Aging & Impact on Society in Japan
Alcohol and Smoking in Japan
Bathrooms in Japan
Being a Foreigner in Japan
Cleanliness in Japan
Convenience Stores in Japan
Education in Japan
Environment and Sustainability in Japan
Etiquette in Japan
Fashion in Japan
Fate in Japan
Festivals and Holidays in Japan
Greetings in Japan
History of Japan
Hobbies in Japan
Honne and Tateamae in Japan
Internet & Wi-fi in Japan
Kawaii Culture in Japan
Laundry in Japan
Miscellaneous Articles on Japan
News and Media in Japan
Nonverbal & Indirect Communication in Japan
Omiyage in Japan
Onsen and Sentos in Japan
Personal Space & Privacy in Japan
Punctuality in Japan
Shopping in Japan
Religion and Visiting Shrines & Temples in Japan
Social Issues in Japan
Tradition vs. Modernity in Japan
Transportation in Japan
Trash and Recycling in Japan
Uchi-Soto and Group Culture in Japan
Vending Machines in Japan
Women in Japan
Work Ethic and Job Hunting in Japan
Youth Culture in Japan
Aging & Impact on Society in Japan
- Why Japan Will Lose 20 Million People by 2050 (Tofugu)
- Why Do Japanese People Live So Long? (Tofugu)
Alcohol and Smoking in Japan
- Why Drinking with Co-Workers is so Important in Japanese Work Culture (GaijinPot) (Remember, the legal drinking again in Japan is 20)
- I Don’t Drink But I’ve Been Invited to My First Nomikai (GaijinPot)
- Japanese Smoking Manners Posters (Tofugu)
- Is Underage Drinking and Smoking a Problem in Japan (Tofugu)
- Why Some People Turn Red When they Drink (Business Insider)
Bathrooms in Japan
- Japanese Bathrooms (JapanGuide.com)
- Why Japan’s Public Bathrooms Put America’s to Shame
- Public Restrooms in Japan: A How-to (Matcha)
- 12 Awesome Features of Japanese Bathrooms you Won’t Find in the U.S. (Japan Today)
- Bathroom Etiquette in Japan (Newsweek)
- 7 Things You Need to Know Before Using a Toilet in Japan (Japan Talk)
- How to Use Toilets in Japan (Video)
- See also Onsen and Sentos below
Being a Foreigner in Japan
- How the East & West Handle Anxieties about Identity (Big Think)
- What Being a Minority Allows us to See (Japan Times)
- Becoming a Child in Japan: Learning Through Curiosity and Humility (Tofugu)
- Everybody Makes Embarrassing Language Mistakes (Tofugu)
- The Danger of Talking about ‘Weird’ Japan: The Perpetual Stereotype that Frames Us as ‘Normal’ (Tofugu)
- Best and Worst Things About Living in Japan (Tofugu)
- Common Mistakes Foreigners Make in Japan, And How to Avoid Them (GaijinPot)
- Combating Culture Shock: Tips from a Survivor (GaijinPot)
- Gaijin: What Does this Really Mean? (Tofugu)
- What Does Gaijin Really Mean (GaijinPot)
- The Gaijin Complex (GaijinPot)
- Being a Foreigner in Japan: The Greats and Not-So-Greats (GaijinPot)
- The Only Gaijin in the Village: Chapter one (GaijinPot)
- The Only Gaijin in the Village: Chapter Two (GaijinPot)
- The Only Gaijin in the Village: Chapter Three (GaijinPot)
- 2016 Survey on Foreign Students in Japan (JASSO)
- The Three Types of Foreign Students in Japanese Schools (Tofugu)
- Foreigners in Japan: Student Stories (THE)
- How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Being Otaku (Tofugu)
- Moving, Retiring, and Living Out Your Life in Japan (Tofugu)
- Friendship in Japan
- On Friendship in Japan (This Japanese Life)
- Male and Female American and Japanese Perceptions on Close Friendship
- 5 Things about Male Friendship that Confuse Japanese Women (Japan Today)
- Can Men and Women Really be Platonic Friends (Japan Today)
- Making Friends and Studying Japanese with LINE (Tofugu)
- Minorities In Japan
- More Than Gaijin: Specific Groups Living in Japan (Tofugu)
- An Asian Foreigner’s Perspective on Living in Japan (GaijinPot)
- Asian and Gaijin: What It’s Like to be an Invisible Foreigner in Japan (GaijinPot)
- Asian, But Not Japanese in Japan (Tofugu)
- Asian Foreigners Give Their Thoughts on Being Asian in Japan (Japan Today)
- Invisible Gaijin: Postcards from a Non-Japanese Japanese Person Living in Japan
- Fighting Stereotypes at School as an Asian ALT (Japan Today)
- What It’s Like to be Black in Japan (BBC)
- Conceptions of Black and White in Japan (GaijinPot)
- Ariana Miyamoto: The Biracial Beauty (GaijinPot)
- Growing Up as a Hafu in Japan (GaijinPot)
- What’s It Like to be a Half Japanese Kid in School (Tofugu)
- Japan’s Foreign Residents Offer Up Insights on Discrimination (Japan Times)
- Japan’s Problem with Race (Newsweek)
- Being Fat in Japan (Tofugu)
- How are Piercings Viewed in Japan? (Tofugu)
- Japan Welcome Guide for Muslim Visitors (JNTO)
- What Do People in Japan Think of Americans/Foreigners?
