Unseen Japan
@unseenjapan.com
The Japan you don't learn about in anime. News and social issues from Japan. Visiting Japan soon? Check out our tours service!
https://unseenjapan.start.page/
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Unseen Japan
@unseenjapan.com
· Mar 3
Wow - we blinked and you brought us to 20K followers on Bluesky. Thank you! We're happy to have made this our new social media home.
Unseen Japan covers Japanese news, language, history, and social issues from a liberal perspective. Here's a little more about what we do (and how you can help).
Unseen Japan covers Japanese news, language, history, and social issues from a liberal perspective. Here's a little more about what we do (and how you can help).
Reposted by Unseen Japan
I wonder how many dudes you would need to take on this challenge, I feel like this is an absolute metric ton of food given the cheap prices and big portions
How much would it cost to eat everything on the Saizeriya menu? Turns out the answer, as you might expect given the Japanese “Italian” restaurant’s rep for cheap eats, is “not a lot”:
a mere ¥28,600 ($182)
a mere ¥28,600 ($182)
February 7, 2026 at 10:17 AM
I wonder how many dudes you would need to take on this challenge, I feel like this is an absolute metric ton of food given the cheap prices and big portions
How much would it cost to eat everything on the Saizeriya menu? Turns out the answer, as you might expect given the Japanese “Italian” restaurant’s rep for cheap eats, is “not a lot”:
a mere ¥28,600 ($182)
a mere ¥28,600 ($182)
February 7, 2026 at 9:22 AM
How much would it cost to eat everything on the Saizeriya menu? Turns out the answer, as you might expect given the Japanese “Italian” restaurant’s rep for cheap eats, is “not a lot”:
a mere ¥28,600 ($182)
a mere ¥28,600 ($182)
The national spread of the Urayasu no Mai, a woman-performed religious dance dedicated to the 2600th anniversary of imperial rule, brought about the revival of miko. Since then, the role of miko has changed to that of an assistant for Shinto priests.
Japanese Shrine Maiden School: An Inside View - Unseen Japan
What does it take to become a certified Japanese shrine maiden? A certified miko shows us inside a school built to train new miko.
buff.ly
February 7, 2026 at 4:01 AM
The national spread of the Urayasu no Mai, a woman-performed religious dance dedicated to the 2600th anniversary of imperial rule, brought about the revival of miko. Since then, the role of miko has changed to that of an assistant for Shinto priests.
Several foreign customers said ramen store staff directed them away from the Japanese menu. Some said staff told them to order only in their native language. Korean reviewers claimed staff blocked them from viewing the cheaper options.
buff.ly/bQiCU5a
buff.ly/bQiCU5a
Osaka Ramen Shop Threatens to Ban Chinese Customers After Two-Tier Pricing Dispute - Unseen Japan
Social media users in Japan have accused the store of discrimination and of "embarrassing" Japan with its blatant double pricing.
buff.ly
February 6, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Several foreign customers said ramen store staff directed them away from the Japanese menu. Some said staff told them to order only in their native language. Korean reviewers claimed staff blocked them from viewing the cheaper options.
buff.ly/bQiCU5a
buff.ly/bQiCU5a
Japan isn’t known for its spicy foods. Quite the contrary. So when our author heard that a line of potato chips had landed some high school kids in the hospital, he knew that he HAD to try them. Fortunately, he lived to write about it.
These Japanese Potato Chips Hospitalized Kids - So I Tried Them - Unseen Japan
Japan isn't known for its spicy food. One snack company, however, has a product that's so spicy it made national headlines.
buff.ly
February 6, 2026 at 5:37 AM
Japan isn’t known for its spicy foods. Quite the contrary. So when our author heard that a line of potato chips had landed some high school kids in the hospital, he knew that he HAD to try them. Fortunately, he lived to write about it.
Reposted by Unseen Japan
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!
In today's episode of "let's beat up on foreigners for no reason," The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) announced that tourists will no longer be able to take the test inside Japan - only residents. No indication of exactly what problem this new rule is trying to solve.
February 5, 2026 at 11:12 PM
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!
Reposted by Unseen Japan
The kind of inconvenience, if not outright discrimination, I think of when I see “Japan is living in 3026”
In today's episode of "let's beat up on foreigners for no reason," The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) announced that tourists will no longer be able to take the test inside Japan - only residents. No indication of exactly what problem this new rule is trying to solve.
February 5, 2026 at 9:58 PM
The kind of inconvenience, if not outright discrimination, I think of when I see “Japan is living in 3026”
In today's episode of "let's beat up on foreigners for no reason," The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) announced that tourists will no longer be able to take the test inside Japan - only residents. No indication of exactly what problem this new rule is trying to solve.
February 5, 2026 at 9:38 PM
In today's episode of "let's beat up on foreigners for no reason," The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) announced that tourists will no longer be able to take the test inside Japan - only residents. No indication of exactly what problem this new rule is trying to solve.
