People in Japan get some of the least sleep in the world, so when the rare time comes to turn in, many are turning to bedtime stories to drift off to sleep.
LIFE / Lifestyle
Oct 12, 2024
Can't stop tossing and turning at night? Perhaps a bedtime story would help.
“Bedtime routines vary from family to family, from person to person,” says one researcher. “It's important to find what works best for each person.”
Cosplayer Xu Yunting (left), dressed as Jesse, a male character from the video game Light and Night, and video game enthusiast Feng Xinyu visit a crafts shop during their 'cos commissioning' date in Shanghai.
LIFE / Lifestyle
Sep 11, 2024
'Dream men': Female cosplayers in China fulfill fantasies for young women
A trend called "cos commissioning" is allowing young women in China to perform idealized heteronormative relationships — with other women.
People gather for afternoon tea in the dining area of an Ikea in upscale Xuhui, Shanghai.
LIFE / Lifestyle
Sep 10, 2024
From People’s Park to Ikea, Shanghai’s seniors look for love
China has the world's largest population of people 65 or older. As social norms change, many older singles are hoping for a second or third chance at love.
If you're still trying to be active during Japan's record-setting heat, you should also know how best to care for yourself when you inevitably get a sunburn.
LIFE / Lifestyle
Aug 31, 2024
Japan’s nasty summer has left you with a nastier sunburn. Now what?
Aloe facial masks, non-alcohol-based lotions and souped-up sunscreen can take the edge off the pain of getting a sunburn.
Earthquakes are a fact of life in Japan, but there are strategies to keep yourself from spiraling into stress and despair over future catastrophes.
LIFE / Lifestyle
Aug 17, 2024
Dreading the Big One? How to manage pre-disaster anxiety.
Anxiety about potential natural disasters can take its toll, but mental health experts say there are practical solutions.
As if moving isn't stressful enough, Japan requires a host of paperwork to accompany your switch to a new apartment — a process that may get a little simpler in the near future.
LIFE / Lifestyle
Aug 16, 2024
Online banking consortium to slash the busywork of moving in Japan
The free service is expected to launch in February 2025, with even more functions available online by 2026.
Blistering heat is becoming a fixture of summer in Japan, but a few tweaks to your routine can make your outdoor runs bearable — if not enjoyable — until cooler temperatures return.
LIFE / Lifestyle / Boiling Point
Aug 10, 2024
Ice bandanas, convenience store breaks: Running under Japan’s summer sun
There are easily affordable ways to work some more cooling elements into your runs.

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?