- Why Do American’s Smile So Much? (The Atlantic)
- Video: Why Do American’s Smile So Much? (The Atlantic You Tube Channel)
- What Do Japanese Think of Americans (Tofugu)
- What do Japanese College Students Think About the U.S.? (Japan Today)
- A Japanese Perspective: 11 Things that Startled Me About America (Rocket News)
- What Japanese Think About Americans (Video)
- How Americans and Japanese See Each Other (Pew Research)
- Americans, Japanese: Mutual Respect 70 Years After the End of WWII (Pew Research)
- In Japan and America, More and More People Think Hiroshima Bombing was Wrong (Washington Post)
- What do Japanese People REALLY Think of America (Skeptiki)
- 10 Japanese Travel Tips for Visiting America (Mental Floss)
- American Foods Japanese People Hate (Tofugu)
- As a Japanese Man, Living in America, Gun Violence is my New Reality (HuffPost)
- Articles on Trump from the Japan Times
- What Does the World Think of America (World Bank)
Cleanliness in Japan
- Very Clean People, the Japanese (Economist)
- 8 Reasons Japan is So Clean (Japan Today)
- The Wa of Cleanliness (Rocket News)
- Why Do the Japanese Always Clean (Japan Info)
- Japanese Etiquette: An Initiation Into Cleanliness (NY Times)
- Why Japanese People Never Litter
- Why Japan’s Streets are Spotless (WE Forum)
- World Cup 2014: Japan Fans Clean Up Litter Before Leaving Stadium – After Losing (NBC News)
Convenience Stores in Japan
Convenience stores are ubiquitous in Japan and can be found on every street corner – sometimes one one each of the four corners of a single intersection. Unlike in the U.S., they are also very convenient as you can buy a quick, an inexpensive meal or snack, make photocopies or scans at the copier, purchase tickets for sporting events, concerts, and other events, access international ATMs at 7-11 konbinis, send or receive items using the baggage delivery service, pay bills, and much more! Though you may wonder why there are so many konbinis everywhere – it’s certainly handy to know that there is a 7-11 open somewhere near you at any time day or night though – especially when you are low on cash and need to find an international ATM! You’ll probably end up frequenting your local konbinis regularly and their convenience is something you will likely miss after returning to the U.S.
- JapanGuide.com: Convenience Stores in Japan
- Complete Guide to Japanese Convenience Stores
- Convenience Stores in Japan – Surprisingly Convenient
- A Comparison of the Three Major Convenience Stores in Japan (Matcha)
- Lawsons Geek: My Love Affair with Convenience Stores in Japan
- Top 5 Japanese Convenience Stores & Their Advantages
- How to Make the Most of Convenience Store Points Cards (Time Out Tokyo)
- Japanese Convenience Stores (Video: The Kitchn)
Education in Japan

The basic school system in Japan is composed of elementary school (lasting six years), middle school (three years), high school (three years), and university (four years). Education is compulsory only for the nine years of elementary and middle school, but 98% of students go on to high school. Students usually have to take exams in order to enter high schools and universities. Recently some middle and high schools have joined together to form single, six-year schools.
Regarding global and English education, Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) states that, “It is necessary to develop people who can act independently with a global point of view in a society that is becoming more international. MEXT is working comprehensively on such measures as
- enhancing education to deepen international understanding and teach foreign languages,
- promoting international exchange,
- enhancing education of Japanese children overseas, and
- enhancing education for returning Japanese children from overseas and foreign children in Japan.
For more information see:
- General Resources & Government Agencies
- Elementary, Middle, and High School in Japan
- 9 Ways Japanese Schools are Different from American Schools
- 20 Differences Between Japanese and American Schools (Tofugu)
- My Japanese Education: What I Learned and Didn’t Learn (Tofugu)
- Pittfalls and Problems with Japanese Education (Tofugu)
- Why Japanese Education Succeeds (Tofugu)
- Let’s Talk About Japanese Cram School (Tofugu)
- The Power of Japanese Math (Tofugu)
- What Are Super Science High Schools?
- Teaching Science: How do they do it in Japan? (Video)
- Why do Japanese Children Lead the World in Numeracy and Literacy? (Guardian)
- “Bullying in Japanese Schools”, Savvy Tokyo, May 23, 2016
- “Without janitors, children are in charge of keeping schools shipshape”, NPR, April 4, 2015
- “Documentary looks at why Japanese parents let Japanese children walk to school by themselves”, Japan Today, September 14, 2015
- Japan: Teaching Respect and Manners (Video)
- Lessons from Japan (Video)
- School Lunch in Japan: It’s Not Just About Eating (Video)
- Japan Student Clean Classrooms to Learn Life Skills (Video)
- Surviving the Sports Festivals in Japanese Schools (Tofugu)
- Special Education in Japan (Tofugu)
- What Japanese Kids Want to Be When They Grow Up: And What They are Becoming (Tofugu)
- Independence of Children in Japan
- Children In Japan Clean their Own Schools (Video)
- How Japan Prepares Its Children for Independence (Savvy Tokyo)
- Behind the Independence of Japanese Children Lies a Culture of Community (The Wire)
- Documentary Looks at Why Japanese Parents Let Young Kids Walk to School (Japan Today)
- Japan’s Independent Kids (Video)
- English-Language Instruction in Japan
- The Other Side: What do Japanese College Students Think of English (Tofugu)
- “As easy as ABC? English education in Japan”, The Diplomat, October 4, 2014
- “What’s wrong with English education in Japan? Pull up a chair.”, Japan Today, October 7, 2014
- “Could you pass the English test on the Japanese college entrance exam?”, Wall Street Journal, January 19, 2015
- “4 uncomfortable truths about teaching English in Japan”, Matador, March 26, 2015
- “Enhancement of Teacher Training: Key to Improvement of English Education in Japan”, Science Direct February 5, 2016
- “Lets discuss English language education in Japan”, Japan Times, February 15, 2016
- Study Explores Deafening Sciences in Japan’s English-language Classrooms (Japan Times)
- Universities in Japan
- Why You Should Come to Japan for College (Tofugu)
- Japanese College: The Spring Break of Life (Tofugu)
- Japanese Universities Get an ‘F’ (Tofugu)
- University Entrance Exams: A Key Life Stage for Young Japanese (Nippon)
- The Outlook for Japan’s Younger Generation
- Can Education Change Japan’s ‘Depressed’ Generation?
