Unseen Japan

The Japan you don't learn about in anime.

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Last Notes

2025-05-26 21:37:21

Looking for a job in Japan? Some municipalities are hiring people to stand on the right side of the escalator to get people out of the habit of using it as a walking lane. Standers make around 6500 yen ($45) a day, with supervisors making 16K ($112).
https://buff.ly/qLQ6Ach
#japan #unseenjapan #news
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2025-05-20 00:23:47

How long has punctuation been part of the Japanese language? Do young Japanese people fear it because it's so "alien"?! We dispel some myths and look at the actual history of full stops in tomorrow's Unseen Japan Insider newsletter. Subscribe today:
https://buff.ly/ohTkwcg
#japan #unseenjapan
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2025-05-14 01:18:02

"This is largely Japanese TV these days"
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite
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2025-05-09 22:48:16

It’s rare for Japanese celebrities to wade into domestic politics. But Hikaru Utada isn't shy about standing up for what they believe in. The singer is currently causing waves by asking when Japanese women will be allowed to keep their maiden names.
https://unseen-japan.com/hikaru-utada-separate-spousal-surnames/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #music #politics #women
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2025-04-16 22:50:01

"Please consult with staff if you plan to shoplift"
Lower left: "I'm shoplifting"
Lower right: "I'm calling the cops"
#japan #unseenjapan
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2025-04-09 01:07:31

Rice prices just keep climbing in Japan. The Japanese government is planning a third release from its strategic reserves - but some experts say it won't help. Meanwhile, one supermarket is selling an "American blend" to give consumers some relief.
https://unseen-japan.com/rice-prices-japan-no-relief/
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2025-04-03 20:52:23

You may experience longer wait times at Japan's arrival ports thanks to one American. The tourist reportedly brought a handgun & ammunition into Japan, somehow getting it through two airports before realizing his "mistake" at his Osaka hotel. He's now under arrest.
https://unseen-japan.com/american-tourist-gun-japan/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #travel #tourism #news
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2025-04-02 22:55:41

Japanese Communist Party (JCP) politician Yoshida Ayaka said recently that sanitary products should be free for women "like toilet paper." At least one prominent hard-right figure bashed her for the idea, leading to a pile-on - and a flood of automated death threats.
https://buff.ly/vcHV0im
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2025-04-02 15:18:08

Japanese food etiquette has a series of dos and don'ts. But one etiquette expert says even most Japanese people get these things wrong. Here's how to level-up your food manners game in Japan.
https://unseen-japan.com/japanese-food-etiquette-advanced-manners/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #travel
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2025-04-01 23:13:18

Musashino Higashi Gakuen is one of Japan's few schools that are supportive of autistic kids. However, ever since a new chairman took the reins, parents say the environment has become increasingly hostile & unsafe for students, parents & teachers alike.
https://unseen-japan.com/musashino-higashi-gakuen-school-crisis/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #school #kids #children
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2025-03-31 22:14:04

"I screamed - thought these were towns I'd never heard of"
Sign shows a train bound for Shizuoka and Tokyo, but the names are meant to be read left-to-right. Reading down - which is still standard in Japanese print media - produces "Shizuto" and "Okakyo."
#japan #unseenjapan
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2025-03-30 15:18:05

A new Japanese website purports to deliver just that in the form of a sex offender map. That’s sparked a debate over whether the service is legal under existing Japanese law. At least one expert says it may not be - and could get its owner in hot water.
https://unseen-japan.com/sex-offender-map-japan-legal/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite
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2025-03-30 13:06:05

Go to a Japanese restaurant these days, and odds are 50/50 you won’t see a paper menu. Instead, you’re given a QR code you can use to order from your own smartphone. While restaurants love it, some Japanese customers resent the impersonal trend.
https://unseen-japan.com/qr-code-restaurant-ordering-japan-backlash/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #food
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2025-03-29 22:07:24

