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Japanese LGBTQ Couple Win Political Asylum in Canada
A lesbian couple in Japan say conditions for them were so bad in their home country that Canada has granted them refugee status.
“Smell Harassment”: Japan’s Newest Workplace Controversy
It may not get you fired, but many on Japanese social media say "smell harassment" lowers productivity and team collaboration.
Tourists Are Flocking to Japan – and Leaving Their Luggage
Tourists to Japan are leaving a lot behind - in some cases, including their broken luggage. One hotel found a neat solution to the problem.
Japan’s New Bill to Strip Permanent Residency Based on Shaky Data
Japan's government is pushing a new law to strip permanent residents of their status - but it's based on incomplete data.
Could You Get Trapped in a Japanese Subway Station Without Cash?
What happens if you're in a Japanese subway and your fare card stops working? Some folks found out the hard way recently. Here's how to avoid finding yourself…
Learn This 83-Year-Old Japanese Grandpa’s Secrets to Washboard Abs and Happiness
People in Japan have a reputation for their health and longevity. But 83yo Nanri Hiroshi takes it to the next level.
One Japanese Company Entices Workers with $1.22 Bottomless Steak
How do you incentivize workers? One company in Japan thinks they've found the answer: subsidized steak at the corporate cafeteria.
Would You Buy This $25K Japan Tour? No One Else Would, Either
It was supposed to be a luxury tour of a beautiful area of Japan for the world's elite. So why did no one end up buying it?
New VTuber Bar Opens First Location in Tokyo
We paid a visit to a new VTuber bar in Tokyo's Ikebukuro - and asked an expert on Japan's night life what it bodes for the future.
Review: Tokyo Noir, Jake Adelstein’s Satisfying Follow-Up to Tokyo Vice
With the HBO adaptation of Tokyo Vice now popular the world over, journalist Jake Adelstein returns with a long-awaited sequel: Tokyo Noir.
Japan Had an Especially Negative Reaction to Apple’s “Crush” Ad
Apple's controversial "Crush" ad received a negative reaction worldwide - and especially in Japan. Here are some reactions from social media.
Welcome Suica App Aims to Make Tourist Travel in Japan Easier
A new app from Japan Railways East set to debut next year will make it easier for tourists to get around before they even leave their homes.
Japan’s Most Popular Conveyor Belt Sushi Restaurants Among Foreign Residents
It may be under fire in Japan but conveyor belt sushi is still a popular way to grab a quick bite without breaking the bank.
This Shinto Shrine in Tokyo Appeals to Runners, Foodies, and Manga Fans
Planning a run? One shrine in Tokyo, made famous by a long-running manga, has a protective charm just for you.
Review: ‘Snack Sakura’ Doc’s Expert Imagery Illustrates Ambiguity of Japan’s Fading Nightlife
In his new short documentary, "Snack Sakura," photographer Greg Girard embraces the retro charm and social ambiguity of Japan's ubiquitous snack bars.
Hanko Seals Become Hot New Japan Tourist Souvenir
Hanko seals may one day go obsolete due to digitization. But thanks to tourists buying them as souvenirs, they're more popular than ever.
90% of Japanese Pet Food Company’s New Employees Quit Within Weeks
In Japan, 30% of employees resign from their first jobs. But at Inaba Pet Food, they're setting new records for attrition.
“Learn Japanese”: Tokyo Izakaya Closes After Owner’s Social Media Outburst
A restaurant in Tokyo had to close temporarily after its owner ranted on social media about a non-Japanese couple who came to the store.
Are You Holding Your Backpack on the Japanese Subway Wrong?
Common wisdom holds that there's a polite way to hold your backpack on a crowded train in Japan. But is common wisdom wrong?
Japan Railways Says It’s Cracking Down on “Customer Harassment”
In Japan, they say "the customer is god." Lately, more customers are angry, wrathful gods - and one Japanese company says it's had enough.
Review: Takaoka’s Travels – This Surrealist Pilgrimage Delights and Disturbs
A new English translation of Takaoka's Travels by Japanese author Shibusawa Tatsuhiko is a funny, fantastical fever dream.
Unoccupied Houses in Japan Skyrocket to Over 13% of All Homes
As Japan's population ages, it's finding itself awash in a glut of unoccupied homes - and a new report says the country just set a record.
To Kill a Shogun: The Sad Tale of Minamoto no Sanetomo
In 1219, the shogun Minamoto no Sanetomo, samurai lord of all Japan, was slain on the steps of Tsurugaoka Shrine in Kamakura, killed by his own nephew in…
Aichi Prefecture: What’s Good (and Not So Good) About Traveling There?
With overtourism rocking Japan, people are looking for less crowded places to visit. A new survey rates how Aichi Prefecture stacks up.
The Weak Yen Has Japanese Travelers Bringing Rice to Hawaii
The weak yen is a big boon to tourists coming to Japan. But for Japanese traveling abroad, it's forcing them to economize.
