culture

WOMEN

Murasaki Shikibu: The First Lady of Japanese Literature

How a grieving widow came to write two classics of world literature: a sprawling novel, and an 11th-century Twitter account.

HISTORY

Why Not? How Japan Danced Away Its Samurai Past

How a weird, unexplained event in the capital of Edo kicked off a frenetic dance movement across Japan that brought the era…

FOOD

Yōshoku: Five Great “Western” Foods To Eat in Japan

Next time you go to Japan, make sure to enjoy these Western-style dishes delivered with a Japanese twist.

JAPANESE LANGUAGE

Why Does Japan Struggle With English?

A city park employee managed to lose a quarter million dollars because he couldn't speak English. Krys Suzuki, a former English teacher…

FEATURED

Kizuna Ai: How Her Sexist Usage Offended Women in Japan

Is anime "The New Orientalism"? How a Twitter controversy over Kizuna Ai had Japanese women questioning how the media depicts them.

CULTURE

The Evolution of Japan’s Love Hotels

Why do love hotels exist in Japan? And how have they evolved to change with the times? Krys Suzuki examines the 400-year…

FOOD

Here’s Why You (Think You) Hate Japanese Sake (日本酒)

Do you think you hate Japan's famous beverage made from fermented rice? There's likely a simple reason for that.

TECHNOLOGY

Will Japan Ever Go Cashless?

Less than 20% of all financial transactions in Japan are cashless. Learn why that is, and why the government wants to change…