Mount Fuji has a people problem
Mount Fuji remains one of Japan’s most iconic destinations, but record visitor numbers have brought overcrowding, litter, dangerous climbing practices and more rescues. In response, authorities have i...
3 Jul 9min
Japan’s new criminal underworld
Japan’s traditional organized crime groups are shrinking, but a new type of criminal network is taking their place. Known as tokuryū, these loosely organized groups recruit members through social medi...
26 Jun 10min
Japan’s ‘hikikomori’ shut-ins are getting older — and the clock is ticking
Japan’s hikikomori — people who withdraw from society for months or even years at a time — have long been viewed as a youth problem. Increasingly, however, many are reaching middle age while still liv...
19 Jun 15min
Why tattoos are still taboo in Japan
Tattoos have become increasingly mainstream around the world, but in Japan they continue to carry a stigma. From public baths and gyms to workplaces and social perceptions, people with tattoos can sti...
5 Jun 8min
Japan just started selling weapons. Here’s why that’s a big deal
Japan has approved one of the biggest changes to its postwar security policy in decades, opening the door to weapons exports after years of strict limits. Supporters say the move reflects a tougher re...
29 Mai 10min
Japan prefecture will pay residents to report illegal foreign workers
A Japanese prefecture has introduced a system that rewards residents for reporting suspected illegal foreign workers, reigniting debate over immigration, labor shortages and social trust. Supporters s...
22 Mai 13min
Inside Japan’s ‘Toyoko Kids’ in Kabukicho
A growing number of vulnerable teenagers and young adults have been gathering around Tokyo’s Kabukicho district, becoming known online as the “Toyoko Kids.” Many are runaways or struggling with abuse,...
14 Mai 7min
