National / Media | Japan Pulse Oct 23, 2021
It's past time we flush the 'weird Japan' narrative
by Spencer Cohen
As The Tokyo Toilet project continues, so does the problematic way we frame stories about Japan.
National / Media | Japan Pulse Oct 2, 2021
The bike safety campaign that backfired
by Patrick St. Michel
The Chiba Prefectural Police hoped an animated avatar would help with bicycle safety but wound up wading into a long-running debate over misogyny.
National / Media | Japan Pulse Sep 18, 2021
Hikakin, the 'older brother' of YouTube, hits a milestone
by Spencer Cohen
The internet isn’t short of stories of influencers behaving badly. Japan’s most successful YouTuber proves that you can make a name for yourself by keeping things light.
National / Media | Japan Pulse Sep 10, 2021
Hip-hop is getting a bad rap this summer
by Patrick St. Michel
After footage of unmasked, crowded rap fans at a festival spread online, mainstream news outlets zeroed in on hip-hop itself.
National / Media | Japan Pulse Sep 4, 2021
Asahi drops body-shaming ads. Will other outlets follow?
by Kaori Shoji
Body hair? Bad. Overweight? Bad. Japanese advertising isn't always subtle when it comes to body shaming — and a dip in ad prices on YouTube led to more of it during the pandemic.
National / Media | Japan Pulse Aug 21, 2021
Could a Japanese influencer's comments about the homeless lead to hate crimes?
by Patrick St. Michel
Whether it was an attempt to be funny, edgy or "keep it real," a YouTuber's remarks that insinuated the lives of homeless people are worthless did not go over well with his audience.
National / Media | Japan Pulse Aug 10, 2021
The konbini becomes a convenient topic for the foreign press to turn to in an off-limits Tokyo
by Spencer Cohen
Has the rest of the world finally discovered what tens of millions in Japan already know? The "konbini" is no ordinary convenience store.
National / Media | Japan Pulse Jul 24, 2021
Get into the Olympic spirit by curating your social media feeds
by Patrick St. Michel
Looking to get some Olympic spirit into your social media feed? Try following a few Japanese athletes to remind yourself what the Games are really about.
National / Media | Japan Pulse Jul 17, 2021
Trolli Planet Gummi: Taking a bite out of Earth never sounded so great
by Kaori Shoji
Japanese teens are concerned about the planet, sort of. Chikyu Gumi, a candy that looks like the Earth, have been selling out in stores across the country.
National / Media | Japan Pulse Jul 3, 2021
by Patrick St. Michel
As Kiryu Coco graduates from Hololive, it allows us a chance to look at the growing influence of virtual YouTubers
National / Media | Japan Pulse Jun 19, 2021
Spotify gets visual in a new TV Tokyo show about podcasting
by Patrick St. Michel
Spotify dips its toe into broadcast television with a new show that will either be a boon for podcasts or chain restaurants.
Media | Japan Pulse Jun 12, 2021
Tapping into the travel dreams of overseas visitors to Japan
by Patrick St. Michel
Traveling to Japan is unlikely to resemble trips prior to the emergence of COVID-19.