society

Kyoto public junior high school becomes first in Japan with a hoodie school uniform

School getting ready for its 80th birthday makes a modern addition to its uniform options.

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Japanese government postpones proposals to restrict real estate purchases by foreigners

Rising security and economic tensions prompting consideration of new rules to make it harder for foreigners to buy property in Japan.

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New littering fine now being enforced in some of Tokyo’s most heavily touristed areas

Littering in Shibuya will get you a fine that must be paid on the spot.

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What’s up with the Ghibli Park photo and video ban?

Theme park prohibition strangely opens the door to a new kind of creative freedom. 

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Same name tops lists of most popular dog and cat names in Japan, and there’s probably a reason why

Cultural quirks have a hand in making the same name the favorite for dogs and cats in annual study.

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Japanese government to allow desecration of flags on kids’ meals

A victory for freedom of eats.

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Man in Japan calls in bomb threat because he doesn’t want to go to his own work farewell party

Whatever happened to just faking a stomach ache?

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Japan’s izakaya pubs closing at record pace, failing to attract foreign tourists

Combination of factors is dimming the shine of one of the stars of Japanese restaurant culture.

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Suspected yakuza member arrested for having frequent flyer mile account

Not quite as glamourous as a secret bank account.

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The top 12 incomprehensible school rules, as chosen by high school students

Plus some surprising extra requirements, like having to say “thank you” at least 10 times a day. 

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New bounty system starts in Japan, rewards reports of illegal employment of foreigners

Ibaraki Prefecture now offers rewards to whistleblowers who lead them to companies illegally employing foreign workers.

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War in Iran causing dark development for potato chip packages in Japan

Japanese convenience store snack sections are going to be looking drab later this month.

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Police cracking down on outdoor seating in Tokyo’s liveliest street market neighborhood[Video]

Tokyo Metropolitan Police officers issue warnings to pub owners in Ueno.

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Japan’s rice warehouse stockpile rate hits record high as consumers, restaurants reject high prices

Consumers showing little sympathy for rice sellers as eating habits and supply chains change.

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The average age of Japan’s hikikomori shut-ins is getting older, survey shows

Annual survey finds cases of 90-year-old parents caring for socially reclusive children in their 60s.

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Japan enters Golden Week vacation period, survey shows one in three plan to ride it out at home

Japan’s all-for-fun spring holiday season is a little tarnished these days.

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What are the worst things about living in the Japanese countryside?[Survey]

The slow life isn’t always the easy life.

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Tokyo’s city hall changes dress code, workers now allowed to wear shorts[Videos]

Business-formal tradition melts away in modern-temperature Tokyo.

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Japan is so hungry for workers it used up its five-year visa quota in record time

Many people with dreams are poised to save understaffed kitchens, but they’re currently stuck behind a bureaucratic velvet rope.

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Police in Japan warn of scam artists posing as cops to collect fines for breaking new bike rules

Luckily there’s an easy way to tell if you’re dealing with a legitimate law enforcement officer or a con artist.

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