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.
social media
WOMEN
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…
LAW & CRIME
“He’s a Victim Too”: People Defend Japanese Man Convicted of Female Streamer Mogami Ai’s Murder
Takano Ken’ichi stabbed Satō Airi, known online as Mogami Ai, 55 times. A brutal murder. So why are men online defending him?
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.
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
Japanese Social Media Auto-Translation: a Blessing, or a Curse?
Is auto-translation on Japanese social media breaking language barriers or creating new problems? We look at the illusion of certainty and its…
WOMEN
Japanese TV Station’s Sexist Program Title Has Men Arguing Against Themselves
If the show's producers were hoping to grab a negative reaction from women, they didn't succeed. But it got plenty of men…