SOCIETY
Is Japan REALLY Trying to Ban Saying “Itadakimasu” at Schools?
Japan's "War on Christmas" is a viral online claim framed as an attack on Japanese culture. Just one problem: it isn't true.
education
SOCIETY
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
Why Are More Japanese Girls Calling Themselves “Boku”?
How do you refer to yourself in Japanese? For most women, it’s some variant of "watashi." But for many young girls, the…
ENTERTAINMENT
Are Japanese Teens Leaving Manga Behind?
One prominent journalist argues the youth market is slipping away. Others say they've heard this false cry before.
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
MEXT to Nothing: Japan Struggles to Help Foreign Residents Learning Japanese
Many foreign residents in Japan want to learn Japanese. But reports show a majority feel they're not getting the support they need…
LIVING IN JAPAN
Vacation Guilt: Why Japanese Workers (Still) Can’t Rest
Social mores play a big role in why Japanese workers say they report to the office even when they're sick.
SOCIETY
Vaccine Hesitancy Persists in Japan Despite Government Efforts
A combination of government missteps and online disinformation has steadily eroded public trust in the life-saving practice.
LGBTQ
Sanseitō Rep Likens Being Transgender to a “Contagious” Disease
Wada Keiko further stated she believed transgender people needed medical treatment instead of accommodation and understanding.
SOCIETY
Why Japan’s Disability Law Still Fails Disabled Students
An attorney who represents families in disability cases explains how gaps in the law leave some disabled students stranded.