Famous Mt. Fuji Photo Spot Will Be Draped Over Due to Overtourism
This is why we can't have nice things: an influx of tourism is forcing officials to close off an iconic picture spot of Mt. Fuji.
Famous Mt. Fuji Photo Spot Will Be Draped Over Due to Overtourism
This is why we can't have nice things: an influx of tourism is forcing officials to close off an iconic picture spot of Mt. Fuji.
Japanese Soba Maker Aims for Guinness Record Next Month
A company in Fukui Prefecture wants to set the first-ever Guinness World Record for soba eating. Here's how your hungry self can help.
Are You Eating These Japanese Foods Wrong?
Japanese food etiquette has a series of dos and don'ts. But one etiquette expert says even most Japanese people get these things wrong. Learn how to level-up your…
Will Tourists Flock Back to Noto Peninsula Amid Quake Recovery?
Tourism in Hokuriku took a heavy hit post-quake. Are tourists ready to return to the heavily hit Noto Peninsula?
Bicycling in Japan: How to Travel and Sightsee on Two Wheels
Bicycling can be a great way to get more out of your Japan trip. Here's what you need to know before you put on a helmet.
Why Visitors Aren’t Flocking to the Osaka 2025 Expo
Costs for Osaka Expo 2025 keep rising - but the ticket sales needed to cover them aren't happening. Will taxpayers be stuck with the bill?
New Record: Japan Surpasses 3 Million Inbound Tourists In a Month
Some 3 million people flocked into Japan in March 2024 alone. What explains the country's record tourism numbers?
AI-Driven Fake Celebrity Ads are Japan’s Latest Scam Trend
At least AI is good for something: thieves in Japan are using it to impersonate celebs like Naomi Osaka and con people out of millions.
Why Shinto Shrines Are Abandoning Their Controversial Association
Since 1969, the Association of Shinto Shrines has overseen most shrines in Japan. But ongoing controversies are driving some away.
Japan To Require ESTA for Visa-Exempt Travelers
How you travel to Japan will change in the next decade. The country says it's creating an ESTA system for visa-exempt travelers.
Shogun Is Great TV – But It’s Not About Colonialism
The 2024 Shogun TV series stacks up pretty well to history, says a Japanese historian - but the chatter about "colonialism" is ridiculous.
A Survey Ranked Japan’s Most Ill-Mannered City. The Winner?
A survey asked people in Japan if their city had the worst manners. You won't believe which took first place. (Okay, maybe you will.)
Japan’s First-Ever Weight Loss Drug Is Approved. But Does It Need It?
Japan - already one of the world's thinnest nations - has its first-ever approved weight loss drug. Will users dig its nasty side effects?
Tourists Love Japan’s Toilets, Says New Survey
Foreign tourists are going wild for Japan's bidet-equipped toilets - and many are eager to see them in public spaces too.
Stolen Ryukyu Artwork, Found in US, Returned to Okinawa
The rediscovery of Ryukyuan artwork lost during the Pacific War offers a ray of hope for those seeking to restore Okinawa's cultural history.
Kumai Hitomi: From Beauty Contestant to the “Luffy” Crime Ring
Kumai Hitomi had a promising future. But she ended up running with the wrong crowd - and had to cheat and steal to save her own life.
Inbound Tourist Discounts Ending in Japan As Locals Protest
It used to be you could get into some key cultural attractions in Japan as a tourist at a discount. Here's why those days may be over.
In Japan, Overpouring Combini Coffee Could Mean Prison, Job Loss
Japan's facing a minor crime wave of people pouring more combini coffee than they bought. Now, combinis are cracking down - with arrests.
Flesh-Eating Bacteria Hits Japan – But Officials Tell Travelers Not to Worry
Should you worry that streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) will throw a wrench into your Japan travel plans? Here's the latest.
New Superfast Shinkansen Line in Japan Delayed, Possibly Until 2034
It promises to be a true bullet train, traversing seven prefectures in 40 minutes. But will the new Shinkansen ever see the light of day?
At This Japanese Gym, You Can Sing Karaoke and Wash Your Laundry
Want to get in some reps but also need to do your laundry AND belt out some karaoke hits? Good news! This gym in Japan's got you covered.
This Spicy Japanese Snack Wasn’t an April Fool’s Prank After All
One company in Japan took an interesting twist on April Fools this year: advertising a "joke" that turned up on store shelves the next day.
Shizuoka Wants to Toll Mt. Fuji to Curb Overtourism
To prevent overtourism, Shizuoka Prefecture wants to charge users of its three Mt. Fuji trailheads. The problem? It doesn't own them.
Why Everyone in Japan Could Be Named Sato-san By 2531
In a future Japan where couples can't choose separate surnames, 2531 could be the era of the Sato-sans, one Japanese university claims.