了解日本社会生活的最新情况。.
Greenery Day (みどりの日, Midori no Hi) falls on Monday, May 4, 2026 — right in the middle of Golden Week, Japan’s longest holiday stretch. Combined with the surrounding holidays and weekend, most workers get a solid block of consecutive days off. If you’re living in Japan or planning to be here during Golden Week, here’s
一个新西兰人搬到东京，骑上一辆自行车，立刻意识到他们所知道的关于自行车的一切都毫无用处。道路更窄了。人行道更宽敞了。妈妈车 "带着坐在后座上蹒跚学步的孩子，在盲道上横冲直撞，完全不顾及迎面而来的车辆。老年妇女在单行道上逆向骑车，速度
May 3 is one of those days in Japan where the trains are packed, the tourist spots are swarming, and your regular convenience store might be operating on a skeleton schedule. If you are living in Japan or planning a trip during late April and early May, you will run directly into Constitution Memorial Day.
In Japan, a growing industry of resignation (taishoku daikou) services helps employees quit their jobs without directly confronting their employers. These third-party companies handle the entire resignation process on behalf of workers, from submitting notice to negotiating final details with the company. What Are Japanese Resignation Services? Japanese resignation services are professional agencies that resign
In Japan, specialized apology agencies offer a unique service: delivering apologies on behalf of clients who cannot or prefer not to apologize themselves. These businesses employ trained professionals who visit individuals, businesses, or organizations to express remorse for various situations, such as workplace conflicts, personal disputes and social misunderstandings. What Are Apology Agencies? Apology agencies
In Japan, you can hire actors to play your spouse, children, parents, or friends for a few hours or an entire day. These “rental family” services have become a quietly thriving industry, offering companionship and social support in one of the world’s most isolated societies. What Does It Mean to Rent a Family? Rental family
White Day is a Japanese holiday celebrated on March 14th where men give gifts to women who gave them chocolates on Valentine’s Day one month earlier. It serves as a reciprocal counterpart to Valentine’s Day, creating a two part gift giving tradition unique to Japan and several other East Asian countries. The Origin of White
A salaryman (サラリーマン, sararīman) is a white-collar office worker in Japan who works full-time for a corporation, typically in a permanent position with a monthly salary. The term specifically refers to male corporate employees who are expected to demonstrate unwavering loyalty to their company in exchange for job security and steady income. Salarymen form the
If you’re planning to visit Japan during Lunar New Year or wondering whether Japanese people celebrate this festival, the short answer might surprise you: most of Japan does not celebrate Lunar New Year. While Lunar New Year 2026 falls on February 17th and will be widely celebrated across much of Asia, Japan switched to celebrating
Valentine’s Day in Japan offers a fascinating twist on the Western celebration of love. Unlike the mutual gift-giving tradition familiar to many, Japanese Valentine’s Day follows unique customs that might surprise first-time visitors and cultural enthusiasts alike. Is Valentine’s Day Celebrated in Japan? Yes, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in Japan, and it’s actually one of
The Japanese school year is structured differently than in many Western countries, often sparking confusion for new expats or families planning travel. Instead of starting in September, the academic calendar aligns with the fiscal year, beginning in April and ending the following March. This structure creates three distinct terms and three main holiday periods. If
日本通常被视为现代化的成功典范，它将根深蒂固的传统与未来科技完美融合。然而，对于生活在日本或计划移居日本的 LGBTQ+ 情侣来说，日本的法律环境给人的感觉还停留在过去。作为 G7 国家中唯一不完全承认同性结合的国家，日本面临着越来越大的国际和国内压力，需要更新其民法典。.
