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.
Media firm adapts to an ever-shifting Brazilian community in Japan
IPC serves the huge Portuguese-speaking community with radio, TV, mags and more.
In 2017, Japan woke up to the issue of discrimination
The year saw a landmark human rights survey and action on hate speech and pensions — but conditions remain dire for foreign 'trainees' and other workers alike.
Japan's Supreme Court hands down a road map for parental child abductions
The top court's latest ruling suggests judges will find ways to avoid messy Hague Convention returns that Japan lacks the means to enforce anyway.
Teachers and schools in Japan brace for icebergs in 2018
After a year of scandals and promises, the "five-year rule" and demographic woes cast a shadow over education in 2018.
Homeless in Tokyo: Fallen through society's cracks and frozen out
A night on homeless patrol in Tokyo highlights the range of factors that can lead to a life on the streets.
