INSIDER
[Insider] “Utility Pole Girls”: Japanese Media Has a Demeaning New Buzzword for Women
A survey of 3,000 women found 58% identified with the phenomenon. But it's the label that has people riled up.
social media
INSIDER
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…
WOMEN
Japanese Con Cafe Worker Called “Hero” for Stabbing Train Groper with Safety Pin
A con cafe worker's tweet about stabbing a groper's hand with a safety pin on her morning commute drew near-universal praise.
CULTURE
“Friendflation”: Japanese Youth Are Saving Money By Cutting Out Friends
Japan joins a worldwide trend of limiting your social network as the cost of having friends becomes prohibitive.
INSIDER
[Insider] Shibuya, Burning: How Japan’s Right Exploits the Information Void to Foster Hate
A Japanese nationalist started a fire in Shibuya Crossing and then fled the scene. Japan's right wing blamed the attack on...foreigners?
TRAVEL
Combini Tourism: The Latest Japan Travel Obsession
"Grocery tourism" is popular on TikTok. But Japan's ahead of the curve - its convenience stores are already popular tourist destinations.
INSIDER
[Insider] Japan Is Sick to Death of Bicyclists Behaving Badly
Japanese police are doling out fines to misbehaving cyclists. Many on Japanese social media say it’s about damn time.
FOOD
Yep or NOPE? Suntory’s New Dr Pepper-Like Soda Confuses Japanese Consumers
Suntory's new drink NOPE promises lots of flavor. Just WHAT that flavor is, however, has sparked a raging debate in Japan.