A vial of the Moderna COVID-19 booster vaccine targeting BA.4 and BA.5 omicron subvariants. Japan will roll out an updated version targeting the XBB variant on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Explainer
Sep 19, 2023
Japan to begin COVID vaccine drive targeting XBB subvariant
The free shots will be offered until March next year to prepare residents for an expected uptick in infections during the winter.
The release of treated water from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant into the sea in the town of Okuma, in Fukushima prefecture, began Thursday.
JAPAN / Explainer
Aug 24, 2023
A closer look at the Fukushima water discharge plan
The IAEA, the Japanese government and many nuclear experts say this process is safe and consistent with what other countries are doing.
A women-only passenger train in Tokyo
JAPAN / Explainer
Aug 18, 2023
DJ Soda incident spotlights prevalence of groping in Japan
The groping of the South Korean DJ at a festival spurred online conversations about the issue, with a term translating as "groping country" trending on X.
A safety course for electric scooters offered in Tokyo in June
JAPAN / Explainer
Jul 21, 2023
Bike, scooter, taxi? Here are your options for nonrail transit in Japan
Here's a rundown on your options and how best to utilize them — whether your a tourist or long-time resident.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Explainer
Jul 16, 2023
Why China is opposed to the release of treated water in Fukushima
Japan"s plan is facing a strong backlash from China, South Korea and other locations in the Pacific. But where are the concerns coming from?
Japan Times
JAPAN / Explainer
Jul 4, 2023
How to tell if an international school in Japan is reputable
The recent closure of an international preschool in Tokyo has put the spotlight on whether international schools deliver what they promise.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Explainer
Jun 12, 2023
What you need to know about the revision of Japan's asylum law
The law, which has prompted widespread debate, seeks to address perceived drawbacks of Japan’s existing legislation and standard handling of asylum matters.

Longform

Yoshiko Koide sits in a classroom at Nagoya College where she teaches a Japanese-language observation seminar.
How a dictionary came to spark outrage among the web’s otaku