Suppose someone receiving welfare in Japan sits down at a sushi counter and spends ¥10,000 on dinner. Would that be…
Japan & Society
Articles examining Japanese society, customs, institutions, public behavior and social trends. Designed for readers who want to understand not only what happens in Japan, but why it happens.
Do Japan’s Government and Imperial Family Know About Earthquakes in Advance?
There is a persistent rumor in Japan: when a truly catastrophic earthquake or national emergency is coming, the government and…
Can Koregusu Make You Fail a Breath Test? — Okinawa Soba and Japan’s Drunk-Driving Rules
You drive to an Okinawa soba restaurant. Someone offers you a sip of beer, but you turn it down. You…
Japanese Family Restaurants: More Self-Service, Higher Prices?
At a Japanese family restaurant, you walk over to the self-service drink station, press the cola button, and get little…
How Can AirTag-Style Trackers Work Without GPS or a SIM? The Technology—and the Stalking Problem
“`html Apple’s AirTag is designed to help people find lost keys, bags, and other belongings. But the same type of…
Eight Hours to Leave Japan, Eight Years to Be Arrested: Inside Tokyo’s ¥47 Million Robbery Attempt
Eight Hours to Leave Japan, Eight Years to Be Arrested: Inside Tokyo’s ¥47 Million Robbery Attempt In November 2018, an…
Why Are Bears Appearing Near Towns Across Japan? The Country Changed Before the Bears Did
Akita, Iwate, Nagano, Toyama, Hyogo—communities separated by hundreds of kilometers have all reported bears appearing near homes, roads and other…
Why Toxic Mushrooms Are Appearing in Japanese City Parks — Climate, Rain, and a Changing Urban
Large white mushrooms suddenly covering a public lawn may sound like something from a remote forest. But in September 2026,…
Can Trump Really Give Every U.S. Adult Citizen $5,000? The $1.2 Trillion “Dividend” Examined
President Donald Trump has made an unusually simple promise ahead of the 2026 midterm elections: if Republicans retain control of…