Asked what she thinks of the Hitachi Pride parade in Japan's Ibaraki Prefecture, 35-year-old Yuka responds: “Until I was given this flag, I had no idea this event was going to happen today at all, but I think it’s a good thing....it’s nice to see something like that here."
buff.ly/ydIpzHP
buff.ly/ydIpzHP
February 5, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Asked what she thinks of the Hitachi Pride parade in Japan's Ibaraki Prefecture, 35-year-old Yuka responds: “Until I was given this flag, I had no idea this event was going to happen today at all, but I think it’s a good thing....it’s nice to see something like that here."
buff.ly/ydIpzHP
buff.ly/ydIpzHP
Japan’s sleep deprivation issues go back to at least 2017, when the Japanese word for “sleep debt” (睡眠負債; suimin fusai) was nominated as one of the year’s top buzzwords. Nothing’s gotten better since.
buff.ly/Bitrs06
buff.ly/Bitrs06
February 5, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Japan’s sleep deprivation issues go back to at least 2017, when the Japanese word for “sleep debt” (睡眠負債; suimin fusai) was nominated as one of the year’s top buzzwords. Nothing’s gotten better since.
buff.ly/Bitrs06
buff.ly/Bitrs06
ICYMI: At the start of 2026, an AI-generated manga reached the top of Comic C’moA’s Young Adult rankings, marking a turning point for Japan’s manga industry. And what does its success portend for the industry's future?
How an AI Manga Became a Bestseller on Japan’s Largest e-Book Store - Unseen Japan
How did a fully AI-generated manga hit number one in Japan? And what does its success portend for the future of the industry?
buff.ly
February 5, 2026 at 12:45 PM
ICYMI: At the start of 2026, an AI-generated manga reached the top of Comic C’moA’s Young Adult rankings, marking a turning point for Japan’s manga industry. And what does its success portend for the industry's future?
Anime may be entertainment, first and foremost. But art is almost always political. Anime is no exception. Many of the most popular and beloved anime have explicit political ideologies. Sometimes they’re expressed overtly. Other times, they lurk beneath the surface.
Anime From the Left - and From the (Far, Far) Right - Unseen Japan
Anime may be entertainment, first and foremost. But art is almost always political. Anime is no exception.
buff.ly
February 5, 2026 at 5:05 AM
Anime may be entertainment, first and foremost. But art is almost always political. Anime is no exception. Many of the most popular and beloved anime have explicit political ideologies. Sometimes they’re expressed overtly. Other times, they lurk beneath the surface.
Japan is famous for many things. One of them? A lack of sleep. For nearly a decade, it's been the world's eepiest country. Unfortunately, with a workaholic Prime Minister now in charge, the problem may get even worse.
buff.ly/Bitrs06
buff.ly/Bitrs06
The Eepiest Nation: Why Japan's Sleep Problem May Soon Get Worse - Unseen Japan
Japan gets less sleep than any other nation. But the country's workaholic Prime Minister doesn't seem to care.
unseen-japan.com
February 4, 2026 at 11:21 PM
Japan is famous for many things. One of them? A lack of sleep. For nearly a decade, it's been the world's eepiest country. Unfortunately, with a workaholic Prime Minister now in charge, the problem may get even worse.
buff.ly/Bitrs06
buff.ly/Bitrs06
Reposted by Unseen Japan
Err happy Pikachu day to all who celebrate? ⚡
Today in Japan (2/5) is the grand opening of Pokepark Kanto in Inagi City, West Tokyo (located inside the existing Yomiuriland). It's also, not coincidentally, Pikachu Day, as 25 is Pikachu's Pokedex number.
February 4, 2026 at 8:47 PM
Err happy Pikachu day to all who celebrate? ⚡
According to a survey by Daiichi Sankyo, 1 in 5 women say they’ve experienced times where contraception has failed, or they couldn’t use contraception for some reason. That makes easy access to the morning-after pill a godsend.
buff.ly/hikt6QW
buff.ly/hikt6QW
Japan (Finally) Makes Morning-After Pill Available Over the Counter Nationwide - Unseen Japan
The approval process was long, taking three years from a trial run until approval of sale nationwide without a prescription.
unseen-japan.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:16 PM
According to a survey by Daiichi Sankyo, 1 in 5 women say they’ve experienced times where contraception has failed, or they couldn’t use contraception for some reason. That makes easy access to the morning-after pill a godsend.
buff.ly/hikt6QW
buff.ly/hikt6QW
Today in Japan (2/5) is the grand opening of Pokepark Kanto in Inagi City, West Tokyo (located inside the existing Yomiuriland). It's also, not coincidentally, Pikachu Day, as 25 is Pikachu's Pokedex number.
February 4, 2026 at 8:46 PM
Today in Japan (2/5) is the grand opening of Pokepark Kanto in Inagi City, West Tokyo (located inside the existing Yomiuriland). It's also, not coincidentally, Pikachu Day, as 25 is Pikachu's Pokedex number.
