society (Page 16)

What it’s like to live in Tokyo’s least safe neighbourhood

Five things our reporter noticed after moving from Tokyo’s safest area to its least safe one.

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Kyoto Animation announces it will build two memorials to victims of anime studio arson attack

Balance struck between giving fans and family a place of remembrance and letting life return to normal in Kyoto neighborhood.

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680-year-old Shinto ritual of horses running up earthen “wall” draws animal abuse complaints【Vids】

Horses that make it to the top are seen as signs of good harvest, but those that don’t may die.

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Japanese Self-Defense Force mulls removing its ban on tattoos

Former SDF member doesn’t want ink to be a barrier to enlistment.

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Large majority of otaku in Japan want to keep being otaku after having kids, survey says

Having kids might affect their otaku lifestyles though, they understand.

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Soup Stock Tokyo now offering free food for babies, sparks debate online

Giving parents in Tokyo peace of mind with their meals, but not everyone is impressed.

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Government study finds only 3,065 homeless people in Japan

Smallest figure ever may not be telling the whole story, though.

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Kyoto may be getting more modern, tall buildings as city relaxes development limits

Change highlights the two contrasting aspects of Japan’s cultural capital.

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When bullying happens in Japan, should parents go to the police? We ask an educator

As our reporter’s daughter enters elementary school, he talks with an education veteran about how to deal with bullying.

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Japan’s first genderless, two-piece school swimsuits are now available for the public to purchase

Unisex swimsuits that were piloted last year are making such a splash that they’re now available for anyone to buy.

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Sapporo lowers age at which kids are barred from opposite sex’s bath at hot springs, public baths

Three-year drop pleases some, but other parents unhappy.

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One month after masking was left to “personal judgement,” it’s still the norm in Tokyo, but why?

Combination of factors is keeping masks on in Tokyo even as the government says they don’t have to be.

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Tokyo to crack down on hostess/host bar advertising trucks by closing loophole

Metropolitan government may ask other parts of Japan to match its restrictions on adult entertainment advertising.

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Ramen manners debate: Should you put your used napkins into your bowl after you eat?

And if you don’t put them in the bowl, should you expect the staff to clean them up for you?

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Kyoto will abolish one-day bus passes to combat tourism overcrowding

Sale of popular travel pass to end as residents find themselves competing with out-of-towners for space on public transportation.

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Kyoto to introduce “empty home tax” for vacation houses and unused homes

First-of-its-kind tax would bring in nearly one billion yen, but government says it’s not about the money.

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Tokyo ramen restaurant bans customers from watching YouTube videos on their phones while eating

New rule goes into place at restaurant in city’s “ramen battlefield.”

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Mask rules in Japan have changed…so are people still wearing them?

We find out if people in Tokyo are ripping off their masks and throwing them to the wind in light of the new changes.

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Less than half of Japanese people OK with bare hand-pressed rice balls, survey says, but why?

We call them “rice balls” in English, but the real-meaning of “onigiri” is something a lot of Japanese people don’t find appetizing.

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Learn about taxes from a talking piece of poop with the Unko Tax Drill textbook — only in Japan

Who had thought “being taught about taxes from a talking turd” on their 2023 bingo card?

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