SOCIETY
Japan’s Shrines and Temples Goes Cashless to Thwart Donation Box Thefts
With Hatsumode - the first shrine visit of the New Year - fast approaching, some shrines say they're going digital to stop…
technology
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SOCIETY
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
“Pseudo-Chinese”: New Japanese Social Media App Only Allows Kanji
Wanna stress-test your Japanese knowledge? A new social media app for Japanese users dares you to ditch kana by allowing only kanji…
TECHNOLOGY
Self-Driving Taxis Will Hit Tokyo Streets on a Test Run in 2025
Waymo is partnering with two companies in Japan to pilot self-driving "robotaxis" in seven cities in Tokyo next year. The experiment could…
SOCIAL MEDIA
Japan-Only Social App Mixi Releases Mixi 2, an X Alternative
Is Japan ready to do social media like it's 2004? MIXI Inc. hopes so. The company, whose Mixi service hosted 15 million…
TRAVEL
Goodbye Train Gates? New Suica Promises Gate-Free Travel in Japan
Will you never have to swipe your Suica card again? JR East says it plans to roll out a version of the…
TRAVEL
Why Is Osaka Expo a Bust With Japan’s Inbound Tourists?
The Osaka Expo takes place next year. But does anyone care? A lack of support among inbound tourists as well as its…
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
The Tokaido Shinkansen Celebrates 60 Years of Awesome
Happy birthday! This month, the Tokaido Shinkansen celebrated its 60th anniversary. Learn more about the bullet train's history and how it revolutionized…
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
Staffless Shops in Japan See Success – and Theft
Japan is renowned for its customer service. However, in the near future, there may be no one serving you at all. Here's…