CULTURE
Loose Socks and the Rise of the “Heisei Retro” Trend
Wanna feel old? The Heisei Era just ended and it's already considered "retro". A look at loose socks and other Heisei "throwbacks".
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CULTURE
SOCIETY
How Gender Bias Keeps Japanese Girls Out of STEM
Why are there so few women in STEM fields in Japan? Yuko Tamura argues that the bias starts before girls even turn…
LGBTQ
6th Grader Interviews LGBTQ+ People, Makes Picture Book for Kids
How a 6th grader's curiosity led her to create a book for kids on LGBTQ+ people - and how Japan's LGBTQ+ education…
SOCIETY
Gyaru Girl Segregated by School Over Her Hair Color
A young gyaru fashion model is struggling to balance work and school - and her school's policies are making it harder.
SOCIETY
This Randoseru Backpack Rethink Angered Some Grumpy Grown-Ups
Adults in Japan took to social media to lambaste a new backpack accessory. And then the kids who designed it clapped back.
HISTORY
Saboru: The Strange Origins of “Cutting Class” in Japanese
Mass strikes, the creation of the 8-hour workday, and an early 20th-century vogue for foreign words - all led to the most…
LAW & CRIME
Rep. Shiomura Ayaka Pushes Against Teenage Pornography; Colleagues Laugh
Representative Shiomura took to the Diet floor to discuss protecting high schoolers from recruitment into adult videos - and was laughed at…
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
A Japanese Teacher’s Reflections on “Living” Language
Japanese teacher Chihiro Morioka reflects on a career spent learning and teaching language in both Japanese and English - and the lessons…