One important rule to obey when bicycling in Japan is the hook turn rule. To turn right at a signal, you need to go straight ahead through the crosswalk, turn to the right, and go straight when the light turns again. I.e., you do NOT use the right-turn lane that cars use.
https://unseen-japan.com/bicycling-in-japan-for-tourists/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #travel #tourism #bicycling
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2025-03-29 21:58:26

Japan's registered domicile law means that, when you get married (or naturalized), you can claim you hail from anywhere in the country. 3,000 people have chosen the Imperial Palace in Chiyoda City. It's driving the people who work at Chiyoda City Hall crazy.
https://buff.ly/9nE9qIZ
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2025-03-29 14:57:55

The entire Ghibli ethos is concerned with craftsmanship. It's a textual subject of the films (one example: hand carving violins in Whisper of the Heart) and the meta work that goes into the films themselves, which feature hard workers, and are animated with sweat and tears.
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2025-03-29 14:57:55

- reply

You don't need to quote Miyazaki's highly negative reaction to an early AI model he was presented some years ago - a cursory viewing of a few of their films reveals their care for human creativity.
We're proud to have hired a human artist for this cover.
https://unseen-japan.com/the-ultimate-ranking-of-the-studio-ghibli-universe/

2025-03-29 00:25:06

Japan is grappling w/ increasing complaints from parents about pornographic ads being shown online to kids - even on school-issued tablets. However, both Japan's Children & Families Agency and its Digital Agency say the issue isn't within their jurisdictions.
https://buff.ly/RCggCXG
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #news
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2025-03-27 13:56:05

Unseen Japan works to create content, not clickbait. We can do that thanks to the support of our readers. If you love what we do, donate to the Unseen Japan Journalism Fund to d help keep our site clean of annoying click-through ads and paywalls.
https://unseen-japan.com/support/
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2025-03-25 03:33:06

The Osaka High Court has just found that refusing to acknowledge same-sex marriage in Japan is unconstitutional. This overturns an initial ruling in the case brought by three couples across Japan & marks the 5th time a high court has made such a ruling.
https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2025032500139&g=soc
#japan #unseenjapan #lgbtq
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2025-03-23 01:18:03

While it's working to launch one in 2026, Japan still has no official sexual offender database. A small group of individuals just launched one as both a free and a paid service - but some experts say, under current Japanese law, it may very well be illegal.
https://unseen-japan.com/sex-offender-map-japan-legal/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #crime #law
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2025-03-17 23:59:35

Most married, working women in Japan are stuck with an unfair share of housework - including dishes. So why aren't dishwashers more prevalent in Japanese kitchens? Here's why one critic blames the male-dominated real estate industry for keeping kitchens tiny.
https://unseen-japan.com/dishwashers-japan-sexism/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #women #equality #news
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2025-03-15 00:52:03

As Japan ages and becomes more single, some senior citizens are looking to one another for comfort in the afterlife. A non-profit org, Ending Center, helps seniors make "Grave Friends" - final friendships that participants will, quite literally, take to their graves.
https://buff.ly/wvQzcvl
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2025-03-13 00:02:09

22yo Sato Airi, a livestreamer who went by Mogami Ai, was brutally murdered on March 11th in Shinjuku City's Takadanobaba. So why are so many people on Japanese social media expressing sympathy for her murderer? (Spoiler alert: it's misogyny.)
https://unseen-japan.com/mogami-ai-sato-airi-murder/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #crime #women #news
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2025-03-11 17:21:05

Even as costs rise, many ramen shops in Japan are afraid to transcend the so-called “1,000 yen wall” (around USD $6.70) or fear of driving away customers. So some have found a workaround: keep serving noodles …and only noodles.
https://unseen-japan.com/noodle-only-ramen-japan/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #food
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2025-03-03 22:34:20

Japan's Children & Families Agency spent 1 billion yen on developing a Machine Learning system to detect risk of child abuse based on data. It's now abandoning the project after a test run produced a 62% failure rate. Experts say fixing the system's issues would be "difficult."
https://unseen-japan.com/japan-child-abuse-ai-fail/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #ai #technology
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2025-02-22 14:06:05

