JAPANESE LANGUAGE
Why Does Japan Have So Many Last Names Compared to China and Korea?
Why does Japan have hundreds of thousands of surnames while China and Korea rely on a handful? The answer lies in a…
south korea
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
LIVING IN JAPAN
“Katakana Hell”: The Culture Shocks Japan’s Asian Immigrants Actually Face
What surprises Asian immigrants in Japan? From corporate jargon to the country's famously indirect "no," there's a lot to navigate.
WOMEN
In Japan, Sanitary Pads Are Getting Pricier. In Korea, They’re Going Free
A viral post blamed Japan's first female prime minister for higher pad costs, highlighting a highly controversial political topic.
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
Kanji Forever? Why Japan Still Uses Chinese Characters, But Korea Mostly Doesn’t
Japan spent a century trying to abolish kanji, from an 1866 petition to the shogun to a postwar novelist who wanted Japan…
LAW & CRIME
GPS Trackers on Stalkers? Japan’s Ruling Party Pushes Solution to Rising Problem
Japan may soon fit stalkers with GPS ankle monitoring devices that would alert their victims when the offender draws near.
INSIDER
A Famous Japanese Novelist Dumps Her Publisher After Discriminatory Column
Yuzuki Asako's former publisher has a history of running inflammatory columns. The latest was the last straw for the author.
TRAVEL
Japan Sets New February Tourism Record Despite China Boycott
Travel from other countries offset a 45.2% drop from a nation that used to lead the pack in Japan tourism.
TRAVEL
Why South Korean Men Are Flocking to Japan to Find Love
Why are South Korean men rushing to Japan to find a partner? Some of them say it's because Korean culture sets too…