Unseen Japan is a collective of writers who report on news, history, culture, and social movements in Japan based on Japanese sources. We aim to cover viewpoints from Japan that you may not often hear in the English speaking world.
If you’re new to UJ, check out our about page for a comprehensive review of what we cover by topic. You can also dig into our latest posts, or check out our News and Essays categories. Our Featured category also contains some of our best longer-form work.
At least AI is good for something: thieves in Japan are using it to impersonate celebs like Naomi Osaka and con people out of millions. Those same celebs are now asking social media sites to do something about it.
Since 1969, the Association of Shinto Shrines has overseen most shrines in Japan. But ongoing controversies are driving some away.
How you travel to Japan will change in the next decade. The country says it’s creating an ESTA system for visa-exempt travelers. Here’s what you need to know.
The 2024 Shogun TV series stacks up pretty well to history, says a Japanese historian – but the surrounding conversation around “colonialism” is ridiculous.
A survey asked people in Japan if their city had the worst manners. You won’t believe which took first place. (Okay, maybe you will.)
Japan – already one of the world’s thinnest nations – has its first-ever approved weight loss drug. Will users dig its nasty side effects?
Foreign tourists are going wild for Japan’s bidet-equipped toilets – and many are eager to see them in public spaces too.
The rediscovery of Ryukyuan artwork lost during the Pacific War offers a ray of hope for those seeking to restore Okinawa’s cultural history.
Kumai Hitomi had a promising future. But she ended up running with the wrong crowd – and had to cheat and steal to save her own life.
It used to be you could get into some key cultural attractions in Japan as a tourist at a discount. Here’s why those days may be over.
Japan’s facing a minor crime wave of people pouring more combini coffee than they bought. And combinis are responding – with arrests.
Should you worry that streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) will throw a wrench into your Japan travel plans? Officials say not to worry – but also say to exercise caution.
It promises to be a true bullet train, traversing seven prefectures in 40 minutes. But will the new Shinkansen ever see the light of day?
Want to get in some reps but also need to do your laundry AND belt out some karaoke hits? Good news! This gym in Japan’s got you covered.
One Japanese snack maker took an interesting twist on April Fools this year: advertising a “joke” that turned up on store shelves the next day.
To prevent overtourism, Shizuoka Prefecture wants to charge users of its three Mt. Fuji trailheads. The problem? It doesn’t own them.
In a future Japan where couples can’t choose separate surnames, 2531 could be the era of the Sato-sans, one Japanese university claims.
While it’s still low compared to other countries, Japan accepted more refugee applicants last year than ever.
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