Japan News / Japanese Society
Kyoto Temple Bans Kimono Visitors — And No, It’s Not Because They Hate Kimono
Kyoto’s temples have always been photogenic. That’s kind of the point. Beautiful gardens, old wood, quiet halls — of course […]
Japan News / Japanese Society
Japan News / Japanese Society
The “Foreigners Are Ruining Everything” Story That’s Spreading Faster Than the Actual Numbers
A guy living in Japan recently got a worried message from his parents. They weren’t asking about work or if […]
Japan News / Japanese Society
Why You Still Can’t Buy a Nicotine Vape in Japan
Japan is the world’s biggest heated-tobacco market. IQOS and the rest of the “heat-not-burn” lineup just outsold regular cigarettes for […]
Japan News / Japanese Society
One in Three Young Japanese Singles Have Zero Plans to Get Married
Japan’s government just dropped some pretty blunt numbers about how young people actually feel about tying the knot. A large […]
Japan News / Japanese Society
She went into underground sex work to pay her parents back and then die. She ended up turning male desire into a business
Rurutan is an adult influencer with about 1.3 million followers. In a recent magazine conversation with author Akira Tachibana, she […]
Japan News / Japanese Society
The guy with four wives lost his harem. Then he collected seven more girlfriends
Remember late 2023, when Japanese media briefly lost its mind over Ryuta Watanabe? The Sapporo househusband who said he had […]
Japan News / Japanese Society
Japan Used to Have Roadside Sex Museums – Most of Them Are Gone
Everyone knows the Kanamara Matsuri — the giant steel phallus festival that makes international headlines every spring. Less famous is […]
Japan News / Japanese Society
Who Actually Pays for Your “Free” Japan Itinerary?
You’re planning a trip to Japan. One agent charges you to build the days. Another says they’ll plan the whole […]
Japan News / Japanese Society
Japan Just Made Staying Here a Lot More Expensive
Foreign residents in Japan are about to pay a lot more to keep their status. The Cabinet signed off on […]
Japan News / Japanese Society
Japan’s Airport Customs Are Catching Some Pretty Bold Attempts Right Now
With foreign visitors pouring into Japan at a record pace — over 21 million in just the first half of […]
Japan News / Japanese Society
South Korean actress hits career turbulence after family history dig
Popular South Korean actress Ahn Ha-young just got hit with a wave of online backlash that forced her into a […]
Japan News / Japanese Society
Foreigners Give Japan’s Konbini Five Stars. Locals Stick to Three
Japanese convenience stores are basically a religion for tourists. Famichiki, egg salad sandwiches, perfectly packaged onigiri, ATMs that actually work […]
Japan News / Japanese Society
Japan’s New Permanent Residency Rules Have Me Worried About the Country’s Future
Japan is getting a lot stricter about who can settle down for good, and it’s got me thinking hard about […]
Japan News / Japanese Society
Japan Has Had Menstrual Leave for Almost 80 Years – But Using It Can Still Get You Side-Eyed
Japan’s Labor Standards Act has protected menstrual leave since 1947. If a woman says her period makes it hard to […]
Japan News / Japanese Society
Should the Shinkansen get women-only seats? One viral post sparked a big debate
Japan’s bullet trains are famous for being punctual and comfortable, but even they have their awkward moments. A 27-year-old office […]
Japan News / Japanese Society
Japan’s “Meal-Canceling Crowd”: Cute Gen Z Slang or a Sign of Tight Times?
There’s a new phrase floating around Japanese social media and news: shokuji kyanseru kaiwai, the “meal-canceling crowd.” It’s the latest […]