- Japan: Deflated Generation
- Japan’s Change Generation
- Japan’s Students Face Uncertain Future Under a Cloud of Debt (Japan Times)
- Graduate Study in Japan
- Internationalization and Study Abroad
- 2016 Survey on Foreign Students in Japan (JASSO)
- Some Thoughts about Japan’s Internationalization, And Some Doubts Too (Tofugu)
- The Three Types of Foreign Students in Japanese Schools (Tofugu)
- Foreigners in Japan: Student Stories (THE)
- What to Expect When Applying for a College Overseas (Japan Times)
- A Japanese Citizen: Studying Abroad in Her Own Country (Tofugu)
- The Monbukugakusho Scholarship and How to Go Study Abroad in Japan (Tofugu)
- The Japanese University that is Going Global (Japan Times)
- Global Economy Exposes Japan’s Shortage of English Speaking Graduates (Chronicle)
- “Japan’s ‘global education’: Learning English is not a magic wand”, Asia Times, February 20, 2016
- In Japanese Universities, Tradition Meets Globalization (NY Times)
- Why Aren’t Japanese Students Studying Abroad (The Diplomat)
- Long-Term Impact of Studying Abroad for Japanese Students (Inside HigherEd)
- What is the Impact of Study Abroad on Japanese Students (Video)
- New Data Suggests Japanese Outbound Study Abroad Has Been Significantly Undercounted (ICEF Monitor)
- Understanding Japanese Motivations for Studying Abroad (or not) (INTEAD)
Environment and Sustainability in Japan
- Water in Japan (Niponica)
- Environmental Issues in Japan (Wikipedia)
- Ministry of the Environment: Environmental Protection Policy in Japan
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Environment Policy in Japan
- Japan International Cooperation Agency: Environmental Policy
- Ministry of Economy, Trade, & Industry (METI): Energy & Environmental Policy
- Japan Times: Environment Articles
- Japan: Environmental Issues, Policies, and Clean Technology (AzoTech)
- State of Japan’s Environment at a Glance
- Japan Is Obsessed with Climate Change: Young People Don’t Get It (NY Times)
- Struggling with Japan’s Nuclear Waste, Six Years after the Disaster (NY Times)
- Quake in Japan Causes Costly Shift to Fossil Fuels (NY Times)
- Challenges Facing Japan’s Marine Fisheries (Scientific American)
- Natural Environments, Wildlife, and Conservation in Japan (Asia-Pacific Journal)
- See also Trash and Recycling in Japan below
Etiquette in Japan
- Video: 10 Things Not To Do in Japan
- Video: 10 Naughty Things that are Normal in Japan
- Video: Don’t Mistake these 10 Japanese Gestures
- 7 Habits You Learn After Living in Japan (GaijinPot)
- 15 Things That Surprised Me About Japan (GaijinPot)
- 9 Rules Westerners Should Remember When Visiting Japan (HuffPost)
Fashion in Japan
- What to Wear in Japan
- Alumni Tip: While shorts may be okay to wear sight-seeing, when outdoors, or at the beach they are not appropriate work place attire; even at a university. Long, light-weight pants are best and, depending on your research lab/project, long pants and long sleeved shirts may be required to be worn in the lab for safety reasons. The lighter weight your clothes the better as it is hot and very, very humid in Japan in the summer.
- Alumni Tip: Bring a pair of new/clean Crocs to wear in the lab or at your office. You will be required to take off your outdoor shoes inside most offices and labs in the U.S. and the provided slippers may be too small for you depending on your shoe size. Crocs are very convenient and easy to slip on and off.
- Alumni Tip: Ask your alumni mentor, or another alumnus who did research before in the same city, what is commonly worn for men or women at your lab or in your host city. They’ll have the best advice. The program will match you with your alumni mentor prior to departure once your host lab has been confirmed.
- Video: What to Wear in Japan
- Dress Code in Japan (Japanese Business Source)
- Dress Code for English Teachers in Japan (AEON)
- Cool Biz: Dressing Down in Tokyo (BBC)
- Tourists in Japan: What to Wear
- The Ultimate Female Packing List for Japan
- What to Wear in Tokyo
- Packing for Japan
- What Not to Wear in 5 Countries (NBC)
- Beauty and Fashion in Japan
- Beauty is in the Language of the Beholder (Tofugu)
- Ono no Komachi and the Standard of Female Beauty (Tofugu)
- Why Japan Historically Hates Mustaches (Tofugu)
- Articles on Japanese Fashion (Japan Times)
- Japanese Women and Fashion (Huff Post)
- A Guide to Fashion Subcultures in Japan
- Japan’s Harajuku Street Style is Dead. Long Live Uniqlo (Quartz)
- They Love Wearing the Same Outfits! Japan’s Osoroi Code (Wosabi)
- The Fabulous World of Japanese Socks (Tofugu)
- Traditional Costumes in Japan (JNTO)
- The Appealing Culture of Japanese Kimono (Tsunagu Japan)
- When and How People Wear Kimono in Japan (Wowsabi)
- 17 Reasons to Wear Kimono (Japan Talk)
- Wearing the Japanese Kimono in Modern Times (Japan Hub)
- Kimono Project is Creating a Different Kimono for Every Country (Rocket News)
- Kimono Making in Japan is a Dying Art (Telegraph)
- Umbrellas in Japan (Tofugu)
- The History of Clear Plastic Umbrellas in Japan (Iromegane)
- Enjoy Rainy Days with a Japanese Umbrella (Japan Monthly)
- Tenugui: A Cloth Without Limits (Tofugu)
- School Uniforms in Japan (Nippon.com)
- How Has the Japanese School Uniform Changed through the Years?
