SOCIETY
Why Is School Refusal On The Rise in Japan?
More kids in Japan than ever are refusing to go school, even as instances of bullying are falling. What's keeping them home?
government
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SOCIETY
ENVIRONMENT
To Combat Food Waste, Japan Will Raise Food Expiration Limits
For a culture that prides itself on not being wasteful, Japan wastes a lot of food. A new government recommendation seeks to…
SOCIETY
This Japanese Village is Furious About Its New Million-Dollar Toilet
How did a toilet on a road leading into a village of 1,300 people in Nara Prefecture end up costing close to…
TRAVEL
Poll: 68% Say Record-Setting Japan Tourism a Good Thing
Good news for those spooked by overtourism headlines: a clear majority in Japan say they approve of the influx of visitors.
LAW & CRIME
Japan Begins Compensating Victims of Its Former Eugenics Law
After years of legal struggle, victims of Japan's forced sterilization practices will receive financial recompense from the government.
TRAVEL
Kyoto to Raise Lodging Tax By Up to 10x, Highest in Japan
In a bid to fund train station improvements, Kyoto will raise the top tax on the city's most expensive hotel rooms to…
SOCIETY
Tokyo May Fund Study Abroad to Counteract Weak Yen
The plan is coming under fire from some who say such programs should be spearheaded by the central government to benefit all…
SEX & NIGHTLIFE
New Host Club Laws in Japan Would Ban Romance, Impose Hefty Fines
The clubs have come under fire for pushing female customers into debt and, in some cases, forcing them into prostitution.