12-year-old Japanese gamer Tarou made headlines in February when he said he was postponing middle school to work on his Fortnite skills - a rare move in a country with no legal structure for homeschooling. His mom & dad say they stand behind the decision.
A Cosmos Drug Store in Osaka went viral after it tried to charge a customer who ate at a neighboring ramen shop 10,000 yen ($68) for parking in its parking lot. The chain had to apologize profusely when it came out that the lot was shared by the two stores.
A scruffy-looking, stammering fellow who doesn’t tend to leave much of an impression on people who meet him, fictional detective Kindaichi Kosuke is nonetheless able to solve the trickiest of murders using only his powers of observation.
The TV show SMAPxSMAP, referred to colloquially as “Sma-Sma,” wasn’t just a hit—it was a cultural institution. Nakai, the sharp-tongued MC with impeccable timing, became the face of Fuji’s golden age. The show ran for 20 years right up until SMAP disbanded.
In Japan, it seems there’s a service for everything. But one business may cross both ethical *and* legal lines. Meet the wakaresaseya – Japan’s “break up” companies – who promise to destroy another's happiness so you can get yours.
https://unseen-japan.com/breakup-companies-wakaresaseya-japan/
Getting married in Japan creates a new family registry, which requires listing an address. Turns out you can list an address anywhere in Japan - and some people do: around 3,000 people have opted to list the Imperial Palace in Tokyo’s Chiyoda City as their registered domicile.
The news Sukiya would temporarily close most stores came as a shock to Manarisu, who’s eaten at Sukiya every day for 2,000 consecutive days as of March 20th, 2025. He’s asking his 149,000 followers to help him identify local Sukiyas in food courts so he can keep the streak going.
Mass strikes, the creation of the 8-hour workday, and an early 20th-century vogue for foreign words - all led to the most popular Japanese word many don't even realize is foreign in origin. Here's how "saboru" came to be.
https://unseen-japan.com/saboru-the-strange-origins-of-cutting-class-in-japan/
Want an onigiri you can take anywhere – or perhaps use during a national emergency? You’re in luck! One company in Japan sells “non-grip onigiri,” which you can take anywhere and make by just adding water. The question is: how do they taste?
A female snack bar owner in Nishitokyo was found dead in her place of business, her ex-husband lying unconscious and injured nearby. Her death currently appears to be the result of a campaign of violence that authorities didn't stop until it was too late.
As bullying and related youth suicides remain persistent problems in Japan, Kumamoto City is weighing whether to install security cameras as an anti-bullying measure. Experts are split, with some saying the measure will do nothing to address online abuse.
https://unseen-japan.com/kumamoto-city-bullying-security-cameras/
You may experience longer wait times at Japan's arrival ports thanks to one American. The tourist reportedly brought a handgun & ammunition into Japan, somehow getting it through two airports before realizing his "mistake" at his Osaka hotel. He's now under arrest.
What's it like to become a Shinto shrine maiden (miko)? A look at what a miko does, the tumultuous history of the profession, and a peek inside a new school that teaches you everything you need to know.
Wanna see Mt. Fuji? Can't be f*cked to actually hike the dang thing? That's okay - it's overcrowded anyway. Instead, enjoy these spots around the area where you can get spectacular views for far less effort.
A popular late-night talk show issued a public apology for a segment in which it intentionally edited a Chinese guest to make it sound like she said Chinese people regularly eat crows. Critics say it’s both racist and a gross violation of television standards.
https://unseen-japan.com/matsuko-deluxe-show-apology-racism/
Japan's a relatively safe place to travel. But disasters happen - and navigating them when you don't know the local language can be harrowing. Popular navigation app NAVITIME hopes to bridge that gap with a new Safety feature in its multilingual app for travelers.
They’re critical points of transit for hundreds of thousands of people every day in Tokyo. So why are Shibuya and Shinjuku Stations so dang hard to use? A recent deep dive into the station’s evolution says you can blame it on history and necessity.
https://unseen-japan.com/shibuya-shinjuku-stations-why-complicated/
Japanese food etiquette has a series of dos and don'ts. But one etiquette expert says even most Japanese people get these things wrong. Here's how to level-up your food manners game in Japan.
https://unseen-japan.com/japanese-food-etiquette-advanced-manners/
World Expo 2025 is set to open in Osaka this month. However, the event continues to be plagued by an overwhelming lack of interest - and food prices that are raising some netizens’ eyebrows.
Musashino Higashi Gakuen is one of Japan's few schools that are supportive of autistic kids. However, ever since a new chairman took the reins, parents say the environment has become increasingly hostile & unsafe for students, parents & teachers alike.
https://unseen-japan.com/musashino-higashi-gakuen-school-crisis/
