sexism
New clip points out facts about football, baseball, and sumo in Japan…but not all Japanese are behind it.
Encounter with foreigners leads woman to realise she’s from “a sexually underdeveloped country”.
Look carefully and you’ll see Japan’s Benny Hill sandwiched in between these women.
Frustrated professional busts up her office’s outdated “tea squad” tradition with a perfectly salted comeback.
If you’ve stayed at a traditional Japanese inn with your partner, chances are you’ve experienced this custom before.
The new ad campaign addresses a variety of behaviours that should be avoided while travelling on trains, but so far, this is the only act that they’re calling indecent.
One Piece is the top-selling manga of all time, with over 350 million volumes sold in Japan alone. For fans of the series, it’s a no-brainer why the comic is so popular. The author/artist Eiichiro Oda is a master storyteller, turning what could have been a run-of-the-mill shonen manga into something special. One Piece often tackles deeper themes including racism, abuse of power, justice, moral ambiguity, and of course, big dudes with sweet powers slamming into each other.
What’s even more surprising are the readership demographics. Nine out of ten people who buy One Piece are adults, and over half of the manga’s readers are women. This might make it seem like it appeals to everyone, but apparently that is not the case. Japanese Twitter user @ykhre recently tweeted a controversial essay, making her case for why One Piece, despite its broad appeal, is sexist.
According to the Global Entrepreneur Development Index (GEDI) that measures favorable conditions for women entrepreneurs, the US and Australia are ranked first and second respectively, while Japan places fifteenth, just behind Peru. Yet Japan fulfills many of the requirements to create a successful female entrepreneurial environment such as education, skills and access to capital.
In addition, women in Japan can overcome obstacles such as low salaries, long work hours and scant child-rearing options by owning their own businesses and calling the shots. So, what’s holding Japanese women back? It turns out that a large part of it may be Japanese women themselves.
Sexism and discrimination have been rather hot topics here in Japan following an unpleasant incident at a Tokyo political assembly on June 18, during which female politician Ayaka Shiomura was taunted and mocked by assembleymen while giving a speech about pregnant women and working mothers.
In response, world-famous Japanese artist Takashi Murakami has taken the unusual step of creating and hanging a series of portraits of the politician in his Tokyo cafe.
Nearly half of all the people who play video games are women, but you wouldn’t know it by the video game industry’s biggest conference.
Only five women presented on stage at the major press events at E3, the video game industry’s huge conference, which took place in LA this week.
Sadly, that number won’t be surprising to anyone familiar with sexism in the tech industry, and the particularly appalling way women are treated in the video game industry.
But here’s the really shocking part. E3 actually featured more severed heads on stage than women: eight heads.
Yoichi Masuzoe, the politician who once publicly stated that women “are not normal” during their period and “couldn’t possibly” be relied upon to run the country because of it, has been elected as governor of Tokyo, it has been announced.
MOST POPULAR
Now
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Japan’s popular bead bonsai kit is as beautiful as it is gruelling to make
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japanese bento shop sells croquettes for 13 cents, but are they any good?
First Shiba Inu police dog in Japan’s Gifu Prefecture now on duty[Video]
Japan has new rules for bicycle riders, and these 14 things could get you a fine or a court date
Starbucks Japan releases FIVE new Frappuccinos in a day, and we try them all in 90 minutes
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
What exactly is the treat known as a “kougnané” that’s sold outside Tokyo’s Yurakucho Station?
Why does a ’90s Japanese drama theme song calm crying babies? An acoustics expert explains
Weekly
- Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
- Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
Lawson convenience store at popular tourist site is one of the most unusual in Japan
Japanese trains in Sapporo might be better than those in Tokyo, thanks to one special feature
30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
Japanese government wants overseas anime market to roughly triple in 10 years, but are they crazy?
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa- Japanese bento shop sells croquettes for 13 cents, but are they any good?
- Starbucks Japan releases FIVE new Frappuccinos in a day, and we try them all in 90 minutes
Monthly
- Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]- Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
- Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Yearly
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
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
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
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Japan has new rules for bicycle riders, and these 14 things could get you a fine or a court date
Starbucks Japan releases FIVE new Frappuccinos in a day, and we try them all in 90 minutes
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
What exactly is the treat known as a “kougnané” that’s sold outside Tokyo’s Yurakucho Station?
Why does a ’90s Japanese drama theme song calm crying babies? An acoustics expert explains
One of Japan’s rarest sweets is a sell-out hit that looks and tastes like frost
Famous koi ponds overwhelmed with tourists throwing thousands of coins in them
Best breakfast in Akihabara? Might be the breakfast buffet at this “family restaurant”
Anime and video game backgrounds now free to download for video conference calls
What’s inside Japan’s super-rare, super-popular Nara bread?
Tokyo shrine hosts event for anime fans ready to let go and recycle character keychains, standees
Secret stairs at Tokyo Station dungeon come with a serious warning
Why does Japanese writing need three different sets of characters? (Part 2)
-
