FOOD
Why Female Yakitori Chefs Are So Rare in Japan
Why are there so few female yakitori chefs? The story behind what keeps women out, and three female chefs defying the odds.
gender equality
FOOD
WOMEN
Four Stalls for 68 Women: Japan’s Diet Finally Fixes Its Own Toilet Gap
Japan's government is finally taking steps to address its toilet gap between men and women, but there's still a long way to…
WOMEN
Working Mothers Now Exceed 81% of Japanese Households With Kids, a Record
Working mothers have hit their highest record ever in Japan. But that's not necessarily a sign of growing equality.
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,…
WOMEN
Japanese Professor: Men Who Pick Up World Cup Trash Should “Do It at Home,” Too
FIFA praised Japanese fans for cleaning the World Cup stadium. A Chubu University professor's viral reply, however, asked why Japanese men can't…
WOMEN
Japanese Announcer Uses Common-Law Marriage to Dodge Country’s Surname Law
TBS announcer Yamamoto Erika kept her name by choosing common-law marriage over a legal one - but she'll get married if the…
WOMEN
Japanese TV Station’s Sexist Program Title Has Men Arguing Against Themselves
If the show's producers were hoping to grab a negative reaction from women, they didn't succeed. But it got plenty of men…
INSIDER
Why Gender Equality is Stalling Under Japan’s First Female Prime Minister
Japan finally has its first female Prime Minister. But that isn't translating into victories for ordinary Japanese women.