FOOD
“Women Shouldn’t Make Sushi”: Ex-HKT48 Idol Runs Sushi Counter Despite Blowback
Former HKT48 idol Tomonaga Mio has traded the stage for sushi, but her new career has sparked criticism over gender and professional…
idols
FOOD
CULTURE
Japan Sells “Oshikatsu Insurance” for Fans Whose Concert Trip Falls Through
Japan's booming oshikatsu (fandom support) economy has inspired a new insurance policy. And it makes a lot more sense than you might…
SEX & NIGHTLIFE
Why Japanese Nightlife’s “Attention Economy” Is Better Than Sex
Why do people in Japan pay so much for non-sexual companionship? A look at how an industry born in the Edo Era…
SEX & NIGHTLIFE
In Japan, Oshikatsu is Fostering an Underage Sex Work Pipeline
Oshikatsu has girls turning to sex work to give money to their favorite performers. Some are as young as 15.
ENTERTAINMENT
Galapagos Rock: Why It’s So Hard for Foreign J-Pop Fans to Buy Concert Tickets in Japan
Some overseas fans of Japanese music say the hassle is proof that "Japan hates foreigners." The truth is more complicated.
ENTERTAINMENT
Swimsuit Snow Performance Lands Japanese Idols in Hot Water (and They Don’t Give a F$*!)
Planck Stars isn't a group to shy away from controversy. Indeed, it seems to be reveling in its latest affront to Japanese…
ENTERTAINMENT
Why a 20-Year-Old Japanese Racing Idol Went Searching For a 50-Year-Old Fan
It's common for fans to become obsessed with their idols. But what happens when an idol is worried about one of her…
POLITICS
Japanese Lawmaker Says Anti-Spy Law Could End Oshikatsu Culture
One lawmaker warns that proposed spy legislation could tread on a booming business in Japan: support for one's favorite idol or star.