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Tag: politics

Maruchan ad - scene showing the woman eating udon from the side. The table on which her udon rests appears to be missing its left side legs.

Maker of “Sexy” Maruchan Udon Commercial Denies It Used GenAI

CHOCOLATE Inc., the maker of the ad that went viral due to what some call its sexualized content, wants people to back off its staff.
Current price of rice at a local supermarket with a picture of a woman looking shocked

Rice Prices Up 90% in Japan as Crop Crisis Continues

It's getting more expensive to eat rice in Japan, with prices nearly doubling. Will a release of strategic reserves help?
Kid with a randoseru style Japanese backpack sitting in a field with his back to the camera and looking very depressed

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?
Ito Shiori looking at the camera

The Betrayal of Itō Shiori: When Lawyers Do More Harm Than Good

Itō Shiori's award-winning documentary BLACK BOX DIARIES still can't be screened in Japan. Is that truly in the interests of justice?
Kodaiji - picture of temple building on the left, beautiful pink tree on the right, and raked stones with colored stripes in the foreground

Frustrated Kyoto Temple Declares Co-Existing With Tourists “Impossible”

The temple's head priest later softened his comments, saying tourists should be educated about "unwritten culture" before entering Japan.
Picture of two aisles of students bowing to a teacher. The picture is taken from behind the students and at the end of the row, you can see a male teacher standing behind a podium and making his own small bow.

Here’s Why Kyoto Schools Are No Longer Bossing Students Around at Exam Time

Kyoto schools have made a change to hallroom announcements, acknowledging that "please" and "thank you" are indeed the magic words

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