"Grandma's iPad stopwatch apparently hasn't been stopped for four years I'm dying"
February 4, 2026 at 8:33 PM
"Grandma's iPad stopwatch apparently hasn't been stopped for four years I'm dying"
This 7-Eleven at the Ōzumi Parking Area in Niigata went viral for its message telling people exhausted from driving in the snow to use the store to warm up. "No need to buy anything. Your smile is the greatest gift. We wish you a safe trip." The sign was also posted in English.
February 4, 2026 at 8:27 PM
This 7-Eleven at the Ōzumi Parking Area in Niigata went viral for its message telling people exhausted from driving in the snow to use the store to warm up. "No need to buy anything. Your smile is the greatest gift. We wish you a safe trip." The sign was also posted in English.
Critics of the plan to charge for garbage service across all of Tokyo argued that collection should remain a basic public service funded by taxes, especially during a period of rising prices and repeated tax increases.
Tokyo's Plan to Charge for Garbage Service Has Some Residents Howling - Unseen Japan
Garbage fees have successfully reduced waste in West Tokyo. Here's why some residents are up in arms over the proposal.
buff.ly
February 4, 2026 at 1:02 PM
Critics of the plan to charge for garbage service across all of Tokyo argued that collection should remain a basic public service funded by taxes, especially during a period of rising prices and repeated tax increases.
It took a long time to approve. But finally, after a three-year trial run, women in Japan can now buy the morning-after pill nationwide without a prescription. The move comes after years of opposition - including from men in Japan's medical community.
Japan (Finally) Makes Morning-After Pill Available Over the Counter Nationwide - Unseen Japan
The approval process was long, taking three years from a trial run until approval of sale nationwide without a prescription.
buff.ly
February 4, 2026 at 6:22 AM
It took a long time to approve. But finally, after a three-year trial run, women in Japan can now buy the morning-after pill nationwide without a prescription. The move comes after years of opposition - including from men in Japan's medical community.
Even Japanese people are surprised to learn what Nagoya’s most popular regional ramen is. A spicy noodle dish, it stands in stark contrast to Nagoya’s other popular dishes.
And the kicker? It’s not even from Taiwan.
buff.ly/HMifAqF
And the kicker? It’s not even from Taiwan.
buff.ly/HMifAqF
The Surprising History Of Nagoya's Spicy "Taiwan" Ramen - Unseen Japan
It may not actually be from Taiwan, but Nagoya's "Taiwan ramen" is quickly becoming one of the region's most famous dishes.
unseen-japan.com
February 4, 2026 at 5:23 AM
Even Japanese people are surprised to learn what Nagoya’s most popular regional ramen is. A spicy noodle dish, it stands in stark contrast to Nagoya’s other popular dishes.
And the kicker? It’s not even from Taiwan.
buff.ly/HMifAqF
And the kicker? It’s not even from Taiwan.
buff.ly/HMifAqF
Snow is wreaking havoc on Japan's off-cycle Lower House election. Nagaden, a bus company serving Nagano's Hokushin region, has responded by setting up a bus as an early-voting station in the ski-resort city of Nakano.
February 4, 2026 at 1:11 AM
Snow is wreaking havoc on Japan's off-cycle Lower House election. Nagaden, a bus company serving Nagano's Hokushin region, has responded by setting up a bus as an early-voting station in the ski-resort city of Nakano.
Proponents of dissolving Japan's Children & Families Agency argue that the family of every child born in the country could receive a 10 million yen ($63,830) stipend if the agency's budget and the associated taxes were eliminated.
Why Japan Hates the New "Bachelor Tax" Aimed at Reversing Population Decline - Unseen Japan
The new levy is intended to secure the country's future - but some are calling for the agency that instituted it to be dissolved.
buff.ly
February 3, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Proponents of dissolving Japan's Children & Families Agency argue that the family of every child born in the country could receive a 10 million yen ($63,830) stipend if the agency's budget and the associated taxes were eliminated.
In Japan, Valentine's Day usually involves women giving men chocolate - and, in many instances, making it from scratch. Here's why an increasing number of women – and even some chocolate companies – are calling hooey on this tradition.
Valentine’s Day in Japan: Vaunted Tradition or Sexist Standard? - Unseen Japan
Why the practice of Valentine's Day in Japan, a tradition once rooted in gratitude, is now facing criticism as a form of power harassment.
buff.ly
February 3, 2026 at 2:02 PM
In Japan, Valentine's Day usually involves women giving men chocolate - and, in many instances, making it from scratch. Here's why an increasing number of women – and even some chocolate companies – are calling hooey on this tradition.
Reposted by Unseen Japan
If this angers you, you should see what Japan does with spaghetti and ketchup
February 3, 2026 at 5:48 AM
If this angers you, you should see what Japan does with spaghetti and ketchup