Latest Japan News & Analysis

July 7th isn't just tanabata in Japan - it's also Calpis Day. Learn why this vaguely yogurt-flavored drink has become so popular.
Delicious? Or something you'd eat only on a dare? Domino's Japan is betting that local consumers like pickles. Like, LOTS of pickles.
When the U.S. Civil War broke out in 1861, samurai still ruled Japan. How did the samurai - recently forced into trade with the US and on the cusp of their own war - react?
IC cards are now a must for using the Japanese public transport system. But the cards are more varied, and more interesting, than you'd expect.
It has its origins in life insurance and has even been a tool of colonialism. Learn about the long, complicated history of radio taisō.
Partnership systems for same-sex couples in Japan are close to covering the entire population - but are no substitute for true equality.

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