Pop Culture

RENUNCIATION OF WAR Article 9. Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and…

"Shonen" isn't a sweat and tears documentary about the underside of Tokyo's sex industry. It is in fact, a fairy tale that showcases the sexual prowess of Tohri Matsuzaka, who…

Cicadas live underground until their final stage of adulthood. When they surface, they attach themselves to a tree bark, shed their skin and fly away, leaving behind their exoskeleton still…

I’m a female actor in Tokyo. I thought I was safe from the filth of Hollywood, safe here in “innocent” Japan. But the truth is that Japan’s entertainment business is…

Pakuchi or ‘パクチー’ is derived from a Thai sounding word ‘Pakchee’ meaning coriander. It is an herb seen in many Thai dishes, either sprinkled on top or put in the…

Rumor has it that since the early nineties, rural towns have been recruiting parolees to become part of the local populace. This information cannot be verified. The people involved will…

Mochi are a glutinous Japanese specialty, often turned into a dessert, made from pounded steamed rice that Japanese usually eat to celebrate the coming New Year and other festive occassions.…

As far as bad years go, 2017 pretty much did us in and it's not even over yet. Still, the news isn't all bad, at least in the Japanese publication…

According to Japanese Trade Union Confederation, matahara is an abbreviation of “maternity harassment.” The word refers to mental or physical harassment that some workingwomen go through when they announce to…

It an illustrated history and textbook of cursing people and magic in Japan. You can learn how to make a Japanese voodoo doll, revive the dead, stop a lover from…