Teen overdose ER transports in Tokyo have tripled in 5 years. Inside Japan's OTC medicine abuse crisis, the Toyoko Kids phenomenon, and the gap in youth mental health support — compared with the US fentanyl epidemic and UK harm-reduction approach.
Japan's gasoline has hit record highs, dialysis tubing is running out, and bathtubs can't be shipped. With 95% of crude oil coming from the Middle East, pivoting to the world's largest oil producer, America, seems like a perfect Win-Win. But refinery design, tanker size, the Panama Canal bottleneck, and an ironic naphtha yield problem all stand in the way. Here's why the obvious solution isn't simple.
Japan has reduced dog and cat euthanasia by 99% over 50 years, yet 6,830 animals are still put down annually. Tokyo-based Signal Talk has launched 'Paw Me,' a service that lets users feed shelter animals remotely via smartphone. A new model of social participation for those who cannot keep pets due to allergies, age, or living situation.
Japan's Ministry of the Environment reports total waste of 38.11 million tons for FY2024 (down 2.2% YoY) with a recycling rate of just 19.3%. Why is Japan, famous for its cleanliness, so far behind Germany (67%) and South Korea (60%)? A look inside the world's most incineration-dependent waste system.
Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi publicly criticized the White House at an April 17 Diet session over its use of Nintendo's Wii Sports footage in an Iran strike propaganda video. As Nintendo already sues the US over tariffs, here's how Japanese IP ended up at the center of a diplomatic spat, and how Reddit is reacting.
Tokyo District Court sentenced a website operator to 18 months suspended prison plus 1 million yen fine for posting spoiler articles about Godzilla Minus One. We examine the landmark ruling that text alone can constitute film adaptation, Japan's key copyright precedents including the Esashi Oiwake case and Fast Movie lawsuits, and Japan's overall stance on creator protection.
The Hormuz Strait blockade has cut off Japan's naphtha supply, forcing TOTO to halt bathtub orders and LIXIL to declare delivery dates unknown. Insulation up 40%, paint up 80%, pipes up 20%; housing materials are skyrocketing across the board. We analyze Japan's structural vulnerability of depending on the Middle East for 90% of its crude oil, with comparative data from other countries.
Japan's government has approved a plan to make standard childbirth costs free by 2026. But the Japan Association of Obstetricians warns of a looming collapse in maternity care, delivery facilities have halved since 1996, and rural 'maternity deserts' are spreading. How does Japan's birth system compare to France and Sweden?
Japan's Children and Families Agency, launched in 2023 with great fanfare, faces growing calls for abolition just three years in. With a $50 billion annual budget under fire as 'wasteful spending' and births hitting a record low of 671,236 in 2025, we examine why Japan's 'unprecedented' measures against the declining birthrate have failed, and how other countries are tackling the same crisis.
Japan's Forum for the Future We Choose has published its first-ever Population Problem White Paper. A nationwide survey reveals 70% of people over 50 feel a sense of crisis about population decline, while 2025 births fell to a record low of 705,809 for the tenth consecutive year. We explore Japan's dual strategy of adapting to population decline while trying to reverse the birthrate trend, with comparisons to South Korea, China, and Europe.
Japan's real estate investment hit a record $43 billion in 2025, with foreign investors accounting for $16 billion. As the weak yen makes Tokyo properties a global bargain, locals are being priced out — but signs of a market correction are emerging.