Will handing out coupons to new moms stop Japan’s declining population? The Japanese government sure hopes so. But other signs signal the problem might not be so easy to solve.
Japanese politician Sugita Mio is no stranger to controversy. Now, a Sapporo legal bureau says she’s slandered the Ainu people – but she says otherwise.
A controversial author and social media bomb-thrower best known for denying the Nanjing Massacre launches a new political party. The key question is: does anyone care?
Ikeda Daisaku, one of the most powerful political fixers and religious leaders in Japan, hasn’t been seen in public since 2010. Where is he?
Orzugul Babakhodjaeva, an immigrant to Japan from Uzbekistan, just won election in Tokyo’s Setagawa Ward on a platform of inclusion.
A crusader for legalized marijuana in Japan lost his bid for election in Fujisawa City – but he did it in the most poetic way possible.
Japan’s political parties appear to agree: Kids shouldn’t go hungry. Inside Japan’s rapidly advanced plans to make public school lunches free.
Why a joke legislator from a joke party fled Japan to avoid some very serious charges – and whether he’s ever coming back.
A gay member of Japan’s political opposition had a powerful moment when he called out PM Kishida’s refusal to act on same-sex marriage.
Subscribe to our free newsletter for a weekly digest of our best work across platforms (Web, Twitter, YouTube). Your support helps us spread the word about the Japan you don’t learn about in anime.
Want a preview? Read our archives
You’ll get one to two emails from us weekly. For more details, see our privacy policy
