Race in Japan
A Nepali Combini Clerk Foiled a Scam in Japan, Even as Politicians Cast Foreigners as Threat
A 24-year-old Nepali convenience-store clerk in Kobe sensed an elderly customer was being scammed and stepped in.
The latest Japan travel and culture news
Race in Japan
Women
Japanese TV Station’s Sexist Program Title Has Men Arguing Against Themselves
If the show's producers were hoping to grab a negative reaction from women, they didn't succeed. But it got plenty of men…
Law & Crime
“Accidental” Affair? Japan Supreme Court Reconsiders Cheating Damages Award
On June 5, 2026, Japan's Supreme Court issued its first-ever ruling on a question most Westerners don't know Japanese law even asks:…
LGBTQ
Tokyo Court Awards Damages to Outed Transgender Author
Award-winning author Li Kotomi won a small but symbolic ruling against a lawyer who had been involved in the Aum Shinrikyo trials.
Travel
Minoh: Discover Forest Trails, Temples, and Autumn Colors Beyond Osaka
Tired of the crowds in Osaka City? Enjoy some fresh air, a slower pace of life, and local delicacies in nearby Minoh.
Travel
Shibuya’s Littering Fine Targets Both Tourists and Trashy Locals
Who's making Shibuya a worse place to live? The ward rolls out a new fine targeting not just tourists, but messy locals.
Society
Japan Chain’s Women-Only Gyms Spark New Debates Over Safety vs. Fairness
A gym chain in Japan has come under fire from women for not enforcing gender restrictions - and from men for having…
Food
I Ate Edo-style Sushi for Less than $10 at a Japanese Train Station
Want to eat sushi like they ate it during the time of the shogun? A shop in Shinjuku Station is offering this…