Dodgy data spared Japan's workers from a labor system that's ripe for abuse, for now
At first glance, the discretionary work system looks like a dream come true in terms of work-life balance. On closer inspection, though, it has the potential to be a worker's nightmare.
Springtime in Japan brings the sadness of the eikaiwa exodus
Budding English skills built up over years at conversation school can wither as junior high school clubs take over students' lives.
Schools plus rules equals Japan minus two
Having experienced schools around the world, why do Colin P.A. Jones' daughters rank Japan's bottom of the class?
White supremacists and Japan: A love story
Far-right fanboys see in Japan an ethnostate that gets a free pass on the world stage, but it's a reputation that Japan needs to shake for its own good.
South Korean 'job nomads' follow their dreams to Japan
Millennials drawn to not only more jobs but also a perceived less competitive working environment.
Lessons on life, love and compassionate leave from a silly old bunny
Having just suffered a string of painful losses, this month I will explore compassionate leave (kibiki kyūka), the days you take off in Japan after the death of a close family member.
Midori Farm: Finding earthy solutions in rural Shiga
Nonprofit turns neglected land into productive farmland and brings together foreign volunteers and local people.
With his U.S. scholarships for Japanese students, tycoon Tadashi Yanai could do better
Tycoon's fund is accused of giving help to those who don't need it when it could instead be altering more destinies.
A year in the (short) life of Japan's Cabinet
Early each year, Law of the Land likes to reflect on what one of Japan's three branches of government did the previous one. This time we'll look at the surprisingly durable Shinzo Abe habitat known as the Cabinet. First, lawyerly foreplay: definitions. What is the ...
The Japan vlogger's gospel, not according to Logan Paul
In the wake of the Logan Paul "suicide forest" fiasco, YouTubers offer their tips on filming in Japan without infuriating the locals.
Court cases shine a light on Japan's problem with paternity leave
Two cases currently before the courts show how the reality of Japanese workplaces can clash with government attempts to encourage fathers to help raise their children.
Why don't more Japanese study abroad? The cost and the hassle, survey shows
One student canvasses others and finds expense is crucial — even for well-off families — while support is thin on the ground.
