Japanese schoolgirl poster hides a dark but important message behind smile
Bullying in Japanese schools is a well documented problem. According to the Mainichi, a Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology found 543,933 cases…
Society
Fighting for The Rights of The Disabled in Japan
Recently, the situation for Japanese people with disabilities seems to be improving. Disabled candidates Sawako Naito, (who has M.S.), Eiko Kimura (cerebral palsy), and Yahuhikio…
Pachinko: a brief guide to a Japanese obsession
Source: Tischbeinahe / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) One of the sectors hardest hit by the coronavirus epidemic in Japan has been the pachinko business. When the…
Furloughed during the COVID-19 Scare
The COVID-19 outbreak has hit Japan hard. The first infection in the country was confirmed mid -January. As of writing, the number of documented cases…
What are “Kisei Blues” and why Housewives refuse to visit their in-laws during Holidays?
When getting married, visiting your in-laws becomes something normal and in Japan, that is no exception. Returning home/帰省(kisei) during holidays, especially, should be something relaxing…
Concerns Over Japan’s Driverless Trains Remain
The Seaside Liner that figured in an accident by running in the wrong direction on June 1, 2019. Service resumed July 4, using manual, driver-operated…
Japanese Londoner’s Funny Viral Story Exposes Similar Passive Aggressiveness in Both Kyoto and England
The Japanese are not exactly known for their directness, but even other Japanese people fear the passive aggressiveness of Kyoto residents. A stereotypical example could…
What Do Japanese People Actually Think About Ariana Grande’s Kanji Tattoo BBQ Blunder?
You’ve probably heard about Ariana Grande’s humorous tattoo mistake by now. The chart-topping singer has shown interest before in Japanese culture, even going as far…
Tokyo Residents’ Claim Child Counselling Centre Will Affect Their Upmarket Town’s ‘Brand Image’ is Met with Backlash
This year Japan was shaken by a high profile child abuse incident. Despite being on the radar of the authorities, a five-year old girl, Yua…
Japanese Grandma Learning English One Word a Day to Help Out During the Tokyo Olympics
Omotenashi is a Japanese word which is being thrown around a whole lot in the run up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Omotenashi means hospitality,…
Japanese School Festival Devises Genius Way to Stop Littering and Promote Democracy to Kids at the Same Time
Japan’s streets are famously litter-free. Even in an urban area like Tokyo, you can see a level of cleanliness completely unexpected of one of the…
Japanese Police Return Item Lost 2 Years Ago to Baffled Man
People say if you lose something in Japan, you’ll usually get it back. Even valuable items like smartphones, credit cards or jewellery are handed straight…
Enoshima Beach Marred by Litter After Fireworks, Angering Japanese Twitter
During the World Cup this year, the Japanese fans made international news several times due to their efforts to clean up not just their own…
Watch a Rogue Raccoon Terrify Onlookers in Downtown Tokyo
Akasaka, a commercial and residential district in Tokyo’s Minato ward, isn’t known as a hotspot for wildlife. However, the area surrounding a roadside tree was…
Longevity Kings Japan Set to Lose World Life Expectancy Crown to Another Country
For years Japan has dominated the league table for world life expectancy. The streak triggered much research into the reasons behind this, so others could…