JAPANESE LANGUAGE
Why Do Japanese People Say That Chinese Sounds “Scary”?
A recent social media discussion that could have turned dicey instead became a referendum on a single Chinese particle.
manners
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
TRAVEL
Perfume in Japan: Why Less Is More, and Where to Wear None at All
Will your perfume cause problems? Here's what to know about what to wear (and when not to wear anything) while traveling in…
TRAVEL
“Insta-Pests”: Why A Kyoto Temple Reportedly Banned Kimono-Clad Visitors
The temple's crackdown on visitors wearing flashy clothing isn't aimed just at tourists, but at influencers in general.
INSIDER
Urine Nation: Japan’s 150-Years-Long War Against Peeing in Public
During Japan's Edo Era, peeing in the street wasn't a crime, but a contribution to the economy. Here's how Meiji Japan, anxious…
CULTURE
When Plushies Take a Seat: Japan’s “Nuikatsu” Boom Collides With Restaurant Manners
A couple of viral incidents online highlight how some restaurants are struggling to handle customers bringing their stuffed +1s.
FOOD
Nekomanma: The “Ill-Mannered” Japanese Food That Used to be a Commonfolk Staple
Is pouring miso soup onto rice bad manners? It is in modern Japan. But this "cat food" was a commoner staple for…
FOOD
This Ramen Shop in Japan Demands You Stay Off Your Damn Phone
The shop in Saitama Prefecture said it instituted the policy after a customer watched an "inappropriate" video.
TRAVEL
No Tourists at Lunch? Japanese Soba Store Sparks Controversy with Sign
The chain's owners ultimately ordered the store to take the sign down. Here's why many Japanese netizens defended it.