The latest Japan travel and culture news

HISTORY

Japanese Red Army: End of a Global Reign of Terror

How a string of violent attacks and a shifting political landscape spelled the end for the Japanese Red Army.

FOOD

Children’s Cafeterias in Japan Offer Promise (and Danger)

They're sprouting up all over Japan as a way of fighting poverty and hunger. But are "kid's cafeterias" shifting too much of…

POLITICS

Is Free Speech Under Assault in Japan?

Amidst rising anti-Korean discourse in Japan thanks to worsening trade relations, another issue is taking headlines: freedom of speech.

JAPANESE LANGUAGE

Tasukatta! Useful Japanese Phrases When Dining Out in Japan

Trying to order in Japanese at a Japanese restaurant? Here are some of the questions you might not expect - and how…

CULTURE

Enka Music: From Political Protest to Cultural Tradition

How a form of political protest music came to be regarded as an art form that captures "the heart of Japan."

ENTERTAINMENT

A Bold Manga About Japan’s “Losers” Challenges Status Quo

How Kashiwagi Haruko's latest demonstrates the diversity of manga as a medium - and provides insight into the daily struggle of Japan's…

SOCIETY

Japan Has The World’s Strongest Passport (That Few People Use)

Japan's passport is one of the strongest in the world. So why do only one in four Japanese citizens have one?

RACE IN JAPAN

Amidst Tensions, Anti-Korean Hate Speech Abounds in Japanese Media

It’s no news that there’s friction between Japan and South Korea. Trade disputes and the omnipresent “comfort women” issue have deeply soured…