Culture
Japan Sells “Oshikatsu Insurance” for Fans Whose Concert Trip Falls Through
Japan's booming oshikatsu (fandom support) economy has inspired a new insurance policy. And it makes a lot more sense than you might…
The latest Japan travel and culture news
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Culture
Sex & Nightlife
Why Japanese Nightlife’s “Attention Economy” Is Better Than Sex
Why do people in Japan pay so much for non-sexual companionship? A look at how an industry born in the Edo Era…
Insider
The Yani Neko Mirror: Why Japan Won’t Look at Poverty
A new anime tells a complex story of addiction and discrimination. It also sheds a light on a problem many in Japan…
Japanese Language
Japanese Social Media Auto-Translation: a Blessing, or a Curse?
Is auto-translation on Japanese social media breaking language barriers or creating new problems? We look at the illusion of certainty and its…
Travel
Tokyo Overhauls Lodging Tax as Accommodation Fees Spread Across Japan
Most inbound tourists won't notice it, but the increase will enable Tokyo to better accommodate the rising wave of travelers.
Women
“Masquerade Couples”: Why Partners in Japan Would Rather Stay Silent Than Get Divorced
One Japanese couple has barely spoken to one another in four years. But they refuse to divorce. How Japan encourages these so-called…
Race in Japan
Award-Winning Author Yu Miri Harassed Online After Criticizing Japanese Government
Yu Miri is one of Japan's most celebrated authors. Yet some feel that, due to her background, she has no right to…
Travel
MUJI Opens “Anti-Tourism” Hotel in Busiest Tourist Location in Kyoto
MUJI's latest BASE hotel pitches itself as "anti-tourism." So why is it in one of the most heavily touristed parts of Japan?