FOOD
“You’re a Woman, So Use Chopsticks”: The Yakitori Fight Over How Women Eat
A woman says her boyfriend seemed poised to break up with her for the way she ate yakitori. Does Japan really have…
social media
FOOD
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.
INSIDER
How Kusama Yayoi’s Death Puts a Spotlight on Japan’s “Whiteness Problem”
The death of Japanese artist Kusama Yayoi prompted many English-language social media users to revisit her racist screeds. Japanese users, for the…
RACE IN JAPAN
Fact Check: No, Muslims Aren’t Burning Down Japan’s Temples and Shrines
A common right-wing trope on Japanese social media alleges a Muslim-led arson wave in Japan that doesn't exist.
WOMEN
“Foul-Smelling Men”: Demand for Women-Only Shinkansen Seats in Japan Goes Viral
Should Japan's bullet trains have women-only spaces? Proponents say it would protect women, but implementation wouldn't be easy.
SOCIETY
“The Meal-Skipping Crowd”: Cute Japanese Gen Z Slang, or a Sign of Japan’s Poverty?
Are young people skipping meals because they don't want to eat? Or are they just too broke? The data paints a complex…
FOOD
Celebrity Japanese Chef Says “Nagoya Has No Good Restaurants” – and the City Erupts
A remark from influencer chef Ryuji ignited a firestorm in Nagoya, but there's a lot more than meets the eye to Nagoya's…
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
Japan Influencer Fact Check: Is Japan Giving Away Businesses for Free?
Businesses in Japan are just waiting for someone to take them over. But as an old Japanese saying goes, nothing's more expensive…