- Japanese School Uniforms Can be an Expensive Hassle for Parents (Japan Today)
- The Changing Values Behind School Uniforms (Japan Today)
Fate in Japan
- Shoganai: Accepting Your Fate in Japan (Japan Talk)
- The Beauty and Burden of Shikata ga nai (GaijinPot)
- The Japanese Art of Acceptance: Shikata ga nai (Psychology Today)
- Japan: Living with Disasters
- See also Natural Disasters in Japan on our Safety in Japan page
Festivals and Holidays in Japan
- A Starters Guide to Enjoying Summer Festivals in Japan (Tofugu)
- Japanese Festivals (Matsuri) (JapanGuide.com)
- Four Strange Japanese Festivals You Should Visit (Tofugu)
- Tanabata: Japan’s Star Festival – July 7 or August 7 (Nippon.com)
- Golden Week in Japan (Tofugu)
- Namahage: Akita’s New Year’s Ogre (Tofugu)
- Valentine’s Day in Japan: A How-To Guide (Tofugu)
- White Day! Japan’s Answer to Valentine’s Day (Tofugu)
- How to Celebrate Christmas in Japan (Tofugu)
- Halloween in Japan (Tofugu)
- Thanksgiving in Japan (Tofugu)
- Pocky Day: Celebrating Japan’s Favorite Stick (Tofugu)
- Japanese Superstitions that Will Fill You with Fear (Tofugu)
Greetings in Japan
- Japanese Bowing: The Definitive Guide (Tofugu)
- Mastering the ALT Self-Intro: How to Introduce Yourself to a Classroom (Tofugu)
- Your Step-by-Step Jikoshoukai Guide (Tofugu)
- Why do Japanese People Say Moshi-Moshi on the Phone (Tofugu)
- Kobun: Classical Japanese and Honorifics (Tofugu)
History in Japan
- General/Overviews
- Art and Architecture
- Culture, Society, & Traditions
- A Long History of Japanese Names (Tofugu)
- A History of Japanese Baseball (Tofugu)
- The Gay of the Samurai: History of Homosexuality, Buddhist Monks, Samurai and the Tokugawa Middle Class (Tofugu)
- The Curse of the Fire Horse Zodiac (Tofugu)
- Omamori: Protecting Yourself in Little Ways (Tofugu)
- Over 1,000 Years in Business: Japan’s Oldest Business Reign Supremely Old (Tofugu)
- Rice: The Crop that Sparked the Tokugawa Miracle (Tofugu)
- Sumo Wrestling at Ryogoku-Kokugikan (Tofugu)
- A Basic Intro to Taiko and Why It’s Awesome (Tofugu)
- Tea Ceremony: What Not To Do (Tofugu)
- A Short History of Earthquakes in Japan (Scientific American)
- A History of Japanese Baseball from Pre-War to Post-War (Tofugu)
- The Breath of the Gods: Kamikaze (GaijinPot)
- Mythical Creatures
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them in Japan (Tofugu)
- Kitsune: The Divine/Evil Fox Yokai (Tofugu)
- Komainu: The History of Japan’s Mythical Lion Dogs
- Maneki Neko: Beckoning Good Things (Tofugu)
- Namahage: Akita’s New Year’s Ogre (Tofugu)
- Tengu: The Japanese Demon That’s Basically a Mini-God (Tofugu)
- Tanuki: The Canine Yokai (Tofugu)
- Politics and Government
- Samurai & Warriors in Japan
- WWII, Militarization, and Pacifism in Japan
- 105,400 Dead in One Night in American Firebombing of Tokyo: Remembered (Video)
- Lessons Learned: The Firebombing of Japan (Council on Foreign Relations)
- Grave of the Fireflies ‘Hotaru No Haka’
- Hiroshima: Dropping the Bomb (BBC)
- Hiroshima: A Japanese Animated Film for Schoolchildren (Video)
- Hiroshima and Nagasaki: After the Atomic Bombing (U.S. Army Documentary Archive)
- Controversy over Dropping of Atomic Bomb in Japan (Video: Washington Post)
- Text of President Obama’s Speech in Hiroshima: May 27, 2016 (NY Times)
- The Injustice of Japanese Internment Camps Resonates to this Day (Smithsonian)
- Japanese Internment during WWII (Video)
- Children of the Camps: The Documentary (PBS)
- Children of Internment: Documentary Trailer (Vimeo)
- Why I Love a Country that Once Betrayed Me: George Takei (TEDx Kyoto)
- Why Japanese in Hawaii Weren’t Interned During WWII (Tofugu)
- Fighting for Democracy: Japanese Americans (PBS)
- What Japanese History Lessons Leave Out (BBC)
- Japan: Article 9 of the Constitution (Library of Congress)
- The American Woman Who Wrote Equal Rights Into Japan’s Constitution (Atlantic)
- Why Doesn’t Japan Hate the U.S. (Video)
- Peace and Japan: How Japan Got Militarized, Again (Tofugu)
- Military of Japan (Tofugu)
- Is Japan Moving to Revise It’s Pacifist Constitution? (Foreign Policy)
- The Okinawa Military Base Controversy (Tofugu)
Hobbies in Japan
- 5 Places to Practice Music in Tokyo: Without Getting Into Trouble (Savvy Tokyo)
- Japan Running: Routes, Trails, and Races
- Running in Tokyo, Japan: Best Routes & Places to Run (Great Runs)
- Take Me Out to the Yakyu: Ballgame (Time Out Tokyo)
- Tokyo Bookstores for Foreign Language Books (Savvy Tokyo)
- Japan Library (Books)
- The Math & Magic of Origami (TED)
Honne and Tateamae in Japan
Honne is your real feelings and Tatemae is the façade or the face we show in public. Japanese people face a lot of criticism for the use of Honne and Tatemae. Some people view it as being two-faced or hypocritical but in Japan it is something that is used daily and is not viewed in a negative way. Actually it is considered proper social etiquette to be able to use Honne and Tatemae to keep the harmony of the situation.
The truth is every culture has some aspect of Honne and Tatemae. We don’t freely express all our personal thoughts and feelings to our boss or even close friends. We are careful as to the amount of information we share so as to not offend or hurt the people around us. So the concept of Honne and Tatemae isn’t just restricted to the Japanese culture, but what makes this concept one of the most essential aspect of Japanese culture is the extent to which Japanese people go to maintain the façade (Tatemae).
This is a bit difficult social concept for Americans, particularly young students used to be very informal and direct, to see and always grasp but you will likely encounter moments in Japan where, in retrospect, you realize you were experiencing the difference between honne and tatemae communication. Learning a little bit more about these concepts can help give you insights in those moments when you aren’t quite sure what the true meaning is behind what is being said; or not said as the case may be.
- Ask Japan: What is Honne and Taemae (Tofugu)
- Honne vs. Tatemae
- The Honesty and Facade of Honne and Tatemae (GaijinPot)
Internet & Wi-fi in Japan
During Orientation in Tokyo: While staying at the Sanuki Club hotel during the three-week orientation there is no internet in your hotel rooms. You can access the free wi-fi in the hotel lobby and on the 3rd floor. If the conference room on the third floor is not being used, you may be able to access wi-fi there in the evenings. There is a Starbucks just a 5 minute walk from the hotel where you can also access wi-fi, but you must sign-up for Starbucks Japan wi-fi service in advance (see below). The bandwidth at the Sanuki Club is limited and you should not use their wi-fi for streaming videos (e.g. Netflix or Hulu), video Skype, online gaming, or other data heavy purposes.
