Japanese youth today face a striking challenge: a lack of places to release their emotions, energy, and frustrations. This tension has given rise to a visible phenomenon—the so-called “Tō-Yoko Kids”…
When walking along Japan’s sidewalks, many residents and visitors alike have shared one common experience: the sudden rush of a bicycle racing past within inches of their shoulders. 🚴♀️ In…
Every so often, I’ve heard this comment: “Japanese deodorants don’t work!” This sentiment is surprisingly common among foreign residents and visitors—especially those from countries where deodorant is as essential as…
Kawaguchi City in Saitama Prefecture, once stigmatized as a “Yakuza town,” has undergone a striking transformation over the past few decades. Once known for crime syndicates and industrial decline, the…
When people in Japan jokingly say, “Osaka is not Japan,” they are not denying geography but pointing to something deeper. Osaka has long been seen as a place with its…
For many people around the world, Japan is a dream destination—whether for its culture, food, technology, or unique lifestyle. But turning that dream into reality means tackling one of the…
In Japan, it often feels impossible to take a discreet photo with your smartphone—even if you bought the phone abroad. As soon as your device connects to Japan’s cell networks,…
In an age when our morning greetings can go viral across borders, the story of SAO—a Japanese company employee turned global meme—offers a fascinating look at how authenticity and simplicity…
On the night of August 13, 2025, thousands of visitors to Expo 2025 Osaka found themselves in an unexpected and unprecedented situation—they simply could not go home. What began as…
If you’ve ever walked through a bustling Japanese entertainment district at night—think Kabukicho in Tokyo, Susukino in Sapporo, or Sakae in Nagoya—you may have noticed brightly lit storefronts labeled “無料案内所”…
