The latest Japan travel and culture news

PATREON

Abe’s Zombie Government: The PM’s Ratings Are in FreeFall

Abe Shinzo likely won't resign as Japan's Prime Minister any time soon - but the polling numbers are clear: his Cabinet is…

ENTERTAINMENT

Behind Kimura Hana’s Death, a Flailing TV Station

As revelations around Kimura Hana's death continue to surface, it helps to know a little about Fuji Television - and its sinking…

CULTURE

Mayim Mayim: The Hit Hebrew Folk Song of Japan

How did Mayim Mayim, a song every Jewish kid knows by heart, end up a staple of Japanese society, featured in anime,…

WOMEN

Kanno Sugako and Her Daring Revolution

How a writer and socialist revolutionary ended up undertaking a daring plot to take out the Meiji Emperor - and the price…

JAPANESE LANGUAGE

From “Nippon” to “Nihon”: The Evolution of Japan’s Name

What's so controversial about a country's name? In the case of "Japan", 1,300 years of history have led to disputes over just…

SOCIETY

Umbrella Theft Inspires Some in Japan to Get Clever

Umbrella theft is a vexing problem in Japan - inspiring some to invent clever ways to prevent people from purloining their parasols.

CULTURE

The Lesser-Known Festivals of Japan: Let Loose Edition

A survey of three of Japan's more light-hearted festivals that focus on the less serious subjects of nudity, navels, and nasty words.

RACE IN JAPAN

Video: Black Lives Matter in Japan

We talk with an organizer of the Black Lives Matter march in Osaka about her work - and how she hopes things…