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. Learn why the remarks are so controversial - and how some Japanese restaurants are struggling with the influx of tourists.
Bad news for Japan's Karens (可憐たち, if you will): Japan Railways East says it will no longer do business with customers who harass its employees. Violations include physical/verbal abuse, making employees kneel in apology (土下座), & harassment on social media.
This so-called "customer harassment" (カスハラ) has been a rising problem for years in Japan, a country lauded for its overall excellent customer service. Tokyo will be the first local gov to institute anti-harassment legislation this year.
The 2024 Shogun TV series stacks up pretty well to history, says a Japanese historian - but the surrounding conversation around "colonialism" is ridiculous.
Whether you’re visiting Japan or just immigrated, it can take time to adjust to the local food culture. That’s especially true if you eat a specific kind of diet. Good news if you eat high protein, though. You have a handy – and ubiquitous – ally: 7-11.
Today came the announcement everyone in Tokyo has been waiting for: Japan’s Meteorological Agency visited Yasukuni Shrine and confirmed the opening of the cherry blossoms. The announcement is five days later than average due to the weird, winter-like weather in the Kanto region.
You finally have a right to an attorney in Japan: starting in April, attorneys can be present for police interrogations, something currently only allowed by police discretion in limited cases. Japan’s Federation of Bar Associations hopes the move reduces forced confessions.
In Japan, police can keep you for 22 days and then re-charge you. This system of near-indefinite detention gives them plenty of time to extract confessions - even from innocent people. In one recent high profile case, this system ended in tragedy.
At Ramen Break Beats, chef Yanase Takuro, who doubles as a DJ (hence the store name), serves bowls at around the 2000 yen (USD $13.50) mark. That’s more than double the average cost of a bowl of ramen – and double the so-called “1000 yen wall”.
The sudden death of manga author Ashihara Hinako has other authors speaking out about how their works are adapted for television. The story of how NTV and Shogakukan mishandled the adaptation of SEXY TANAKA-SAN - and why the fallout still continues.
@yon yeah not specifically a Japan problem for sure. In this case however NTV and Shogakukan broke a direct promise to the author. Just a horribly handled situation. It’s especially terrible when you read what she wrote before her death - you can feel how much her work meant to her.
One person said they were told popular izakaya chain Torikizoku was fully booked but other affiliated places were available. They informed one of the touts they would pay around 1500 yen per person. However, the final bill ended up being much higher — around 4000 yen plus a service charge.
Aoba Shinji, the arsonist who murdered 36 people at Kyoto Animation, met with the husband of victim Ikeda Shoko. He says Aoba couldn't accept the judgment of a forensic psychologist that he was suffering from delusion. Aoba spent over half of the 20min convo discussing anime.
We wrote a while back on That Other Social Media Site about how Ikeda's husband says he's working on not hating the assailant that took his wife and son's mother from them:
Move over, idols - there's a new katsu in town. Adults are engaging in リカ活 (Rika-katsu) - collecting, dressing up, and even going on outings with Licca, Japan's equivalent of Barbie. Reports say interest in Licca seems to have deepened during the pandemic.
People who know nothing about Japan: Japan isn’t down with all this LGBTQ stuff!!
Actual Japan: on Feb 1st, Wakayama Prefecture will become the latest local government to pass a partnership system for same-sex couples. Such systems already cover 70.9% of Japan’s population.
@gcvsa oh absolutely agreed. My point is that, contrary to what some way, there isn’t majority opposition to LGBTQ rights. Quite the opposite - it’s a minority holding up progress at the national level.
ICYMI: A sharp move towards contactless payments has fostered a dizzying array of options. Here’s a rundown of the options available – and how ubiquitous they are – for both tourists and residents.
@insideoutsidemix cash works almost everywhere - however some stores are going completely cashless. (I was at one yesterday.) It’s good to have money on a transportation card just in case.