aging population

TECHNOLOGY

A Buddhist Temple in Kyoto Gets Its First Android Saint

If you were planning to join the Buddhist priesthood because a robot took your job...welp, I've got some bad news for you.

TECHNOLOGY

As Tourism Skyrockets, Japanese Airline Equips Baggage Handlers with Power Suits

Cyborg baggage handlers? An influx of foreign visitors forces one airline to find an inventive way to handle the load.

TECHNOLOGY

Cashless Payments in Japan Accelerate – and May Doom the One Yen Coin

Cashless payments are accelerating, even among the elderly - and it appears the one yen coin might not survive their onslaught.

SOCIETY

“Drop Dead”: Why Harassment By Customers is Spiking in Japan

Why are Japanese customers getting more angry and aggressive? Experts cite two key factors.

SOCIETY

Is Japan Really THAT Clean?

The stereotype holds that Japan is a meticulously clean country. Emma Ford looks at the difference between public and private behavior, and…

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…

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.

SOCIETY

De-Population in Japan: No Easy Fixes?

The continued downward spiral of Japan’s population hasn't been helped by the slowdown in the Japanese economy. Emma Ford combines personal experience…