Society

SOCIETY

Idol Yamaguchi Maho Forced to Apologize for Her Own Sexual Assault

A Japanese idol management company comes under fire after ignoring an attempted sexual assault on one of its stars - and then…

SOCIETY

Life in Limbo: How Japan is Failing its Institutionalized Children

Alyssa Pearl Fusek on how Japanese law and cultural attitudes leave foster kids in limbo.

SOCIETY

Japan’s Cat Islands: Good for Tourists (But Bad for Cats)

Japan's cat islands may seem adorable, but the country's cat epidemic threatens human health. Writer Alyssa Pearl Fusek discusses Japan's belated response…

SOCIETY

Is Japan Really THAT Clean?

The stereotype holds that Japan is a meticulously clean country. Emma Ford looks at the difference between public and private behavior, and…

SOCIETY

Kodokushi: Why Dying Alone in Japan Is On The Rise

An aging population means more Japanese are dying alone in their homes, which had led to a booming clean-up industry. Can anything…

FEATURED

Religion in Japan: A Complex and Intricate Affair

Why, in a country littered with shrines and temples, does the majority of the population claim to practice no religion?

SOCIETY

Japanese Business Experts Decry Japan’s “Customer is God” Mentality

Japan's customer service is world famous, but some Japanese commentators wonder whether the country has gone too far.

SOCIETY

Japanese Court Reaffirms Right to Contract Out Breaking Up Your Ex’s Relationship

A man paid a detective agency to break up his ex so he could get back together with her - and then…