Is the Pirate vs. Navy Conflict a Reflection of Yakuza vs. Japanese Police History? Introduction Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece is one of the most successful manga and anime franchises in…
Japan is globally known for having one of the most powerful passports in the world, allowing visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to more than 190 countries. Yet, surprisingly, only about 17%…
Why Muslim Communities Seek Earth Burial, and the Tensions with Municipalities and Locals Japan’s growing diversity has brought new opportunities, but it has also revealed cultural and religious frictions. One…
IntroductionA new smartphone-use ordinance proposed in Toyoake City, Aichi Prefecture, has become the center of controversy in Japan. Intended as a measure to encourage healthier digital habits, it has instead…
✨ When people from abroad visit Japan, one of the most surprising discoveries is that children in elementary schools are often responsible for tasks that might elsewhere be performed by…
Online marketplaces have always been home to curious, sometimes questionable listings. But in Japan, one category of items sparked a firestorm of debate: fetal ultrasound photos. A leading flea market…
Imagine sitting in a courtroom when a verdict comes down: the judge declares that a website has “significantly disrupted the healthy sexual order” of society. What does that even mean—and…
Introduction September in Japan is one of the most exciting times of the year. The hot and humid summer gradually fades into early autumn, making it the perfect season to…
Introduction In recent years, Japan has witnessed growing resistance to mega-solar projects—large-scale solar farms, typically over 1 MW in capacity—particularly in rural areas. Rather than seeing solar as a straightforward…
Japan’s demographic challenges are no secret—one of the world’s lowest birthrates, an aging population, and shrinking social infrastructure. But a subtler trend is gaining attention: the rise of involuntarily single…
