Youtube Discord
UNSEEN JAPAN

Video

A illustrated 1920s Japanese woman holds a beer next to a era-styled title reading "did Japan almost have prohibition?"

Did Japan Nearly Have its Own Prohibition Era?

Japan has a noted drinking culture. Yet, as Japan modernized, a surprising number embraced the foreign concept of alcohol prohibition.
Campaign poster for Suzume no Tojimari, Shinkai Makoto's new film

Suzume no Tojimari: A New Shinkai Masterpiece?

Shinkai Makoto, famed director of Your Name and more, is back with yet another breathtakingly beautiful anime film. How does Suzume stack up?
Governor Minobe Ryokichi stands behind a podium in a black and white photograph

When Tokyo was Socialist: The Story of Governor Minobe

Japan is often described as a one-party, conservative state - and yet, for over a decade, a highly popular socialist led the government of Tokyo. Meet Governor Minobe.
A samurai family sits to a meal, with one child saying "mama, papa" in katakana words within a word bubble.

Mama, Papa: How the Japanese Words for Parents Lost Out to English

"Mama" and "papa" are such ubiquitous parental terms in Japan that it's easy to forget they're foreign words - words the government once tried to ban.
A scenic view of Meiji Mura buildings near a stone stairwell, fringed on either side by lush greenery.

Meiji Mura: A Journey to Japan’s Modern Past

In Japan, the recent past is often obscured beneath endless concrete. Meiji Mura is one of the few places to discover the atmosphere of modernizing, turn-of-the-century Japan.
Bankara - Meiji Japan’s Anti-Fashion Movement

Bankara: Meiji Japan’s Anti-Fashion Movement

As the era of the samurai ended and Japan rushed towards modernization, a rough-scrabble fashion movement called the Bankara rose in opposition.

“Belle”: Hosoda Mamoru’s Fairy Tale for the VTuber Age

Internationally beloved director Hosoda Mamoru's new film, Belle, portrays the modern clash between online fame and anonymity - with some narrative hiccups.

Mercenaries of Global Terror: Shigenobu Fusako and the Japanese Red Army

Shigenobu Fusako vowed to take the Japanese Red Army global. Her mission ended with dozens of innocent deaths.
Kwaidan showcases the Japanese tradition of horror stories.

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 into its dark mirror.

Before You Go...

Let’s stay in touch. Get our free newsletter to get a weekly update on our best stories (all human-generated, we promise). You’ll also help keep UJ independent of Google and the social media giants.

Want a preview? Read our archives.

Read our privacy policy