The latest Japan travel and culture news

FOOD

Looks Like Chicken: My First Time (Accidentally) Eating Horse in Japan

The first time I ate raw horse in Tokyo, it was all a big linguistic misunderstanding.

LGBTQ

Japanese Magazine That Published Anti-LGBT Screed Did It for the Money, Says Writers

The magazine that published a politician's piece calling LGBT people "unproductive" halts publication as some Japanese experts decry the publishing industry's drift…

CULTURE

A Tansu Full of Dollars: Why Japan Has Such a Hardcore Savings Culture

Why does Japan save more money on average than the rest of the world?

SOCIETY

Kodokushi: Why Dying Alone in Japan Is On The Rise

An aging population means more Japanese are dying alone in their homes, which had led to a booming clean-up industry. Can anything…

FEATURED

Religion in Japan: A Complex and Intricate Affair

Why, in a country littered with shrines and temples, does the majority of the population claim to practice no religion?

CULTURE

Respect for the Aged Day: Its Origins and Celebration in Japan

What is Respect for the Aged Day? An overview of Japan's national holiday, including its origins and related cultural myths.

ENTERTAINMENT

Retiring Amuro Namie to Japanese Press: Back Off My Family

The retirement of Amuro Namie has given us proof that, no matter how "polite" your culture is, the press are pretty much…

ENTERTAINMENT

Remembering Sakura Momoko, The Creator of Chibi Maruko-chan

The life of the legendary cartoonist and essayist Sakura Momoko was one of juxtaposition between traditional and modern Japan. A look back…