A report last week from the Japanese Ministry of Education about the sorry state of some low-ranked universities, lovingly called “F-rank,” sent ripples through the country and reignited a debate about how to properly prepare students for “life in the real world.” While the Japanese government’s announcement sparked renewed interest in higher education reform, these low-level schools (and their terrible textbooks) have been the butt of jokes on the Internet for years. F-rank universities are notorious for their extremely lax entrance requirements, high student-to-teacher ratio and producing graduates who simply aren’t ready to enter the real world and join a company. Education advocates and people tired of dealing with incompetent co-workers all wanted to share their ideas about how to change the system to avoid a generation of poorly trained workers.
More Than a Capsule Stay: Why Solo Travelers Choose “global cabin Yokohama Chinatown”
Japan’s new mayonnaise ice cream doesn’t taste like you’d expect【Taste test】
Foreign shoppers in Akihabara tip us off to an awesome souvenir idea: DIY Paper Theater kit【Pics】
Japan’s leading maker of giant cat heads needs your help!
You Can Have Your Very Own Whale Party on iPhone Messages In Just a Few Simple Steps
More people in Japan quit sending New Year’s cards and many have started to regret it
New Evangelion short anime, written by Hideaki Anno, to have world premiere early next year
Hanton rice — a delicious regional food even most Japanese people don’t know about, but more should
Final Fantasy and Shinkansen announce collaboration with in-train audio play, SD art and merch
Family Mart makes new anti-food-waste stickers, free for other stores and restaurants to use too
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
Starbucks Japan releases new zodiac chilled cup drink for 2026
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
Starbucks on a Shinkansen bullet train platform: 6 tips for using the automated store in Japan
Large amount of supposed human organs left in Osaka marketplace
Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade
A Japanese dating app matched our bachelorette with a Buddhist monk, and she learned some things
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
More people in Japan quit sending New Year’s cards and many have started to regret it
New Evangelion short anime, written by Hideaki Anno, to have world premiere early next year
Hanton rice — a delicious regional food even most Japanese people don’t know about, but more should
Final Fantasy and Shinkansen announce collaboration with in-train audio play, SD art and merch
Family Mart makes new anti-food-waste stickers, free for other stores and restaurants to use too
Buddhist priest at Japanese temple lodging goes viral for rude responses to tourist’s bad reviews
Maid street in Akihabara gets a new vending machine that’s sweeter than usual
Mr. Sato accosts award-winning actor Hideaki Ito【Interview】
Smooching survey: Finding out what age Japanese women had their first kiss
The Chirori is a compact traditional Japanese cooking hearth for your modern home