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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.

FOOD

This Ramen Shop in Japan Demands You Stay Off Your Damn Phone

The shop in Saitama Prefecture said it instituted the policy after a customer watched an "inappropriate" video.