Can video games solve social issues? Research by BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment & top university
The joy of immersing ourselves in a good video game is one of the greatest pleasures unique to the 21st century. Whether it’s stomping on…
Social Issues
Japanese convenience store’s food lineup’s name drives gender role debate online
Japanese convenience stores are often lauded for their wide selection of prepared bento boxes and side dishes, but Family Mart’s original lineup has recently become…
Talking to the creator of ‘Blossom the Project’, an online initiative raising awareness of Japan’s social issues
Trigger warning: This article mentions depression and suicide and may be upsetting for some. “I think a lot of people [in Japan] look at mental…
‘Japanese Week’ sees The Great British Bake Off labelled as racist by viewers
A heated discussion has erupted over last week’s episode of The Great British Bake Off. A number of complaints have been sent in to Ofcom…
CHIME FOR CHANGE’s Zine on feminism, gender and self expression issues in Japan
CHIME FOR CHANGE gathers together the voices of those who are aiming to achieve gender equality and a stronger community. In their latest issue, the…
Japan’s problem with puppy farms, plus where to adopt a pet in Japan
Puppies, kittens, hamsters, bunnies and a ton of other fluffy creatures that you don’t even know the name of. Take your pick, I’m guessing you…
Unperturbed by COVID-19 Japanese LGBT Community Continues Fight for Equality
We recently covered YouTuber Moa and More’s experience coming out to his family. The vlogger sat down with a video camera and his mother, father,…
Old Age in The Land of The Rising Sun
Since World War II, industrialized nations have experienced population transfers from rural areas to urban centers. Japan is no different. Beginning in the 1960s, large…
Japanese School Forced Girls to Declare Menstrual Schedule So They Wouldn’t Skip Swimming Class
Menstruation is a deeply personal thing. Everyone’s experiences are different, and while there’s no shame in a perfectly natural bodily function, it’s something most people…
‘For Those Who Want to Birth Biracial Children’ Controversial Kimono Advertisement Resurfaces on Japanese Twitter
There’s many reasons people wear kimono. Maybe they are attending a traditional event or festival. Perhaps they’re doing a photoshoot, or it may even be…
Hokkaido Farmers Push Back as Instagramming Tourists Destroy Scenery and Cause Loss of Historic Tree
Biei is a small farming town in Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost prefecture. The amazing scenery, consisting of 3000 plots of square farmland, creates a patchwork quilt…
Chinese Police Apprehend Japanese Free Hugs YouTuber and Give Him Unusual Interrogation
For seven years Koichi Kuwabara has been creating ‘free hug’ YouTube videos, travelling to various Asian countries, spreading a message of peace. The reason behind…
Historic Japanese Cinema Revamps Couple Discount Offer to Include LGBT Patrons and Wins Online Praise
Although it’s common in most countries to see cinema discounts for students and old age pensioners, in Japan you can get discounts for some other…
The Japanese Student Formerly Known as Prince Who Fought Back Against Kira Kira Names
We’re used to hearing about the eccentric names that celebrities in the Western world give their children. Apple or Pixie or Zowie to name a…
Customers In Japan Use Car Sharing For Crying, Training Face Muscles, And Practicing Rap
In Japan, depending on where you live, owning a car can be more of a burden than a convenience. Having a car in the city…