Lifestyle
Why you shouldn’t feel guilty about using manga for studying and the top series for learning
Was there ever a time growing up when you got yelled at for reading comics instead of studying? At the time, little did those grown-ups probably know that you were actually learning in one of the best ways possible. Japanese online illustration school Atam Academy recently conducted a survey of… Read
Pet-friendly properties prove popular in Japan for both tenants, landlords
Condominiums with pet-friendly facilities and designs are proving popular not only with cat and dog owners but also landlords who can charge higher-than-average rents and expect long-term tenants. Tokyo-based Asahi Kasei Realty & Residence Corp manages and operates around 20,000 units allowing owners to live with their pets, with dog… Read
Nagoya to host World Cosplay Summit
The World Cosplay Summit (WCS) in Nagoya is one of the world’s largest international cosplay festivals. This event brings together cosplayers and anime, manga and video game fans from around the globe. In 2003, TV Aichi created the event to highlight growing interest in popular Japanese culture. The first event… Read
Japanese theme park adding Immersive Death Game with a 'bomb collar' you have to wear
Many would say that Japan’s Huis Ten Bosch theme park, located in Nagasaki Prefecture, is more about the atmosphere than the attractions. Inspired by the Dutch royal palace of the same name, Huis Ten Bosch doesn’t have any roller coasters, and it’s instead better known for its elegant architecture, beautiful… Read
Japan expands disability employment support amid impartiality concerns
A new welfare service designed to help disabled people find jobs suited to their abilities is spreading across Japan, but concerns remain that providers may steer users toward affiliated workplaces rather than make impartial recommendations. The employment support program was introduced in October 2025 following a legal revision aimed at… Read
Why film photography is booming in Japan
Film cameras were supposed to disappear. Instead, more than a decade after film was declared all but dead, they're becoming fashionable again. From Gen Z shoppers hunting for vintage cameras in Tokyo to social media feeds filled with grainy, imperfect images, film photography is enjoying an unlikely revival in Japan.… Read
Events like World Cup can inspire young athletes and put parents on unfamiliar turf
Like the Winter Olympics, Masters Tournament and Formula 1 races before it, the World Cup is inspiring some young people to try a new sport and others to imagine themselves on an international stage someday. Researchers even have a name for the motivating influence of major sporting events: the “demonstration… Read
'Alcohol is the best medicine' removed from Japanese government website
Japan has long been a country that has embraced alcohol consumption. After-work drinking was considered mandatory at almost every company not too long ago, and you can still find vending machines in some parts distributing beers and alcopops with the utmost convenience. Also, up until only a few months ago,… Read
Everyone experiences loss and grief – but that doesn’t make it any easier to talk with kids about it
When I was a school social worker, a teary-eyed father once came to the school to tell his 4-year-old daughter’s teacher that the child’s mother had been in an accident. He did not speak to his child as she looked on but simply relayed pickup arrangements to the teacher, before… Read
Why women’s education isn’t driving Japan’s birth rate decline
As Japan’s birth rate continues to decline to record lows, officials are quick to point the finger at women climbing the career ladder. It’s a misogynistic narrative that treats women’s personal advancement as a societal hurdle, but is it supported by hard evidence? A new study in "Demography" by researchers… Read