ICYMI: As soon as one popular location in Japan fills up, tourists find another. That’s happening currently in the city of Furano in Hokkaido, where some residents say they hardly recognize the place they grew up.
https://unseen-japan.com/furano-hokkaido-overtourism/
#japan #Unseenjapan #ujwebsite #travel #tourism
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2025-02-20 16:18:07

Where once there might have been silence, the voices of the benshi rang out in the cinemas of early 20th-century Japan. Find out more about who the benshi were and what they brought to the movies before the advent of talking pictures.
https://unseen-japan.com/benshi-japan-silent-cinema/
#japan #unseenjapan #movies #film #ujwebsite #entertainment
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2025-02-17 14:06:06

Why is it so hard to find a space in Tokyo to sit? As cafes fill up due to remote workers and tourists, locals complain that the public spaces they had grown used to relaxing in seem to be disappearing.
https://unseen-japan.com/tokyo-disappearing-benches/
#japan #unseenjapan
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2025-02-16 16:18:06

ICYMI: Women’s rights advocates in both Japan and Hungary are angry and taking action after reports from Budapest, where a 43-year-old Japanese was murdered by her husband. The woman had reportedly begged the Japanese Embassy for help - which they refused.
https://buff.ly/4htgmwz
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2025-02-14 21:20:25

43-year-old Makino Masayuki founded a group that "rescues" at-risk youth from the streets of Tokyo's Kabukicho. Saitama police just arrested him on charges of raping a 17-year-old girl. The case raises alarming questions about who's running these shady "support" groups.
https://unseen-japan.com/toyoko-kids-man-charged-rape/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #tokyo #news #crime
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2025-02-11 23:50:53

Everyone in Japan loves ramen. But some cities REALLY love ramen. A report from Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs & Communications says this city in the country's Tohoku region has eaten the most ramen per capita for the third year running.
https://unseen-japan.com/ramen-capital-japan/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #food
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2025-02-07 22:18:03

Are you a member of the Puroland Club or the holder of a yearly passport? If so, bad news. Sanrio Entertainment has announced it's been the victim of a ransomware attack, with up to 2 million names & addresses (but no financial data) potentially leaked.
https://unseen-japan.com/puroland-ransomware-attack/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #news #technology
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2025-02-06 20:43:27

Ichikawa City in Chiba Prefecture announced that a new program giving rent subsidies to newly married couples will also be open to LGBTQ couples. It's the first time such a program in Japan has recognized sexual and gender minorities.
https://unseen-japan.com/ichikawa-city-japan-lgbtq-marriage-support/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #lgbtq #equality
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2025-01-18 18:21:05

ICYMI: Some far-right voices in Japan are objecting to the creation of a new cemetery in Miyagi Prefecture that will cater to Japan’s growing Muslim population. However, the Prefecture’s governor says the project is necessary and will proceed as planned.
https://unseen-japan.com/islamic-cemetery-miyagi-prefecture-opposition/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #religion
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2025-01-18 14:06:07

"In Japan, as I watched the events unfold after the assassination of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, I had a very strange sense of déjà vu. It was like reliving the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022."
https://unseen-japan.com/luigi-mangione-the-parallels-to-abe-shinzos-assassin/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite
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2025-01-11 18:21:05

ICYMI: Japan last changed the format of its license plates back in 1998. Now, it’s introduced a new format including Latin alphabetic letters because it’s running close to exhausting the current number supply.
https://unseen-japan.com/japan-license-plates-latin-letters/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #cars
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2025-01-08 23:19:40

In recent years, Japan’s seen a huge spike in syphilis cases. The latest numbers aren’t any better, with Tokyo reporting its fourth consecutive increase last year. There are now 7.4 times as many cases compared to 10 years ago.
https://unseen-japan.com/syphilis-cases-increasing-tokyo/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #sexuality #health
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2025-01-07 20:22:19

