Lifestyle
Four frustrating attitudes women in Japan run into when interviewing for jobs, grouped by age
The competitive nature of job hunting can be stressful for anyone, but there’s an especially trying aspect of looking for employment that women often face in Japan. While social norms are gradually changing, women still take on the majority of child rearing and other domestic duties in Japanese households, and it’s… Read
Body confidence and body positivity in Japan
“If you want to be worth anything in Japan, you better lose weight. Right now, you’re a joke, and no one will take anything you do seriously. Forget getting married, too—no man wants to pay for your food bill.” (Japanese man, 27) Being told something like that when your image… Read
Hit rewind: Sony Walkman triggers nostalgia on 40th birthday
Must-have 80s gadget and one-time icon of Japan electronics cool, Sony's Walkman turned 40 this year and like its now middle-aged fans, is clinging to its youth with high-tech updates. On July 1, 1979, as the global economy suffered through the second oil shock, Sony unleashed on the world a… Read
Paris Hilton’s Sailor Moon cosplay and character description are bafflingly off-source material
Anime, naturally, started off as something that Japanese audiences liked, and later spread to other parts of the globe, finding fans who, for the most part, didn’t have their personal entertainment itches scratched by their countries’ more mainstream media offerings. Nowadays, though, anime has a big enough international foothold that… Read
Tokyo IT company gives employees a bonus every month to help take care of their pet cat
In addition to their monthly salaries, some office workers in Japan receive various bonuses and allowances from their companies. Housing allowances are the most common, and some employers also offer to cover a certain amount of travel expenses if the employee is on an extended on-site assignment or posting far… Read
Japanese temple stirs criticism with naked men paintings
In an attempt to attract younger visitors, particularly women to its grounds, Kokujoji Temple in Niigata Prefecture has installed panels of an art series titled “Ikemen Kanno Emaki” (Scroll of Handsome and Sensual Men) within the temple. Head priest Kotetsu Yamada says that he wants to dispel the old-fashioned and… Read
Hino City to hold Ayu Sweetfish Festival on Aug 11
Hino City in Tokyo will be holding the 4th annual Ayu Sweetfish Festival along the banks of the Asakawa River from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. The festival will celebrate Japanese fishing tradition with demonstrations of fishing techniques in the river, kid-friendly lessons and games, various food stalls,… Read
Pokemon design manhole covers taking over Japanese towns
In some areas of Japan, all you have to do to get a feel of local traditions and specialties is look down at the street you’re standing on. Some manhole covers are surprisingly artistic, with beautiful designs incorporating things the area is famous for. But some less traditional manhole covers have… Read
An interview with #KuToo founder Yumi Ishikawa
Yumi Ishikawa is leading the #KuToo movement to bring awareness to gender discrimination against women—starting with their feet. She sat down with Savvy Tokyo to talk high heels, social media backlash, and feminism in modern Japan. At her job in a funeral parlor, Yumi Ishikawa would work up to eight hours per… Read
Japanese jeweler sells 'LGBTQ wedding rings'
Founded in 1981, K.UNO Cob Ltd is the largest custom-made jewelry shop in Japan, employing over 50 designers, 180 craftspersons and producing more than 40,000 designs each year. According to its press release, K.Uno "sent its CEO and management in 2017 to take 'LGBT diversity training' to provide thoughtful engagement rings… Read
