BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
Why Japan’s Umeboshi Business is Suddenly Drying Up
Umeboshi manufacturers are freaking out as fewer people in Japan eat dried plums and warehouse stockpiles keep growing.
economy
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BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
SOCIETY
As Japan’s Birth Rates Continue Declining, Politicians Talk Cash
Both Japan's PM and Tokyo's governor want to pay people to have more kids. But is this just another doomed short-term strategy?
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
Japan’s Hot New Buzzwords Tell the Story of 2022
The hottest new words and phrases of 2022 tell a story of political and economic upheaval, as well as a tale of…
LIVING IN JAPAN
This Might Be the Worst Time to Work in Japan
Many dream of working in Japan. But a cheap yen and stagnant wages are making it harder - and driving even Japanese…
TECHNOLOGY
Robot Testing in Fukushima: From Hoofbeats to Rotors
As Fukushima Prefecture continues to recover from the triple-disaster of a decade ago, a new Robot Testing Field hopes to do its…
FOOD
In Japan’s Unique Wagyu Olympics, It’s Beef vs. Beef
It's a hell of a meat-ing: Japan's finest cows face off against one another in a five-day competition set to draw 290,000…
LIVING IN JAPAN
Combini: Japanese Convenience Stores and Life in Modern Japan
Convenience stores ("combini") in Japan are everywhere. But what do people use them for? A look at combini and everyday life in…
ENTERTAINMENT
Will Voice Actors Quit Over Japan’s New Tax Law?
A new tax system in Japan may expose creators' identities - and a voice actor says it could cause many of her…