At Research Internship: During your research internship you should be given access to the laboratory/building wi-fi network. You may or may not have access to the campus wi-fi as this varies by university. Most students do have internet access at their housing but it may only be via ethernet cord, not wi-fi. Occasionally, some students may be in housing that does not have internet provided. In those cases you would need to make plans to use internet at your host lab and/or visit a nearby Starbucks (see below).
Public Wi-fi Access: Unlike in the U.S., free wi-fi is not ubiquitous in Japan. Most wi-fi networks, even in public places, are password protected and may not be accessible by visitors/tourists. They are often linked to specific cellular phone plans for citizens or permanent residents that are available through major Japanese cell phone providers. However, the situation in Japan is improving and there are now a number of wi-fi networks geared towards tourists or short-term visitors that you can register for in advance and then use while you are traveling in Japan via your smart phone. However you must sign up for these in advance and sometimes they have time limits on access.
Using your U.S. Smartphone for Data/Wi-fi in Japan: Most students will bring a U.S. smartphone with them to Japan and it can be very handy for using to access the various wi-fi accounts you’ve signed up for (see above). However, it is very, very important that you be sure you have turned the data/roaming off on your U.S. phone and are only use this when connected to wi-fi. Otherwise, you could get a very surprising and expensive bill from your U.S. cell phone providers as international roaming/data rates can be very, very expensive.
- The one exception to this is students who have a T-mobile Simple Choice plan with their U.S. cell phone. T-mobile gives free data and free texting in many countries worldwide, including Japan. You will still be charged a higher rate though for calls made or received internationally with your U.S. phone. But, if you have T-mobile you are very lucky as you can easily access data or send a text from your U.S. phone without needing to be connected to wi-fi for no extra charge.
Related Articles and Websites
- See also Cell Phones in Japan on our Safety resources page for a number of recommended/useful apps you might want to download to use when you can access free wi-fi.
- General
- Free Wi-fi in Japan for Tourists: Why ‘Free’ Can be Hard to Find (Sakura Mobile)
- Internet Access in Japan (JapanGuide.com)
- Internet Access and Wi-Fi in Japan (Japan Visitor)
- Internet in Japan for Tourists (Inside Kyoto)
- Japan Starbucks Free Wi-fi: Starbucks are everyone where in Japan but you cannot just walk into a Starbucks in Japan and access free wi-fi. You must sign up for a free wi-fi account online first and then login when you enter the Starbucks.
- NTTBP: Japan Connected Free Wi-Fi App
- Softbank Free Wi-Fi For Tourists: Up to 2 weeks free wi-fi access. Useful app for short-term visitors to Japan.
- Wi-fi Hotpsot Guide in Japan: This page lists a wide array of free wi-fi programs geared to tourists and short-term visitors in Japan. Some of these only work in certain regions or may have time limits on how long you can use them. For most you will need to set up an account in advance and then login when you are in a wi-fit hotspot area.
- Wireless Options for Visitors to Tokyo (Japan Times): Includes a list of all corporate wi-fi in Japan you can sign up for such as Starbucks, Tully’s, McDonald’s, 7-11, and Family Mart. Remember, to use some of these corporate free wi-fi services you may need to sign up in advance to receive the login/password you will need to access these services when you are in Japan.
- City/Region Specific
- Eastern Japan (Includes Tokyo and Tohoku regions)
- Free Wi-Fi in Sendai (Discover Sendai)
- Free Wi-Fi in Sendai (Japan Travel)
- How to Get Free Wi-Fi in Tokyo (Japan Travel)
- NTT East Free Wi-Fi: Available for up to 14 days. The service is available in a wide range of areas inside and outside Tokyo, including: Tokyo, Hakone, Mt. Fuji, Yokohama, Nagano, Nikko, Kusatsu, Tohoku, and Hokkaido. Useful app for short-term visitors to Japan.
- Where to Find Free Wi-Fi in Tokyo (TimeOut Tokyo)
- Western Japan (Includes Osaka and Kansai)
- How to Get Connected to Public Free Wi-Fi in Kyoto (Matcha)
- How to Get Free Wi-Fi in Kyoto (Japan Travel)
- How to Get Free Wi-Fi in Osaka (Japan Travel)
- NTT West Local Free Wi-Fi: This service is available in Kansai, Chugoku, Kyushu/Okinawa, Shikoku, Tokai, and Hokuriku. Access points and duration of free wi-fi may vary and be limited based on location.
- Stay Connected with Free Wi-Fi in Osaka (Matcha)
- Eastern Japan (Includes Tokyo and Tohoku regions)
Kawaii Culture in Japan
- The Serious Subtext of Japan’s “Cute” Culture (JSTOR Daily)
- Why do the Japanese Love Kawaii Culture (GaijinPot)
- The Rise of Japan’s Creepy Cute Craze (The Atlantic)
- Cute “Kawaii” Culture May be Holding Back Japan’s Women (Bloomberg)
- 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Kawaii (WSJ)
- Essential Guide to Understanding Japan’s National Mascot Obsession (FluentU)
- Japan Prefecture Mascots (JapanInfo)
- What’s the Deal with Mascots in Japan (GaijinPot)
- Cute and Cuddly Mascots Generate Billions in Japan (CBS)
- Chibi: The Japanese Word That’s Cute and Offensive (Tofugu)
- 10 of Hello Kitty’s Most Distant Relatives (Tofugu)
- The Science of Kawaii (Tofugu)
- Kimokawaii: Both Cute and Gross at the Same Time (Tofugu)
Laundry in Japan
During the three-week orientation in Tokyo, there is a coin-operated laundromat you can use just around the corner from the Sanuki Club hotel. During your research internship, there may laundry facilities provided in your dormitory/housing or you may need to find the nearest coin-operated laundromat to use. The machines will not always have instructions in English, so it may be helpful to print off a small version of the kanji guide to washing machines in Japan and carry with you to refer to when you do laundry.
