WWII

HISTORY

Banei Racing: Hokkaido’s Stubborn Settler Sport of Strength and Spirit

Hokkaido's fascinating Banei Racing, where massive draft horses pull weighted sleighs up slopes, is an intriguing remnant of a colonial history.

CULTURE

Licensed in Silk – a Mixed Nikkei’s Journey in Studying Kimono in Japan

Newly licensed in the wearing of kimono, Rin takes a look back at what drew her closer to the traditional clothing- and…

JAPANESE LANGUAGE

Kotobagari: The Banned Words of the Japanese Language

It's often said that there are no swear words in Japanese. But while profanities may be rare, taboos - and banned words…

CULTURE

The Uilta: an Invisible Indigenous Group in Japan

How one man's journey reflects the struggles of the Uilta people in defining themselves in the wake of Japanese colonization.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Tiny, Complicated Nauru Becomes the Most-Followed Country on Japanese Twitter

Nauru has more Japanese Twitter followers than it does citizens. It also has a dark and complicated history with Japan.

ENTERTAINMENT

Anime From the Left – and From the (Far, Far) Right

Anime may be entertainment, first and foremost. But art is almost always political. Anime is no exception.

FEATURED

Japan’s Schindler: How Sugihara Chiune Saved Thousands Of Jewish Refugees

The story of how a Japanese diplomat went against the dictates of his own government in order to issue Jewish refugees with…

CULTURE

Yasukuni Shrine: Founded in War, Haunted By Controversy

How Yasukuni Shrine, a shrine to commemorate Japan's fallen soldiers, became a politically-charged breeding ground for controversy.