NEWS
Renewed Tension in the Southern Kuriles Amidst Ukraine War
Rhetoric on the southern Kuriles, long disputed between Japan and Russia, is again on the rise. We help you get up to…
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NEWS
POLITICS
Ambassadors and Armor: Gusoku and the Ukraine War
A viral tweet claims that the Japanese ambassador to Ukraine stayed in Kyiv in his ancestral armor. Much as we love gusoku,…
ENTERTAINMENT
Bankara: Meiji Japan’s Anti-Fashion Movement
As the era of the samurai ended and Japan rushed towards modernization, a rough-scrabble fashion movement called the Bankara rose in opposition.
BOOK REVIEWS
“Night in the American Village” Gives the Women of Okinawa a Voice
Akemi Johnson has created a great work of social and oral history granting primacy to the experiences of Okinawan women.
HISTORY
The Last Daimyo: The Life of Hayashi Tadataka
Amidst the backdrop of World War II's start, one last survivor of the old Edo period order died. Who was Hayashi Tadataka,…
SOCIETY
‘Michi no Eki’ Offer More Than A Place to Park Your Car!
Michi no Eki are Japanese roadside stations that offer more than parking and toilets. They also engage in various support initiatives!
HISTORY
Iidesan, Fukushima’s Odd Border: Gods, Mountains, Lines in the Sand
In western Fukushima Prefecture, an odd salient of territory extends, wedged between Niigata and Yamagata Prefectures. So why is it there?
HISTORY
Kyushu’s Samurai Vaccinators: The Fight Against Smallpox in Late Edo Japan
Faced with an epidemic, a forward-thinking group of doctors and samurai leaders launched a successful vaccination campaign in late Edo Japan.