WOMEN
Why Japan’s Kyushu Got Labeled The Country’s Most Sexist Region
In early 2025, the net slang “sasu-kyū” branded Japan’s Kyushu its most male-dominated region. When Japanese gender experts and critics dug in,…
discrimination
WOMEN
LGBTQ
In Japan, LGBTQ Protections Depend on Which Town You Live In
Japan just approved its first national LGBT plan. But with no anti-discrimination law and partnership certificates that carry no legal force, a…
LGBTQ
Tokyo Court Awards Damages to Outed Transgender Author
Award-winning author Li Kotomi won a small but symbolic ruling against a lawyer who had been involved in the Aum Shinrikyo trials.
SOCIETY
Japan Chain’s Women-Only Gyms Spark New Debates Over Safety vs. Fairness
A gym chain in Japan has come under fire from women for not enforcing gender restrictions - and from men for having…
WOMEN
Pink Tax, Japan: Social Media Users Ask Why Women Get Upcharged
The term "pink tax" hasn't trended much in Japan. That changed recently as women went online to compare notes on the subtle…
LGBTQ
Love and Cherry Blossoms: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride in Japan’s Rural North
While Tokyo’s cherry blossoms had all but disappeared from the trees, Japan’s most iconic trees had just gone into full bloom in…
LGBTQ
“Love Wins”: Marriage Equality Advocates in Japan Press Case Ahead of Supreme Court Ruling
As Japan's Supreme Court prepares to hear a pivotal case on marriage equality, a local advocacy group launches a "Love Wins"-themed campaign.
RACE IN JAPAN
Ainu Group Demands Return of 279 Remains Held by Japan’s Government
The lawsuit, the first of its kind, argues that Ainu burial tradition vests the right to manage their remains in the kotan…