- How to Use Super Convenient Coin Laundry in Japan (JNTO)
- How to Use a Washer and Dryer in Japan (Tokyo Cheapo)
- Kanji Cheat Sheet: Washers and Dryers (Savvy Tokyo)
- Huh? I have to hang my laundry in Japan? (The Japan Guy)
- How to Use a Japanese Washing Machine (The Japan Guy)
- Laundry Logic (Japan Times)
Miscellaneous in Japan
- Beauty is in the Language of the Beholder (Tofugu)
- Ono no Komachi and the Standard of Female Beauty (Tofugu)
- Japanese Blood Types and What They Say About Your Personality (Tofugu)
- Dajare: 13 Types of Japanese Puns and How to Use Them (Tofugu)
- Japanese Tattoos: History, Culture, Design (Tofugu)
- Japanese Onomatopoeia: The Definitive Guide (Tofugu)
- What Does Baka Mean? Japan’s Most Popular Profanity (Tofugu)
- The Meaning of Country (Kuni) in Japan (Tofugu)
- Japanese Legal Loopholes: How Japan Looks Innocent While Breaking the Law (Tofugu)
- Japan’s Three Climates (Tofugu)
- Is Japan Really Conservative? (Tofugu)
- Purikura: The Joy of Japanese Photo Booths (Tofugu)
- Why Do Japanese People Wear Surgical Masks? (Tofugu)
- The 10 Most Ridiculous Japanese Stereotypes (Tofugu)
- Why Are There So Many Japanese People in Brazil (Tofugu)
- Useful Japanese for Getting a Haircut (GaijinPot)
News and Media in Japan
Question: What are the best ways to improve communication and cultural understanding among countries? In particular, what’s the best way to increase my own awareness of international affairs; particularly U.S. – Japan Relations?
- Make it a daily habit to read Google News or another news aggregator and read at least one article per day from different regions around the world. (Tip: Download the Google News app to your U.S. phone and you can change the settings so it shows up in English. If you just access Google News from the internet while in Japan it may only display articles in Japanese.)
- You should also make it a daily habit to read English-language news written by Japanese media as well. This will give you a better understanding of what some of the local views of U.S. and world events may be. You may also learn about interesting activities or events in your host city this way.
- Anime & Film
- Your Name: The Highest Grossing Anime Film Ever (Tofugu)
- 20 Best Anime Movies Not Made by Studio Ghibli (Tofugu)
- The 13 Best Japanese Horror Films (Tofugu)
- Documentaries about Japan You Can Watch for Free (Tofugu)
- Grave of the Fireflies ‘Hotaru No Haka’
- Hiroshima: A Japanese Animated Film for Schoolchildren (Video)
Nonverbal & Indirect Communication in Japan
- Japanese Body Language: 7 Key Gestures to Learn (GaijinPot)
- Japanese Body Language Guide (Tofugu)
- Communicating Without Talking (Tofugu)
- Japanese as a Second Body Language (Japan Times)
- Non-verbal Communication in Japanese Business (Japan Intercultural Consulting)
- Indirect Communication in Japan
- Japan’s High-Context Society: Tips on Reading Between the Lines (Japanology)
- Aimai: A Dynamic Intertwined in Japanese Culture & Language (GaijinPot)
- Japanese Indirect Communication (Japanese Talk About Japan)
- Japanese Body Language (Tofugu)
- Communicating Without Talking (Tofugu)
- Geert Hofstede: Japan
- Hear One: Understand 10 – Communication in Japan
- Japanese Gendered Language: How to Talk Like a Boy or a Girl in Japan (Tofugu)
- Signals Japan Uses to Tell you Your Day is Over (Tofugu)
- American Directness and the Japanese (St. Could State University)
- Politeness in Japan
- Communicating Conflict in Japan
Omiyage in Japan
Gift-giving is truly an art form in Japan and you will quickly learn how important gift-giving culture is. A small gift of appreciation is typically given when you first enter or join a group and if you take a weekend trip or vacation you are expected to bring back a gift, usually a box of treats, from the city/region you visited to share with your group members. This means that U.S. students traveling to Japan must think carefully about what gifts to bring with them from the U.S.
Omiyage (お土産) play a key role in relationships in Japan. Omiyage are not souvenirs, they are gifts you buy for others when you are away from your group or that you bring from you home country when you are entering/joining a group to thank them for hosting you. In Japan, purchasing omiyage when you, for example, take a weekend trip is very easy as you can purchase a nicely packaged box of treats specific to the region from any train station or kiosk. In a sense, by bringing back a gift from the region/city you visited while you were away you are sharing a part of your trip with your group members and, in a sense, thanking them for any inconvenience that your not being there might have caused for the group. Omiyage does not have to be expensive, it is more about the thoughtfulness and aspect of sharing some part of your experience with others.
However, when you first come to Japan it may be a bit more difficult to know what to bring for gifts for your research host lab as in the U.S. we don’t have nicely packaged and individually wrapped treats specific to each region or city that you can quickly purchase at the last moment. Here are some tips:
- Candy or food treats are a good group gift as they can be left out on a table for group members to try at their leisure. If the candy or treats are specific to your home-state/home-town/region even better. However, American candy and treats are typically much sweeter than Japanese offerings. For this reason, small, individually wrapped packages are a better option than a large bag or box that may go stale/old. Past students have also said dark chocolate is sometimes a better option too as it is typically less sweet than American milk chocolate.
- Plan to bring a separate small gift for your professor and perhaps for your graduate student mentor/s too. A gift from your campus bookstore might be a good option.
- Don’t forget about your lab secretary/ies as well. They are the ones who have helped with processing any paperwork necessary for you to come to the host lab and may have also helped to make your research internship housing arrangements. A small, individual gift specific to your home-town/region and/or home university is a good option.
- When you leave the lab, plan to give a hand-written thank-you note to your professor, mentor/s, secretary/ies and others in your lab or host city who have been especially helpful to you. It’s also nice to include a photo of you with the lab group or the individual you are thanking. You can easily print photos out from a USB drive at the copiers found at all konbinis (convenience stores) in Japan.
- Bring some postcards or other small souvenir type items (keychains, etc.) of your home university or home-state/town as these are easy to pack and can be used as gifts as needed throughout the summer as well as there will likely be other people you want to thank for helping you along the way.
- Your alumni mentor will be a great person to ask about suggested gifts including what they brought, what they wish they would have brought, and the types of things your research host professor and lab group might most enjoy from the U.S. If you aren’t sure how many people are in your lab group, look for a group photo on their website and/or ask the graduate student mentor you were assigned to (if you already have their contact information). If your alumni mentor was at the same lab last summer they may also have good ideas.
