Latest Japan News & Analysis

More Foreign Tourists Are Causing Traffic Accidents Around Mt. Fuji

There are more tourists than ever in Yamanashi Prefecture - and they're setting a new record for traffic accidents.

Take Pics in Tochigi’s “Shibuya Scramble” Replica This Fall

Want to take pics in Shibuya Scramble without feeling like a nuisance? A movie set in Tochigi Prefecture has the perfect solution.

[Insider] Modern Day Extortionists: The Scummy World of Japan’s “Exposé” Influencers

(Subscriber content) Two men invaded the home of an "exposé" influencer, beat him, and microwaved his phone. Here's why few people feel sorry for the dude.

Japan’s Gun Control Laws: How The Country Stays (Almost) Gun-Free

Japan has one of the lowest rates of gun crime in the world. How did it start, and how has it stayed that way?

Village Vanguard: Why Japan’s Iconic Subculture Stores Are Struggling

Village Vanguard is a bookstore and then some. But its recent financial troubles indicate it might have stretched itself too thin.

Don’t Abandon Your Broken Suitcase in Japan – Do This Instead

More tourists than ever are leaving their busted suitcases in hotel rooms and even at the airport. Here's how not to be one of them.