Autumn Equinox (秋分の日): Honor your ancestors, remember the departed
While Shubun no Hi symbolizes the transition of summer into fall, the day also marks a time when Japanese people pay respects to their ancestors.
On Modern Slavery: Thoughts on Human Trafficking
[Not only do I find it personally abhorrent, but intellectually, it] is a terrible exploit of labor that robs women, men and children of their freedom and dignity. In fact,…
無縁仏（Muenbotoke): Buddhas Without Connections
On the 8th and 15th of this month, in Japan and in parts of Asia, they celebrate Nirvana Day. It commemorates the death of the Buddha and his liberation from…
Mass Exodus of Foreign Men After Japanese Women Stop Sleeping With Them
Japan’s gaijin community is set to shrink to pre-Meiji era levels as they leave in droves due to Japanese women no longer finding them attractive. While male foreigners have long…
US Embassy alert concerning dengue fever in Japan (PSA)
September 5th, 2014 The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo alerts U.S. citizens to the recent outbreak of dengue fever in Japan, the first since 1945. Japanese media recently reported that 36 people who…
How the Japanese Went Under, and Stayed There
Uchida's speciality is throwing politics and philosophy, Aikido and women's issues, the income gap and Japan's slide into poverty, plus sex and relationship advice - all in one blender and…
Japan’s Summer 2014 must-have Cool Biz items: white pants and fans all over your body
While this year's "cool biz" trend is white pants, there are other wacky items on sale to help you beat the heat in the office. Our personal favorite, however, is…
Hello Kitty isn’t a cat?
A recent revelation that Hello Kitty isn't a cat has left people, including ourselves, scratching their heads.
Contemporary Culture
Dark Side of the Sun
Featured
Jake Adelstein
Pop Culture
Uncategorized
Underground Economy
Japan’s Most Infamous Toy Robot Thief Confesses: “I stole it & sold it to buy monster dolls”
"I love the sort of monster figures and dolls that appear on Ultraman, and I wanted to buy more with the money I made from the action figure [I stole],"…
After months of debate, Japan’s court tell stalking victim, “We won’t protect you”
Japanese courts reject a temporary restraining order for stalking victim Ikumi Yoshimatsu, who filed the request this January.