HISTORY
Was Divorce in Japan’s Edo Era Easy?
Divorce in Japan's Edo era was a simple affair...if you were a man. For women, "divorce temples" provided a way out.
history
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HISTORY
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
Mama, Papa: How the Japanese Words for Parents Lost Out to English
"Mama" and "papa" are such ubiquitous parental terms in Japan that it's easy to forget they're foreign words - words the government…
HISTORY
Japan’s “Oldest Known Writing” is Just Permanent Marker: Experts
A stone thought to contain Japan's oldest known writing now appears like it might just be the result of sample contamination.
FOOD
Mugicha: A Short History of Japanese Barley Tea
It's been a staple since Japan's Heian era. Learn about the history of mugicha (Japanese barley tea) and why it remains so…
WOMEN
Kitamura Harue: The Legacy of Japan’s First Female Mayor
A look at the life of Japan's first female mayor, Harue Kitamura, and the legacy she left behind for aspiring women in…
POLITICS
Mounting Contention Over State Funeral for Slain Abe Shinzo
The Japanese public remains polarized over plans for a rare state funeral in honor of recently assassinated former prime minister Abe Shinzo.
HISTORY
Meiji Mura: A Journey to Japan’s Modern Past
In Japan, the recent past is often obscured beneath endless concrete. Meiji Mura is one of the few places to discover the…
HISTORY
Tanabata in Sendai: An Old-School Star Festival
Tanabata is one of Japan's most famous holidays. In northern Sendai, however, it's a little extra special. Discover the story of one…