June 13, 2025 | Why Japan’s J-pop idol industry bans sex, dating and romance
What really goes on inside Japan’s idol industry? In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we explore the strict no-dating and no-sex rules placed on J-pop idols — especially young women and girls. ...
13 Jun 202510min
June 6, 2025 | Japan’s rice crisis: Why prices are soaring and what’s behind it
Japan’s rice crisis isn’t just about food — it’s about identity, politics and a decades-old system that’s now under pressure. In this extended episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we look at what’s real...
6 Jun 202512min
May 29, 2025 | Why is Nissan failing and what speed bumps lie ahead?
Nissan is planning to cut 20,000 jobs and may shut down factories in Japan. What’s behind the crisis at Japan’s No. 3 automaker — and can a new CEO turn things around? This episode explores the faile...
29 Mai 20257min
May 23, 2025 | Japan’s sex industry boom: How tourism and the yen are changing everything
Japan’s tourism boom is fueling more than just hotels and souvenir shops. In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we explore the rise in sex work targeting foreign visitors — a shift driven by deman...
23 Mai 20258min
May 16, 2025 | End of the yakuza? Inside Japan’s vanishing underworld
End of the Yakuza? Inside Japan’s Vanishing Underworld The yakuza once ruled Japan’s streets — now their numbers are at a record low. But what’s replacing them might be harder to see… and harder to st...
16 Mai 20259min
May 9, 2025 | Is Japanese media stuck in the past?
🎙️ Japan Today Spotlight: Is Japan’s media stuck in the past? Legacy broadcasters like NHK, Fuji TV and TBS once defined Japan’s national conversation. But in the digital age, they’re struggling to a...
14 Mai 20255min
May 2, 2025 | Why is chikan behavior still so common on Japan's trains?
Why does "chikan" behavior — public groping on Japan’s trains — continue, even after decades of awareness campaigns? In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we explore how offenders operate, what t...
2 Mai 20258min
April 25, 2025 |Japan Today Spotlight 14 Osaka Expo 2025 Visionary Showcase or Expensive Misfire Audio Only
Japan’s Expo 2025 has opened in Osaka — but not without controversy. Ballooning costs, delayed pavilions, confusing ticketing, and a sweltering summer ahead have raised questions about whether the ¥23...
25 Apr 202510min
