and software architects can command great salaries around the world. Japan, however, is a different story...

FEATURED

Sakhalin Island: Japan’s Final Frontier

How Japan's discovery of a large northern island devastated the island's native population - and how Japan lost control when Russia muscled…

CULTURE

Aokigahara, Japan’s “Suicide Forest”: Drowning in a Sea of Trees

Why has Aokigahara, a forest full of legend and history, gained notoriety as a haven of death?