Japanese actor Yoshizawa Ryo is out of a contract with Asahi Beer after drunkenly wandering into an apartment that wasn't his. The company says it's axed his commercials for their Asahi Dry Crystal after police found the actor passed out in a neighbor's place on December 30th.
https://unseen-japan.com/yoshizawa-ryo-asahi-beer-contract/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #beer #alcohol
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2025-01-06 21:28:36

Mochi deaths, a mobbed onsen, Oshikatsu addiction, and Hashimoto Kanna drama bomb - check out these and more of our top stories from last week in the Unseen Japan Newsletter!
https://us20.campaign-archive.com/?u=e9c0d2fc400d4b96cabfca61a&id=6d716fc2ca
#japan #unseenjapan
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2025-01-06 00:35:34

Don't be surprised if you start seeing Latin alphabet letters on Japanese license plates. Japan's Ministry of Transportation is introducing 10 letters to one of the plates' components because a boom in vanity plate numbers is exhausting unique combinations.
https://unseen-japan.com/japan-license-plates-latin-letters/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #cars #driving
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2025-01-05 21:20:54

Friends don't let friends use Duolingo. When it comes to Japanese, there are so many better ways to learn than giving money to a company that's firing its workers and replacing them with AI. Here's our roadmap for a cheap and effective Duolingo alternative.
https://unseen-japan.com/learn-japanese-without-duolingo/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #japanese
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2025-01-01 14:06:08

ICYMI: Japan’s major political parties are proposing a new law to limit what can go up on the country’s election campaign poster boards. The move is a reaction to the rampant abuse that the boards suffered during this year’s Tokyo Gubernatorial election.
https://unseen-japan.com/japan-election-posters-new-rules/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite
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2025-01-01 03:21:14

"Whaddo I do...I've been carted off to Thirteenuary 2025"
#japan #unseenjapan
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2024-12-29 23:19:56

80 shrines and temples around Japan now accept some form of digital payment, such as PayPay or similar QR code apps. More are joining the fray before the New Year - including one Shinto shrine in Kawasaki that's using digital payments to stop people breaking into its donation box.
https://unseen-japan.com/shinto-shrine-cashless-theft/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #religion
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2024-12-26 23:48:31

Would you pay to enter a bookstore? Many in Japan would. Book cafes like Bunkitsu in Tokyo's Roppongi are charging admission, giving customers a new kind of third space in the city - and giving bookstores a financial model that just might help them thrive in the digital age.
https://unseen-japan.com/tokyo-bunkitsu-bookstore-admission/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #books #travel
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2024-12-25 21:19:10

Combini chain Family Mart discovered it can reduce food loss with the most Japan thing ever: a mascot. An experiment with a seal featuring an onigiri crying, "Save me!" boosted sales of soon-to-expire items by five points. It'll roll the seal out nationwide next year.
https://unseen-japan.com/family-mart-discount-mascot-seal/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #food
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2024-12-22 22:01:53

Ito Shiori's documentary about her sexual assault, BLACK BOX DIARIES, just made the Oscar shortlist. However, a former attorney claims the film uses "unauthorized" footage to make its case. In an interview, Ito defends her use of the CCTV and audio recordings.
https://unseen-japan.com/ito-shiori-black-box-diaries/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #women
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2024-12-22 20:32:12

Cup Noodle wants you to know they're not squidding around. Nissin's released a fishy new product for eating its signature junk food - and made a hard-to-translate Japanese pun at the same time. Get yours while supplies last.
https://unseen-japan.com/cup-noodle-squid-fork/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #food
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2024-12-20 21:04:08

ICYMI: It’s a weird situation where a company apologizes for one of its hit products. But that’s what happened this week when Mister Donut said it was sorry for the rampant “individuality” of its new Pokémon donuts.
https://unseen-japan.com/mister-donut-diglett-apology/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite
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2024-12-17 05:56:38

ICYMI: Women in Japanese business are notably absent in leadership positions. A new report has good news and bad news: there are more female company presidents in Japan than ever – but the number still remains well below 10% of the total.
https://unseen-japan.com/japan-company-presidents-record-high/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite
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2024-12-15 22:05:54

