There is a bit of debate about how environmentally friendly Japan is. Upon a precursory glance, you’d be forgiven for thinking this spick-and-span country is…

Many aspects of Japanese entertainment and culture are famous worldwide—Pokemon, Dragonball Z, and a host of other animes are universally recognized. Sushi restaurants are popular…

Does the ideal marriage actually exist? I would imagine not. Although rewarding, relationships involve compromise, patience, and endurance—just like anything else in life that’s worth…

Upon arriving in Japan, you quickly realize the country lives up to its image abroad: the landscape is beautiful, people are courteous, and there is…

As we’ve noted before, Japanese people work hard … although they may not exactly be working smart. According to OECD data, Japanese firms are surprisingly…

You tell them it’s time to turn off the video games and do their homework, and there is a battle. You ask them to take…

Bedtime is always a problem with an infant. If a tired mother and father can actually get their little one to lie down, who knows…

In my experience, it’s occasionally challenging to understand the politics of Japanese people. While some residents, like the numerous right wingers, are very outspoken, it…

It’s stressful times. No surprises there. However, it’s sad to see individuals bickering and berating one another when we should be coming together. Nevertheless, that’s…

So far, the fallout of COVID-19 in Japan has been relatively limited. Despite never instigating a full lockdown or other draconian measures, the country has…

Babies are such weird, drooling, inarticulate munchkins with ridiculous demands. They eat and nap ad nauseam but incite chaos at odd hours of the night….

A conservative society, Japan has struggled with stigmas surrounding disabilities and developmental disorders. However, headline events in recent years are underlining the importance of acceptance…

Japanese culture developed, in many ways, independently from the rest of Asia. A phenomenon known as ガラパゴス化, the Galapagos effect, this branching off from mainland…

You meet all kinds of people living as an ex-pat in Japan. Perhaps this is typical of minority communities, but there seems to be a…

Japan is a great country. If nothing else, it’s a safe and relatively easy place for an ex-pat to live. However, like anywhere, it certainly…