- Also, don’t forget about thanking the on-site director and/or foundation staff. You might want to work with your fellow students to take a group photo that you have printed and framed (check out the inexpensive frames at the 100 Yen store). The back of the photo can be signed and/or everyone can write in a card and this can be presented at the end of the summer before leaving Japan.
Remember that the gift-giving culture in Japan is one that is meant to recognize the importance of your group membership, share a part of who you are or your experience with the group, and also acknowledge the person/group for the important role they play in your life (and that you play in the group as well). It is the thought/meaning of the gift that matters far more than what the gift actually is or how much it costs.
- JapanGuide.com: Giving Gifts in Japan
- A Lesson in Japanese Culture: It’s Not a Souvenir, It’s an Omiyage!
- Omiyage: The Gift You Have to Keep On Giving (Tofugu)
- How to Take Part in Japan’s Year-Round Gift-Giving Culture (Tofugu)
- Japan’s Curious Omiyage Culture (GaijinPot)
Onsen and Sentos in Japan
- Onsen: Japanese Hot Springs (JapanGuide.com)
- How to Take a Japanese Bath (Onsen.net)
- 7 Things You Need to Know Before Going to a Japanese Onsen Bath (Japan Talk)
- Tips on Enjoying Japanese Hot Springs (Japan Monthly)
- Lets All Get Naked! Onsen and Body Image (Tofugu)
- 10 Secret Onsen: That Aren’t So Secret Now that We’ve Told You About Them (Tofugu)
- 10 Best Onsen Resort Towns in Japan (Tofugu)
- Japan’s Bath Culture: Tips You Should Know (Life Japan)
- Note: In your hotel, dormitory, or housing you may have a shared public bath, known as a sento (e.g. there is a sento in the basement at the Sanuki Club in addition to the shower rooms on each floor). Sentos typically just use heated tap water instead of the natural hot spring water used by onsens. Some neighborhoods in Japan still have public sentos (bath houses) as many traditional homes in Japan may not have, historically, have had an indoor bath and it was also labor intensive to heat hot water for baths in the home. Sentos became a neighborhood gathering place and if you read Japanese literature you may see references to going to the bath house. Some sentos are now shutting down, such as the one that used to be in Azabu-Juban, as they are not as widely/regularly used as they were in the past.
- Let’s Go to Sento: A Public Bath House (Japan Monthly)
- Sento Guide: Japanese Bathing Etiquette (Sento Guide)
- The Art of Sento (Time Out Tokyo)
- Find a Sento in Tokyo (Tokyo Story)
- Sento: What Not to Do (Tofugu)
Personal Space & Privacy in Japan
- “Why Japanese Love Personal Space” (Japan Talk)
- “Personal Space & Privacy: Japanese vs. American” (Blog)
- “Privacy Please” (Japan Today)
- Washitsu: A Japanese Room For Guests, Family, or Alone Time (Tofugu)
- Don’t Get Sued: Libel, Slander, and Defamation Laws in Japan (Tofugu)
Punctuality in Japan
- The Japanese Perception of Time
- The Punctual Japanese (Hiragana Times)
- The Importance of Punctuality in Japan: What to do When you are Late (Guidable)
- On Being Late to Work in Japan (This Japanese Life)
- “Ever Wonder Why Trains in Japan Aren’t Late? Here’s Why” (Kotaku)
- “Super Japan: On-Time” (Discovery Channel)
- The Many Japanese Calendars and the Way that Japan Tells Time (Tofugu)
- Time and Culture (Noba)
- Time in Different Cultures: What is Time?
- Time Across Cultures: How Time Differs Around the World (Communicad)
Religion and Visiting Shrines and Temples in Japan
Shinto and Buddhism are Japan’s two major religions. Shinto is as old as the Japanese culture, while Buddhism was imported from the mainland in the 6th century. Since then, the two religions have been co-existing relatively harmoniously and have even complemented each other to a certain degree. Most Japanese consider themselves Buddhist, Shintoist or both.
There are two easy ways to tell Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples apart. Firstly, shrines have a simple gate, called a torii, that separates the human world and sacred ground, while the gates of a temple, called a sanmon, look more like a large house rather than a gate. Secondly, temples almost always have Buddhist images and statues, while shrines do not. Thus, to sum up the differences in a single sentence, gods reside in shrines, while Buddhas reside in temples. For more on religion and temples/shrines in Japan see below.
For more on religion and etiquette for visiting temples and shrines in Japan see:
- JapanGuide.com: Religion in Japan
- JapanGuide.com: Visiting a temple or shrine in Japan
- JNTO: Shrines and Temples
- Etiquette at Shrines and Temples – Japan Travel – Tourism Guide, Japan Map and Trip Planner
- How to Visit a Temple or Shrine Like a Tokyoite (Time Out Tokyo)
- The Tokyo Cheapo Guide to Visiting Temples and Shrines
- Super Cheap Japan: Shrines and temples for budget travelers in Japan
- Japan’s Shinto-Buddhist Religious Medley (Japan Times)
- Japan’s Religious Ambivalence: The Shaping and Dismantling of a National Polity (Nippon.com)
- Back to the Future: Shinto’s Growing Influence in Politics (Japan Times)
- Understanding Shinto: Japan’s Native Religion (Tofugu)
- State Shinto: How Japan’s Government Took Over its Native Religion (Tofugu)
- The Real Japanese Monks Guide to Buddhism in Japan (Tofugu)
- Articles on Religion in Japan (Tofugu)
- Book of Memories: Goshuinchō (御朱印帳)
- Goshunicho Seals: Souvenirs That Last A Lifetime!