Could marriage equality finally pass in Japan? A ruling from the Fukuoka High Court last week is putting pressure on legislators to act. Now, one report says there may be enough votes in the House of Representatives to make it happen.
https://unseen-japan.com/marriage-equality-japan-votes/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite

2024-12-08 22:17:51

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare says Japanese people need to eat more vegetables. The exhortation has led to an online backlash, with people responding that they'd love to - if they could afford them.
https://unseen-japan.com/japan-vegetables-rising-prices/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite

2024-12-07 18:21:06

It’s common to give cash as a gift at Japanese weddings. However, some women said they were refusing to accept the new 10,000 yen bills because they bear the face of famous industrialist – and known philanderer – Shibusawa Eiichi.
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/113/612/925/325/867/712/original/ca05b27ab2f58df9.png

2024-12-05 03:02:55

A funny screenshot of sponsor names on a Japanese TV broadcast with companies whose names contain the names of the previous four major imperial eras of Japan (Meiji, Taisho, Showa, Heisei) - and in order to boot.
#japan #unseenjapan
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/113/597/990/215/602/574/original/99ac12b1571fe687.png

2024-11-26 23:03:58

Review on the new “drinkable mayonnaise” from Lawson: “Absolutely awful! Avoid purchasing! No mayo lover will love this! Why did they sell this!”
#japan #unseenjapan #food
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/113/551/752/156/307/314/original/5c30076f9a587e7c.png

2024-11-26 09:06:33

This post addresses a topic we’ve tackled a lot this year - the so-called “1,000 yen wall” for ramen in Japan. Post below shows Japanese people outraged at paying 1K yen (USD $6.50) for ramen but then saying it’s fair to pay 1,500 yen ($9.75) for pasta.
#japan #unseenjapan #ramen #food
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/113/548/459/346/110/758/original/1b3afe44fa83b5cc.png

2024-11-26 05:03:50

"Why you shouldn't watch IMAX films in the front row"
#japan #unseenjapan
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/113/547/504/934/682/152/original/cca303730ed8a4a5.png

2024-11-19 23:01:58

As large newsrooms buckle to power, independent reporting is more important than ever. Help us continue to produce great content about Japanese news, culture, history, and travel by supporting the UJ Journalism Fund today (details below).
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/113/512/108/190/077/140/original/bc47d9a3b569c0e1.jpeg

2024-11-18 03:27:19

- reply

Many people are crowing in Yahoo! News JP comments that Saito's victory shows distrust in the mass media and the power of social media to create alternative narratives (or, as we've seen so often lately, alternative realities).
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/3416f6f8c17e55ecdd755afadcfe2151cc69f22d

2024-11-18 03:27:19

After being accused of harassment & financial shenanigans, and receiving a unanimous vote of no confidence, Hyogo governor Saito Motohiko refused to step down, instead forcing an election. It worked: Saito just won re-election, increasing his victory margin by 10 points.
#japan #unseenjapan
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/113/501/826/934/248/398/original/0084e8b3c9cd7feb.png

2024-11-01 13:06:06

In his mimeograph zine Kotan, poet, researcher, and activist Iboshi Hokuto lamented in length about the Ainu who chose to keep their identity a secret and fully assimilate. “Our ideal is a self-aware assimilation, not imitation,” he wrote.
https://unseen-japan.com/iboshi-hokuto-ainu-poet-activist/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #history
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/113/407/843/535/589/422/original/a0c6c039df547320.png

2024-10-28 23:39:58

ANIME HAS TAKEN OVER THE VATICAN I REPEAT ANIME HAS TAKEN OVER THE VATICAN
(And yes this is a real thing that's actually happening)
#japan #unseenjapan
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/113/387/686/760/830/649/original/3540d42528c2943a.png

2024-10-28 04:59:43

"Heated seat feature"
#japan #unseenjapan
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/113/383/281/771/512/692/original/1e86b8dab7cfd579.png