近年来，日本的最低工资标准不断提高，但很多人还是会问同一个基本问题：在东京，你能靠最低工资生活吗？诚实的回答是，这在很大程度上取决于你住在哪里，你的房租是多少，以及你是否想独自生活。最低工资也许可以支付
日本天皇生日是庆祝在位天皇生日的国定假日。对许多人来说，这是一个平淡无奇的节日，但它却蕴含着丰富的文化内涵，是公众可以参加与皇室有关的官方活动的难得日子之一。如果您正在寻找
Papa katsu is a Japanese term that refers to a relationship where an older man, the “papa,” provides financial support to a younger woman in exchange for companionship. The word comes from combining “papa,” meaning an older man, and “katsu,” short for katsudō, meaning activity. Put simply, papa katsu means engaging in paid companionship with
If you are planning work, school schedules, travel, or just trying to avoid showing up to a closed bank (it happens), here is a fully updated, more detailed guide to Japan public holidays 2026. Each holiday below includes what it is, how people typically observe it, and what you should expect in terms of closures
Japan is a country with an efficient and friendly police force. Although most people will never have cause to encounter the police, I have seen (and spoken to) an officer going door to door looking for a child’s bike. Additionally, most missing persons are eventually found, and crimes solved (though not all). There are, however,
Like many countries, Japan is increasingly concerned with sustainability and environmentally friendly solutions to the major challenges facing the country, and the world as a whole. As part of its ongoing efforts to address these challenges, there have been ongoing efforts in Fukushima prefecture to develop and promote businesses that offer innovative solutions to serious
It has now been slightly over a month (at time of writing) since Sanae Takaichi became the first woman Prime Minister of Japan. In the intervening time, what have been her most significant decisions and actions as the head of Japan’s government? How do those changes affect those living in Japan — especially foreign residents?
Understanding the seasons in Tokyo is essential for adjusting to local life, planning activities, and experiencing the city’s cultural rhythm. Each season in Japan influences how people dress, what they eat, and how they enjoy daily life. This guide provides detailed and practical insight into each Tokyo’s seasonal cycle. A Snapshot of Tokyo’s Seasonal Rhythm
As anyone who has lived in, visited, or perhaps even knows vaguely about Japan can tell you: this country is famous for its low crime rate, with violent crime — and especially homicides — being incredibly rare. However, those familiar can also tell you that occasionally, some murders are so serious that they don’t just
Japan is known as one of the safest countries in the world, with very low rates of crime, and violent crime being especially rare. However, there are some things about Japan that are unsafe even beyond the exceptional cases of human flaws. These include natural disasters, including typhoons and earthquakes, but also from animals, and
Last week, we detailed the ascention of Sanae Takaichi to become the President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and therefore her becoming the presumptive new Prime Minister of Japan, and the first woman Prime Minister in its history. However, since that time, there have been rapid — and unexpected — developments, which mean that
Renting a boyfriend in Japan is a real service, and it has quietly become part of urban life in cities like Tokyo and Osaka. Through professional agencies, clients can hire a male companion for a few hours or a full day, not for romance or sex, but for conversation, attention, and emotional presence. These dates
Since 1955, the right-of-center Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has been the ruling party in Japan, with only two brief periods out of power. As such, while Japan does not necessarily have a reputation as a right-wing nation, it is thought of as “small ‘c’ conservative”: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. On Saturday, however,
If you’ve ever seen one of the eighteen billion videos on “Things to do in Japan,” or “Quirky Things About Japan,” or something similar, you will have doubtless seen that one thing that is present in every major city, and recommended by many influencers, are animal cafes. The first cat cafe in Japan opened in
On September 7, 2025, Prime Minister of Japan Shigeru Ishiba announced that he would resign, following a number of bruising electoral defeats. These culminated in the July 2025 elections that saw his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and their coalition partner Komeito losing their majorities in both houses (the lower House of Representatives and the higher
Adult Adoption in Japan generally refers to ordinary adoption under the Civil Code where both parties are adults. In law, an adoptive parent must have reached the age of majority, which Japan lowered from 20 to 18 on April 1, 2022, and may adopt another person as their child; the adoption is made effective by
The 2025 minimum wage in Japan marks a historic milestone. For the first time, every prefecture will see hourly wages surpass ¥1,000, reflecting both economic pressures and government-led reforms. For foreign residents, this shift directly affects both earnings and daily living expenses, making it essential to understand the latest updates, not just on minimum wages