society

Is it rude to sing along at concerts in Japan? We ask a pro musician for his take

A recent online debate has sparked some fierce opinions about whether it’s OK for fans to sing along at concerts.

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Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements

Required time spent living in Japan to apply for citizenship likely to double too.

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Proposed sakura name for new middle school in Japan draws complaints for kamikaze overlap

This isn’t the cherry blossom image the committee was going for.

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Tokyo adding new anti-littering fines in Shibuya and Harajuku, will require more trash cans too

With fewer excuses for littering, there’s going to be less tolerance too.

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Japanese Cabinet to officially announce new romanization spelling recommendation next week

After 71 years, the Cabinet is ready to do something just about everyone else did several decades ago.

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Japanese avoiding domestic travel as foreign tourists increase, possibly creating vicious cycle

More foreign tourists leading to fewer Japanese tourists could be leading to more foreign tourists which could lead to fewer Japanese tourists which could…

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Poll finds support to let women inherit imperial throne as Japan faces possible succession crisis

Allowing for female succession would require changes to law and over a thousand years of cultural tradition.

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Majority of Japanese men say they feel some discomfort seeing female janitors in men’s restrooms

Media personality’s comment sparks discussion about common occurrence.

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Record number of foreign children in Japan need help understanding Japanese in school

As Japan’s foreign population grows, its foreign kid count is getting bigger too, and educational systems might not be keeping up with the country’s changing demographics.

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“Bear” voted Japan’s Kanji of the Year for 2025 in extremely close race

It bear-ly beat out the second-place kanji.

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Japan’s Hiepita forehead cooling strips, so popular they changed the language, are disappearing

Sales of the cooling strips are not so hot, but why?

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Japanese group to hold fashion show of colostomy bags and other stoma equipment in Paris

Why hide it when you can accessorize it?

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U.S.A. now the fastest-growing market for Japan’s high-tech toilets, now selling quicker than ever

Toto’s Washlet is washing more and more backsides in the States, and there are likely two big reasons why the U.S. has started liking them for when it goes number two.

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Japanese woman sues man for 1.5 million yen for violating her “right to chastity”

It really does pay to know your rights.

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Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area

Proponents want cafes, convenience stores, and other takeout shops to take on greater responsibility as foreign tourist numbers and litter amounts grow.

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China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning seems to be affecting Osaka’s Namba and Dotonbori neighborhoods

We head to Osaka’s world-famous canal district and see who’s thriving and who’s struggling with the drop in travelers from China.

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Major Japanese noodle chain is closing on Christmas Eve so workers can spend time with families

Marugame Family Night is for the Marugame families, not the customers.

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Japan’s EF English Proficiency Index rank drops for 11th straight year, hits lowest ever

What’s behind Japan’s continuing slide down the list?

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Japan considering raising international traveler departure tax even more than previously reported

Tripling the current tax still isn’t enough for some politicians who want travelers to pay even more when flying out of Japan.

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Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Shibuya’s Don Quijote?

We assess the political fallout at one of Tokyo’s biggest tourist hotspots.

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