2024-10-20 22:47:48

Multiple artists are doing an Irasutoya Challenge on social media, creating detailed versions of the drawings from the popular free art site. The one below shows a woman whistling as she ignores a figure labeled “Reality.”
#japan #unseenjapan
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/113/342/183/099/347/095/original/91b0980af35eb3b8.png

2024-10-17 22:21:35

A man ties up his motorcycle to prevent it from toppling over in a typhoon and, in so doing, raises serious questions about his other hobbies 👀
#japan #unseenjapan
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/113/325/093/047/150/822/original/57b227f356520fae.png

2024-10-14 23:35:39

Shibuya's transparent toilet serves as a curious tourist attraction. But it appears some men have found another use for it: harassing and assaulting women. Learn why a celebrity is sounding the alarm over dudes using the facility for nefarious purposes.
https://buff.ly/4h8N5HJ
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #women #equality #law
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/113/308/397/406/311/385/original/24e28291e04a00ef.jpeg

2024-10-13 21:42:02

“My favorite sign in Kyoto”
#japan #unseenjapan
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/113/302/288/331/592/689/original/cf84a7d9cbfebae5.png

2024-10-10 15:18:13

By 2050, foreign nationals may make up nearly 40% of the population in Tokyo wards Shinjuku and Toshima. Today, about 13% of Shinjuku’s residents and about 11% of Toshima’s are foreign nationals.
https://buff.ly/4bM4H8u
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #immigration
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/113/283/791/800/342/708/original/93ca898dbe45700b.png

2024-10-02 10:25:55

“Tragic News: While I was dead asleep, the rabbit ate up my bangs”
#japan #unseenjapan
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/113/237/344/384/129/704/original/71fe1e49ebb0bca6.png

2024-09-24 03:14:27

A Japanese LGBTQ rights group asked the Liberal Democratic Party candidates running for Prime Minister if they support marriage equality. Only Kono Taro said he did. Ishiba Shigeru gave an evasive answer. The other seven candidates for PM refused to respond.
#japan #Unseenjapan #lgbtq
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/113/190/349/273/344/791/original/562582b063defb4c.png

2024-09-17 00:29:46

営業中 (eigyouchuu) means “open for business”; you’ll commonly see a sign like this when a restaurant’s open. However, this sign reads 営魚中 (eigyochuu) using the kanji for “fish.” One of our tour clients translated this as “open for fishness” and I think that’s perfect.
#japan #unseenjapan #travel #food
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/113/150/065/495/267/936/original/8965ad7e50e48bd9.png

2024-09-14 13:06:06

Want to work in Japan? You'll probably need to take the JLPT exam.
The next round of tests for many abroad is coming up in December. Here's more info on what the JLPT exam is, how to take it, and - most importantly - how to pass.
https://buff.ly/3XFBJDk
#japan #unseenjapan #jlpt #japanese
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/113/136/052/636/118/348/original/0b65ed86d9b5865b.jpeg

2024-09-11 17:21:10

Akihabara is famous the world over as Japan’s capitol of anime and electronics. But is the popular tourist destination and local hangout losing its edge? Here are the signs that, as tourism booms and Japan’s otaku (geek) culture shifts and changes, the area is losing its allure.
https://buff.ly/3VJE3Zh
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #anime #otaku
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/113/120/068/427/539/998/original/2afc618f7c849277.png

2024-09-09 17:21:07

Women only make up 10.3% of Japan's lower House of Representatives and 26.7% of its House of Councillors. That means women comprise a mere 16% of Japan’s national lawmaking assembly. These numbers keep Japan near the bottom of world gender equality rankings.
https://buff.ly/3TjUMk1
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #women #equality
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/113/108/743/779/277/676/original/8117268acef9452b.png

2024-09-08 15:18:06

You might be surprised when you arrive in Japan and find that raw egg cuisine is something of a delicacy. But are they safe to eat? We reviewed the evidence and talked with an expert - read on for the verdict.
https://buff.ly/3IW3247
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #food #travel
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/113/102/597/792/292/157/original/75fa11043cd74f2e.jpeg

