Student succeeds at failing to start work on his summer homework
For elementary school children in Japan, their weeks-long summer vacation isn't entirely a time for leisure. Instead, it's overshadowed by a stack of homework that features, among other things, an assignment known as jiyū kenkyū (independent project). As the name suggests, jiyū kenkyū is an ...
Frustrated travelers at Narita Airport in wake of Typhoon Faxai spark joy on social media
Choirs full of Swedish children typically don’t break into song at Narita Airport. That’s precisely what happened last Monday night, however, when a youth group called Nova Cantica found itself stranded at the transport hub and decided to pass the time by singing in ...
Japan's homemakers are using art history classics to illustrate daily struggles on Twitter
Homemakers in Japan have been using classic artworks to describe their daily routines — much to the delight of those on social media. According to online magazine Pouch, the conversation began in May 2018 after a woman posted an image of Jacques-Louis David’s classic French ...
Japan's insatiable appetite for watching strangers binge eat
Consuming a 5-kilogram hamburger and a plate of wedges in a single sitting is more than most people can stomach, but it’s all in a day’s work for one of Japan’s ōgui consumers. Ōgui eaters are ordinary people who have the extraordinary ability to consume ...
Excessive homework may be exhausting students in Japan during their summer vacation
The school summer holidays are now in full swing but an increasing number of parents and their children are spending the break hunched over a desk with a stack of workbooks instead of enjoying ice cream in the park. The traditional rite of summer homework ...
Heated debate boils over on social media as mercury soars in Japan
Talking to others about the weather has always been a quick and easy conversation topic. The same goes for social media users and online news outlets in Japan, which love to discuss meteorological issues. The arrival of intense summer heat in recent weeks has ...
Understanding 'teru teru bōzu,' the ghost-like charms in 'Weathering With You'
While Makoto Shinkai’s latest film, “Weathering With You,” has already been released in Japan, it’s likely anime fans overseas won’t be able to see the movie until 2020. However, there are a few moments in the film that may leave international audiences scratching their ...
Anime director Makoto Shinkai's new film can't shake 'Your Name.' comparisons
Makoto Shinkai’s latest film, “Weathering With You” (“Tenki no Ko”), may have outperformed the director’s 2016 blockbuster, “Your Name.,” at the box office on its opening weekend, but it failed to create many waves on social media in its first week. “Weathering With You,” which ...
Popular YouTube group's attempt to engineer a viral campaign on social media backfires spectacularly
Social media is a minefield of negativity that often leaves users in a conundrum whenever they stumble across someone doing something online that clearly seems obnoxious. Should users call people out for such behavior? Are they acting in a righteous manner or are they ...
Candidates struggle to navigate difficult waters of social media ahead of election
A good summary of how the 2019 House of Councilors election has played out online comes via Kazuki Takahashi, the creator of the cartoon “Yu-Gi-Oh!” During his promotion of a new art book, he shared an illustration on his Instagram page that was meant ...
Convenience store operator struggles in wake of security fiasco
The operator of Seven-Eleven’s new smartphone payment service is under fire for appearing clueless at a news conference that was held after customers were allegedly defrauded through unauthorized access. On July 4, Seven & I Holdings Co. said some 900 convenience store customers using the ...
Feeling burned out by social media? You probably aren't alone
Some of the most popular users of social media platforms such as Twitter are expressing frustration with life online. Adult film star and media personality Makoto Toda joined Twitter in 2016 and quickly established a strong following that extended far beyond her profession. By the start ...
