Fukushima is launching an experimental app to see if gamifying housework will help close the chore gap in Japanese households.

The new national legal requirement doesn't carry any direct fines, and customers face no potential punishment for crossing the line.

Soni Village has beautiful fields of Japanese silver grass, and also a somewhat unique overtourism problem.

Just as the government is adding Japanese-language requirements to certain visas, the twice-yearly JLPTs are getting seriously crowded.

Want to break up with someone, but are afraid what their reaction might be? Japan has a service for that.

Does Japan REALLY welcome its new robot overlords? A deep dive into what Japan thinks about AI.

Sick in Japan? Don't panic. Learn where tourists can get care, what it costs, and why travel insurance matters.

Curious why there are two names for salmon in Japanese? There's an interesting historical (and scientific!) reason behind that.

Languages can be stubborn things. You can see this clearly in Japanese, where multiple layers of kanji pronunciation exist to this day.

A woman says her boyfriend seemed poised to break up with her for the way she ate yakitori. Does Japan really have a gendered rule for meat on a stick?

Forget the JLPT. If you want to take a truly hard Japanese test, check out the Kanji Kentei, whose highest levels have an abysmal pass rate.

What you need to know to avoid the typical izakaya traps: all about touting, snuck-in fees, and fishy business practices.

Sometimes, love hotels mask themselves as ordinary hotels. Learn the key differences and what to look for when booking your next trip.

A canceled baseball pitch demonstrates how Japan's nightlife workers are stigmatized, even after they move on with their lives.

A viral post brings to light that changing a name in Japan is much cheaper than you might think... but that doesn't mean it's easy.

A recent social media discussion that could have turned dicey instead became a referendum on a single Chinese particle.

How a coffee shop with rock-bottom prices became a home away from home for the diverse denizens of Kabukicho.

William Andrews’ new book explores Adachi Masao's radical cinema, the Japanese New Left, and decades of involvement with the infamous Japanese Red Army.

The printers who make fan manga possible are closing at an alarming rate. The Middle East ink crisis is only one cause.

Japan's tourist traps know how to look trustworthy online, creating paid reviews, inflated ratings, and search rankings to mislead travelers.

Exactly what is it about this year's Halloween event that requires a waiver and an R-18 rating? Psychological horror and legal liability.

A Zainichi Korean woman is suing a hotel in Tokyo after they refused to let her check in under her Korean name.

JR East is letting riders vote on its new mascot. But some expressed skepticism that their opinion would be taken seriously.

Japan's economy is forcing more young people to consider sharing living expenses. But many are finding that's easier said than done.

How a legal oversight allows some men in Japan to turn a nice need into an excuse to meet - and stalk - young women.

This is a question most travelers to Japan want to know. The answer is less about memorizing vocab and more about how you approach things.

The move by the city that hosts 9% of the country's vacation rentals is part of a wave of restrictions sweeping the country.

As Japan works to combat population decline, a new government report says many unmarried young people intend to stay that way.

Will an izakaya, soapland, or happening bar turn you away for having tattoos? Here's what you need to know before exploring Tokyo after dark.

A former student said her teacher had sex with her in high school. The school fired him - but many online aren't sympathizing with the victim.

The death of Japanese artist Kusama Yayoi prompted many English-language social media users to revisit her racist screeds. Japanese users, for the most part, looked away.

Learn all about the branding of shime-parfait and how a tradition of an after-drink sweet in Sapporo spread across the country.

Why can't vapes be sold in a country that still loves smoking? A look into the complex legal framework that keeps them import-only.

Japan's latest festival wear isn't just cool and comfortable: some women say it's the perfect protection from perverts.

Seven years after a devastating fire, Shuri Castle is reopening on November 23. Learn more about its history and how to visit.

Four different media outlets reported a recent incident of sexual assault in four different ways. Only two of them called it what it was.

Remember when rice disappeared from Japan’s store shelves in 2024? The Reiwa Rice Crisis is over, but neither farmers nor consumers are getting their money back.

Nothing in life is free. So how exactly do travel agencies get paid when they customize a "free" itinerary? An honest look at what you get, and what you might lose.

Japan's public bathhouses are struggling to stay alive. Here's how one Kyoto venue found a unique solution for preserving communal space.

Why are there so few female yakitori chefs? The story behind what keeps women out, and three female chefs defying the odds.

Japan's government is finally taking steps to address its toilet gap between men and women, but there's still a long way to go.

A common right-wing trope on Japanese social media alleges a Muslim-led arson wave in Japan that doesn't exist.

What oppai bars are, how they work, and how Japan's ever-changing entertainment laws helped bring them into being.

A former maiko who says she was harassed and abused in Japan's geisha world is now telling her story, including the enormous bill her house handed her when she left.

Japan's new tax-free shopping rules start November, leaving handling to private operators and leaving tourists with less than a full refund.

You just finished your meal at a Japanese restaurant. Then you realize the store only takes cash. Don't panic - here's what to do next.

Will your perfume cause problems? Here's what to know about what to wear (and when not to wear anything) while traveling in Japan.

As Japan gets hotter, age-old cultural rituals such as radio calisthenics, going to the beach, and even Obon dances are suffering.

Why does Japan have hundreds of thousands of surnames while China and Korea rely on a handful? The answer lies in a Meiji-era law.

Inside Biriyani Osawa: a tiny, reservation-only Tokyo spot serving one pot of biryani per seating, praised in the Michelin Guide Tokyo 2026.