JAPANESE LANGUAGE
Kanji Kentei: Inside the Japanese Test That Even Japanese People Find Difficult
Forget the JLPT. If you want to take a truly hard Japanese test, check out the Kanji Kentei, whose highest levels have…
education
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
INSIDER
25 Years Later, School in Japan Fires Teacher for Sex with Student
A former student said her teacher had sex with her in high school. The school fired him - but many online aren't…
LAW & CRIME
Why Did This School in Japan Quietly Fire a Teacher for Sexual Coercion?
A teacher emailed a student 192 times, ordering her to commit sex acts. Why did it take 18 months after his dismissal…
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.
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.