Shohei Hishida, a carpenter artist with over 500,000 Instagram followers and a Forbes Japan 'Culturepreneur' honoree, merges Japanese and Belgian building traditions into homes that age beautifully. His new HUIZEN brand goes nationwide as Gen-Z entrepreneur Ryuun Tsukahara advocates for 'keinen-bika'—the philosophy of beauty through aging.
Japan's sickness benefits topped $4 billion in FY2023, up 60% in five years, driven by surging mental health claims. Explore Japan's structural workplace issues, insurance impacts, and how reforms compare globally.
Behind the global matcha craze, Japan's domestic tea prices are surging to unprecedented levels. The cheapest tea grade now costs more than premium first-harvest leaves. With tea farms shrinking and overseas demand exploding, Japan's centuries-old tea culture faces its biggest challenge yet.
A 58-year-old mother who cared for her severely disabled daughter alone for 29 years was arrested after an attempted murder-suicide in Chiba, Japan. With approximately 40 caregiver-related killings reported annually, this article examines landmark cases and asks the world: is this a crime society should bear?
Japan's health ministry adds "Sleep Disorder" as a new medical specialty for the first time since 2008. With the shortest sleep duration among OECD nations and $100 billion in annual economic losses, Japan is officially confronting its sleep crisis.
In 2025, a record $29 million in lost cash was turned in to Tokyo police — and over 70% was returned to owners. Discover why Japan's KOBAN police box system, Lost Property Law, and deep-rooted honesty culture make it the safest place to lose your wallet. Plus: what to do if you lose something while visiting Japan.
Japan's foreign driver's license conversion test got dramatically harder in October 2025. With questions jumping from 10 to 50, mandatory resident registration, and tourists barred from applying, pass rates have plummeted from 90% to 40%. Here's what changed, why, and how it compares to other countries' systems.
Kyoto announces Japan's first dual pricing system for city buses — residents will pay ¥200 ($1.30) while tourists face fares up to ¥400 ($2.60). With 56 million annual visitors overwhelming a city of 1.43 million, this bold overtourism measure follows global models from Venice to Bali. How do locals and the world react?
Around 420,000 Muslims in Japan face a growing burial crisis. Islamic faith requires burial rather than cremation, but in a country where 99.97% of the deceased are cremated, only about 10 burial-capable cemeteries exist. Plans to build new Muslim cemeteries in Oita and Miyagi prefectures have been blocked by resident opposition, exposing the gap between Japan's push for foreign workers and its readiness for multicultural coexistence.
A box of 12 "Berrytsu" strawberries just sold for $1,800 at auction in Japan. From $6,700 grape bunches to $17,000 melons, Japan's luxury fruit market defies global norms. Discover the cultural traditions, auction rituals, and branding strategies that make ultra-premium fruit a thriving business in Japan.
Japan's iconic confectionery giant Morinaga has launched its first-ever pet-friendly products in 126 years of history — 7 snacks that both humans and dogs can enjoy together. From Moonlight cookies to Ice Box frozen treats, the company backed its concept with university research proving shared snacking strengthens the human-dog bond. A deep dive into Japan's booming $12.7 billion pet market.