2024-09-04 14:53:08

The TV crew asked the Japanese astronaut how he felt. His answer showed you can take the salaryman out of the Earth but not the Earth out of the salaryman: "I want to eat something that tastes good and a smoke. A beer, too. I've returned as a lump of various desires."
https://buff.ly/3Xqoczn
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #space #history
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/113/079/850/285/729/837/original/2a9293ae48bc9a0d.png

2024-08-11 23:23:01

"A cosplay of the black curtain blocking the view of Mt. Fuji from the Kawaguchiko Lawson"
#japan #unseenjapan
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/112/945/959/760/078/489/original/0c11643fbeaeee0b.png

2024-07-23 05:28:17

“A pine cone in the mouth equals sheer horror”
#japan #unseenjapan
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/112/834/149/962/296/085/original/35878278b656ec89.png

2024-07-22 08:16:30

Box: “This isn’t a stray cat. It’s the manager.”
OP: “Please don’t give the manager treats”
#japan #unseenjapan
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/112/829/149/083/696/566/original/ff7c7c61c389e700.png

2024-07-21 15:18:09

ICYMI: Japan has focused on overtourism of Mt. Fuji lately, with the prefectures where the hiking entrances to Fuji reside taking steps to manage the crowds. Unfortunately, hikers – including Japanese residents – are failing to take the necessary precautions or heed weather warnings.
https://buff.ly/3Wn1ZC3
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #travel
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/112/825/144/736/632/151/original/f97a80cadcd4d5bd.png

2024-07-21 13:06:10

Anime may be entertainment, first and foremost. But art is almost always political. Anime is no exception. Learn about the ideologies of your favorite - from the Marxist to the fascist and everything in between.
https://buff.ly/4bPgT8E
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #anime
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/112/824/625/696/768/916/original/af5a5b6242b9d1a3.png

2024-07-18 20:34:27

19-year-old Japanese gymnast Miyata Shoko, who's team captain for the Paris Olympics, is apparently off the team for, of all things, smoking. Opinion seems split on JP social media between "what was she thinking?" and those wondering why this isn't a personal decision.
https://www.sanspo.com/article/20240719-L5SOJRULIRNQHKCQTKMEPWQ6MQ/?outputType=theme_paris2024
#japan #unseenjapan #olympics
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/112/809/401/529/381/298/original/151be942dc4d552e.png

2024-07-15 20:55:34

A statue of atomic bomb survivor Sasaki Sadako in Seattle was cut off at its feet. Community members believe the thief was after the statue's valuable metals. Learn more about the horrific crime in our latest.
https://buff.ly/4f51pjG
#japan #unsenejapan #ujwebsite #history #ww2
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/112/792/497/619/937/668/original/4aafbaf2216e84c0.png

2024-07-03 13:06:01

Japan’s katakana alphabet allows the language to borrow words from English, Spanish, French, and many other countries and tongues from around the world. However, not every Japanese loan word’s meaning matches its source. Here are some "false friends" to avoid when speaking Japanese.
https://buff.ly/3URPE8r
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #japanese

2024-07-03 00:36:53

“The note raises questions answered by the note”
The note: “Disgusting. Don’t do it.”
#japan #unseenjapan
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/112/719/757/883/902/931/original/26fa4110de9fa44e.png

2024-07-03 00:34:45

“A standing bar that uses a mannequin to draw old men in”
#japan #unseenjapan
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/112/719/749/490/430/032/original/b84755334a8aafd8.png

2024-07-03 00:34:06

"I really hope this wish gets granted"
The wish: "May our next-door neighbor's cat be by the window every day"
#japan #unseenjapan
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/112/719/746/924/061/377/original/003af3478aaa0d4b.png

2024-06-25 19:54:07

Only 34? Amateur.
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/112/679/009/828/912/018/original/dd915dc375a0dca2.png

