Hundreds of years before Red Bull, the samurai of the house of Date were drinking a powdered concoction said to replenish a warrior's energy. Learn more about the beverage that may well be Japan's first-ever energy drink.
ICYMI: Apple's "Crush" ad came off as tone-deaf and dystopian in a time when corporations continue to decimate creative industries brutally. Here's why it earned a particularly disdainful reaction in Japan.
As Japan continues to face rapid population decline and aging, its government considers a new tactic to grow families: make childbirth free. Learn more about the proposal - and why it's likely not enough - in our latest.
A disgusting new scam in Japan is explicitly targeting Chinese nationals. The threat? Pay up - or get deported. Learn more about how authorities are trying to combat this new scourge in our latest.
Did you know that Japanese once only had four colors? Taking a closer look at the history of colors in Japanese provides a surprisingly deep insight into Japanese culture and history.
Have you ever had a coworker who smelled so bad you felt nauseous being near them? There’s now a term for that in Japan: smell harassment (スメルハラスメント), often shortened to sume-hara. Here's why it's a growing issue in the Japanese workplace.
On May 10th this year, Japan Railways’ Suica experienced an IT issue that prevented users from charging their cards using either Mobile Suica or the online EkiNet Web site. That left a few people inside of their destination stations without a sufficient balance to exit the gates.
A lesbian couple in Japan say conditions for them were so bad in their home country that Canada has granted them refugee status. Learn why they applied for asylum - and what this says about the state of LGBTQ rights in Japan - in our latest.
"With the release of the new Shogun series, a lot of people want to know two things: (1) is it good television, and (2) is it good history? As an academic historian in Japan, I say you can enjoy both the story and the real history behind it. You just have to separate them."
Tourists and locals alike praise the transportation system in Japan for its efficiency and convenience. However, it can be daunting for first-time arrivals to figure out how to get around. Eastern Japan’s largest public transportation company aims to change that.
Set against tourism resurgence, Tochigi Prefecture rolled out its first-ever “super luxury tour” last November. Pulling out all the stops, the tour whisked affluent travelers from Tokyo to Okunikko via helicopter, offering an exclusive, picturesque escape with no congestion.
Sadly for Tochigi, no one ended up ever buying this luxury tour. Find out why here:
Wake up, babe - a new form of workplace harassment just dropped in Japan. It may not get you fired, but many on Japanese social media say "smell harassment" lowers productivity and team collaboration.
Tourists to Japan are leaving a lot behind - and in some cases, that includes their broken luggage. One hotel in Tokyo found a neat solution to the problem.
Japan's government is pushing a new law to strip permanent residents of their status - but it's based on incomplete data. Learn why some say the law will turn away foreign talent at a time when the country can ill afford it.
On May 10th, Japan Railways’ Suica experienced an IT issue that prevented users from charging their cards using either Mobile Suica or the online EkiNet Web site. That left a few people inside of their destination stations without a sufficient balance to exit the gates.
ICYMI: Thanks to ease of access, diverse menus with side dishes and fusion blends, touch panels with multilingual support for easy ordering, relatively cheap prices, and overseas locations, kaiten zushi chains are also drawing in more foreign residents than ever before.
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 in the same pickle.
For over half a century, passengers on Japan’s high-speed rail lines have relied on trusty food carts, pushed by polite, uniformed staff, for drink and sustenance needs during the long rides between the island nation’s major cities. Sadly, these days may be coming to an end.
A science & engineering student at Waseda University tried to use smart glasses to take pics of an exam and feed them to X, where other users gave him the answers. Someone busted him & now he faces charges. (The kicker? He still failed the test.)
A milestone in Japan this week: the country's first-ever 7-11 convenience store celebrates its 50-year anniversary. The store is still run by its original owner, Yamamoto Kenji, who opened the franchise in Toyosu, Tokyo on May 15th, 1974.
Using Panasonic tech, VLiver Lab uses a transparent projection screen to connect a VTuber, who engages with fans through their model. The VTuber takes orders and relays them to a human staff member, who brings drinks and helps you settle your tab at the end.
Just like TOKYO VICE, TOKYO NOIR is more of an intertwined anthology than the straightforward narrative you might expect. And amidst investigative adventurism and journalistic exposes of Japanese political scandals is a story surprisingly focused on personal tragedy.
People in Japan have a reputation for their health and longevity. But 83yo Nanri Hiroshi takes it to the next level. Here's his advice for living a long, active life.
Conveyor belt sushi chain Sushizanmai boasts an expansive menu and average prices. It makes news every year when "Tuna King" CEO Kimura Kiyoshi spends a fortune bidding at the New Year tuna auction. Some locations use his life-sized statue to welcome (or terrify) customers.
ICYMI: What do you get as a souvenir when you travel to Japan? Recently, more inbound tourists are treating themselves to a uniquely Japanese gift: hanko, or seals, engraved with their names.