Society

Fukuoka Citizens Gripe That Night Garbage Collectors Are Taking Breaks

Some citizens in Fukuoka are complaining that garbage collectors, who work at night in the city, are having the audacity to - gasp! - take breaks. It's part of a trend of customer complaints in Japan about "lazy workers" - and it's making it harder for the city to fill positions.

In Japan, It’s Not Just the Elderly Dying Alone

Japan is seeing a spike in people - even the young - dying alone in their homes. And authorities say they expect the problem to get worse.

Japanese Atomic Bomb Survivor Memorial Desecrated in Seattle

A statue of atomic bomb survivor Sasaki Sadako in Seattle was cut off at its feet. Community members believe the thief was after the statue's valuable metals.

Toyoko Kids: The Dangers Faced by Japan’s Street Youth

A lack of options leads the so-called "Toyoko Kids" to hang out in the streets of Kabukicho, where they face numerous dangers - from OTC drug abuse to predatory adults.

Could Japan Become Anti-Child as Population Declines?

More people are remaining single and childless than ever in Japan. Could that feed into existing anti-child sentiments in the nation and trap it in a vicious cycle?

Will Toyota Implement a Four-Day Work Week?

As workers continue to struggle with work/life balance, Toyota may become the latest Japanese company to implement a flexible work schedule.

As Tokyo’s Train Suicides Spike, Where Are The Platform Doors?

An apparent spike in self-harm incidents at Tokyo train stations in June raises the question: why do so many stations still lack platform doors?

Shinjuku and Shibuya Introduce New Street Drinking Bans

Shibuya will ban public drinking all year around, while Shinjuku will bar it during Halloween. Not everyone thinks it's a good idea.

New Silent Cafe in Osaka Employs Mostly Deaf Staff

A new cafe in Osaka that employs mostly deaf and hard-of-hearing staff builds on Japan's growing tradition of cafes that revel in silence.

Society

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