We’ve all been there, waking up late after the alarm didn’t go off or just hitting the snooze button a few hundred times too many. Sometimes the excuses are legitimate and sometimes everyone knows you didn’t actually get food poisoning while rescuing a Girl Scout troop from a box of bad cookies. Still, calling in sick has a timed-honored tradition of hard (and lazy) workers for decades — and, in fact, for centuries!
A recently discovered document on display at the Tochigi Prefectural Museum reveals the reason why one daimyo (samurai warlord) was late to an important meeting with his boss, the famous Toyotomi Hideyoshi. We’re guessing “Sorry, boss, I have a sore throat!” probably didn’t cut it with one of Japan’s great unifiers…
Three beautiful places to see Japan’s plum blossoms after starting your day in downtown Tokyo
Downloads of 39-year-old Guns N’ Roses song increase 12,166 percent thanks to Gundam
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting the lines at a popular Tokyo gyukatsu restaurant?
Ramen shop manager arrested for punching self in the face and pretending he was robbed
A spotlight on Japanese singles figure skating: Jumping into the 2026 Olympics【Pt. II】
Tokyo Station staff share their top 10 favorite ekiben
Ghost in the Sheel goes traditional with Japanese porcelain Tachikoma robots, only 50 to be made
Act of Japanese kindness touches one man’s heart, provides hope for elevator etiquette
Visiting Japan’s Gyarados Pokémon park in the city with a special connection to Magikarp【Photos】
Visiting Ramen River, a Japanese restaurant that’s only open two hours a day
Yokai are descending upon Tokyo this spring in the latest immersive art experience
New Studio Ghibli stamps leave an impression on your stationery…and your heart
Cherry blossom forecasts map shows Japan’s OTHER sakura season is starting right now
Japanese women sound off on their minimum height requirements for a husband【Survey】
Japanese man gets drunk and falls asleep on Tokyo streets, then gets robbed by foreign national
Japan has a new bar just for people thinking about quitting their jobs, and the drinks are free
420 million yen in cash-filled suitcases stolen on Tokyo streets, incidents at Haneda and Hong Kong follow
Japan’s suicides fall to lowest recorded number ever, but one demographic hits all-time high
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Japan releases first official sakura cherry blossom forecast for 2026
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
Archfiend Hello Kitty appears as Sanrio launches new team-up with Yu-Gi-Oh【Pics】
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning looks to be affecting tourist crowds on Miyajima
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
Studio Ghibli releases new “komorebi” plush toys from Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
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】
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
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Tokyo Station staff share their top 10 favorite ekiben
Ghost in the Sheel goes traditional with Japanese porcelain Tachikoma robots, only 50 to be made
Act of Japanese kindness touches one man’s heart, provides hope for elevator etiquette
Visiting Japan’s Gyarados Pokémon park in the city with a special connection to Magikarp【Photos】
Visiting Ramen River, a Japanese restaurant that’s only open two hours a day
New Evangelion short anime, written by Hideaki Anno, to have world premiere early next year
You can now visit a recreation of Evangelion’s Tokyo-3 and live there in miniature form in【Pics】
Chocolate Totoro cream puffs and cakes coming to Japan’s Ghibli bakery for Valentine’s Day【Pics】
Japan’s job-quitting service claims bosses contact it to try to make their employees quit
Japanese women showing rebounding interest in giving Valentine’s Day chocolate【Survey】
Bacha Coffee opens in Japan…but is it worth the hype?
Morning-after pill finally available in Japan without a prescription, must be taken at pharmacy
Hatsune Miku performs “live” on David Letterman! We love it, not sure he does though…【Video】