2024-06-24 15:18:01

ICYMI: The mayor of Himeji in Hyogo Prefecture said the city might implement separate pricing for tourists from abroad. Why some foreign residents worry this will result in blatant discrimination.
https://unseen-japan.com/himeji-castle-4x-tourist-fee/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #travel #tourism

2024-06-21 15:18:06

It’s been a staple of train fans in Japan for years. However, its time has come to head off towards the sunset (at very high speed). Here’s why Doctor Yellow, the famous Shinkansen test train, is no longer needed.
https://unseen-japan.com/doctor-yellow-shinkansen-retiring/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #transportation #travel
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/112/655/275/258/361/373/original/20fb13ee535b055e.jpeg

2024-06-20 09:19:40

“Kokura’s a nice town, it’s even got a penne monster”
#japan #unseenjapan
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/112/648/203/066/848/059/original/37287081d2e7816a.jpeg

2024-06-20 09:18:17

“An Oreo cream you can use in the style of kintsugi [Japanese pottery repair] for those sad times when you open a pack of Oreos and find them broken.”
#japan #unseenjapan
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/112/648/197/611/337/387/original/ce9893b5210de063.jpeg

2024-06-19 15:18:08

In Japan, a Meiji-era law adopted from Europe means that Japanese couples have to use a single last name. Now, the head of Japan’s largest business says that not allowing couples to use separate spousal surnames poses a “business risk.”
https://unseen-japan.com/separate-spousal-surnames-keidanren/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #relationships #marriage
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/112/643/950/723/791/337/original/c6b3a5ac11a9a0c1.jpeg

2024-06-17 01:22:21

A heartwarming story from Fukuoka, where a 26yo technical intern from the Philippines who was fishing jumped into the ocean to save a 6yo boy who'd fallen in.
When the parents asked the man his name & offered a reward, he replied, "I'm not anyone important," & went home.
https://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/26612717/
#japan #unseenjapan
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/112/629/334/360/999/143/original/7a16501ddbbfc366.png

2024-06-16 16:52:07

There have been efforts to replace Japan's writing system with something "simpler." Indeed, one group fought for over a hundred years to replace kanji and the kana syllabaries with Latin characters. Here's why they ultimately threw in the towel.
https://unseen-japan.com/romaji-japanese-group-folds/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #japanese #languages
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/112/627/333/318/452/452/original/f6229f185a9d21ee.png

2024-06-16 01:40:38

As Japan enters another punishing summer season, more parents will want to protect their kids' skin with sunscreen. However, some schools outright ban its use. Here's why - and why some experts say these schools are overstepping.
https://unseen-japan.com/japan-sunscreen-black-regulations/
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #summer #weather #climatechange
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/112/623/749/305/169/848/original/21bdce19a9a32f43.png

2024-06-16 01:34:52

Tokyo’s subway system is a marvel that transports millions every day. Yet, despite its busy-ness, there are a few stations that barely anyone uses. Here’s a rundown of Tokyo’s five least-used stations and how – and why – they keep operating.
https://buff.ly/3RE7nwX
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #travel
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/112/623/726/608/653/003/original/9726ae7ef4db61b0.png

2024-06-13 23:49:44

Unheard of until the 1980s, salmon as a sushi ingredient took off in Japan thanks to a marketing push from Norwegian producers. Today, 17.4% of survey respondents in Japan chose salmon as their favorite sushi ingredient —over twice the number of respondents who chose tuna (8.5%).
https://buff.ly/3XmUMCO
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #food #sushi #travel
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/112/611/988/507/284/816/original/850aeeed9f3f67a5.png

2024-05-30 21:55:32

It used to be common wisdom in Japan's restaurant industry that you couldn't sell ramen for over 1000 yen a bowl. That's changing quickly. Learn why more shops are emphasizing quality over quantity in our latest.
https://buff.ly/3VmyUGe
#japan #unseenjapan #ujwebsite #food #restaurants #travel
https://media.mstdn.jp/media_attachments/files/112/532/267/091/498/003/original/ffab5fdee119d5d2.png