- Omamori: Protecting Yourself in Little Ways (Tofugu)
- Why Are There Swastikas in Japan? (Tofugu)
For more on philosophy and pilgrimages in Japan see the following:
- Japanese Philosophy (Wikipedia)
- Wabi-Sabi: A Japanese Aesthetic as a Worldview (Tofugu)
- Japan’s 10-year old Philosopher (Tofugu)
- The Culture of Less is More (or less) (Tofugu)
- Japanese Architecture: What Makes it so Different (Tofugu)
- Zazen: Buddhist Meditation (Wikipedia)
- Koya/Koya-san Guide (JapanGuide.com)
- Koya-san Pilgrimage Trails (JapanGuide.com)
- Kumano Koda Pilgrimage Trails (JapanGuide.com)
- Temples Hidden in Nature: Shikoku Pilgrimage (JapanGuide.com)
- Exploring Japan’s Ancient Past through Pilgrimages (Japan Times)
Students also often ask, what the role of religion in Japan is today? In general, religion does not play a big role in the everyday life of most Japanese people today. The average person typically follows the religious rituals at ceremonies like birth, weddings and funerals, may visit a shrine or temple on New Year and often participates at local festivals (matsuri), most of which have a religious background. For more on this see:
- Why Japanese Spirituality and Religion Is, and Isn’t a Part of Life
- In ‘Non-Religious’ Japan, The Shrine Can Still Exert a Pull (CS Monitor)
- Japan: The Most Religious Atheist Country
- Japanese Religious Identity: Religion in Modern Japan (Owlcation)
- How Religious are Japanese People (Japan Today)
- A View of Religion in Japan (Japan Society)
- Religion for Japanese and Americans (Japan Sociology)
- The “Japanese-ness” of Religion in Japan (Berkeley Center for Religion, Peace, & World Affairs)
- Japan Isn’t Especially Religious, But There’s Still Plenty of Religion (PRI)
- Does Contemporary Japan Need Religion? (Japan Times)
- The Japanese Art of Grieving a Miscarriage (NY Times)
- Zen No More: Japan Shuns Its Buddhist Traditions as Temples Close (The Guardian)
- What is a Butsudan? And Why are People Paying $630,00 for Them? (Tofugu)
- Japanese Funeral Services: What Happens When you Die in Japan (Tofugu)
- Other Religions in Japan Today
- Christianity in Japan (JapanGuide.com)
- History of Christianity in Japan (Tofugu)
- Driving Underground Years Ago: ‘Hidden Christians’ Maintain their Faith (NPR)
- Why is Christianity Not Widely Believed in Japan? (Project Japan)
- Christian Missionaries Find Japan a Tough Nut to Crack (Japan Times)‘
- Islamic Center Japan
- The ‘Sleeping Muslims’ of Japan (Ozy)
- Ramadan in Japan: A Day in the Life of a Muslim Businessman (Japan Info)
- Japan Welcome Guide for Muslim Visitors (JNTO)
- Why Are So Many Muslims Suddenly Visiting Japan?
- Jewish Community of Japan
- Chabad Tokyo Japan
- Matzah and Sushi: My Jewish Life in Japan (Jewish Chronicle)
- See also Food in Japan for more information on halal and kosher dietary needs in Japan
Shopping in Japan
- Japan Shopping Guide (JapanGuide.com)
- Basics for Shopping in Japan (Tokyo Cheapo)
- Tax Free Shopping (JapanGuide.com)
- Tax Free Shopping in Japan (Tokyo Cheapo)
- The New Tax Free System (JNTO)
- Find Almost Anything for Cheap: A Complete Guide to Don Quijote (Wow Japan)
- Why is Japanese Customer Service so Amazing? (Japan Today)
- 6 Tips for Shopping in Japan
- 10 Essential Items to Start Living in Japan (Gaijin Pot)
- Depachika: Japan’s Underground Food Emporiums (Savvy Tokyo)
- Omiyage Grand Prix: The Best Souvenirs from Japan
- Tokyo Bookstores for Foreign Language Books (Savvy Tokyo)
- See also Money in Japan
- See also Food in Japan
- See alsoConvenience Stores in Japan
Social Issues in Japan
- All About Hikikomori: Japan’s Missing Million Shut-ins (Tofugu)
- 5 Things to Know About Suicide in Japan (Tofugu)
- The Suicide Forest (Tofugu)
- Taijin Kyofusho: A Very Japanese Social Anxiety (Tofugu)
- Hidden No More: Intellectual Disabilities and Japan (Tofugu)
- Pachinko: Gambling with Little Metal Balls (Tofugu)
- The Yakuza Monopoly (Tofugu)
- Japan’s War on Fake Weed (Tofugu)
- As Crime Dries Up, Japan’s Police Hunt for Things to Do (Economist)
- See also the section ‘On Being a Foreigner in Japan’ above
Tradition vs. Modernity in Japan
U.S. students are often very interested in traditional Japanese culture and arts and can often be surprised when they realize these things are often not very important to Japanese young people today. However, it is also important to turn a critical lens on yourself and ask how common it is for U.S. college-age students to be interested in or seek out opportunities to visit or engage with historical or cultural sites (such as museums) in their own day-to-day lives? Do you spend much of your free time learning about the ‘traditional’ culture or arts of your cultural heritage in the U.S.?
However, it is true that there is a distinct tension between the traditional and modern in Japan. This can be seen in some of the traditional art forms and traditions of rural communities fading away (often complicated due to population decline in Japan). Yet, if you look below the surface and tip of the ice berg, you may also find ways that traditional Japanese culture, arts, and traditions have been co-opted into modern life. Japan has historically been very adept at borrowing from other cultures and integrating new ideas, words, and traditions into Japanese society but with a unique Japanese-ness or spin to them. Here are some articles that relate to this topic:
- Role of Japanese Traditional Arts Today
- MOFA: Cultural Heritage in Japan
- A Guide to Traditional Japanese Art Forms
- 22 Japanese Arts & Crafts (JapanTalk)
- Kimono Making in Japan is a Dying Art (Telegraph)
- Why Japan’s Sumo Culture is in Crisis
- Japanese Youth Keep Tradition Alive and Kicking with Hyakunin Isshu Card Game (GMA News)
- Some of Japan’s Youth are Making a Living by Returning to Old Traditions, Communities (Global Atlanta)
- Four Foreigners in Traditional Japanese Roles (Tofugu)
- Where is Japan’s Culture and is it Disappearing (Japan Today)
- The Revival of Japan’s Dying Cultural Heritage (Go UNESCO)
- Preserving a Classic Japanese Art Form: Tokusatsu Magic (Japan Times)
- Preserving Tradition in Japan (NY Times)
- A Dying Japanese Village Brought Back to Life – By Scarecrows (NPR)
- Japan’s Rice Farmers Fear their Future is Shrinking (NY Times)
- Rural Japan’s Folk Traditions Fade as Residents Age (Japan Today)
- The ‘Japanese Aesthetic’ (The Diplomat)
- Vanishing Japan: Five Things to See Before they Disappear Completely (Rocket News)
- Morioka Embraces New, Young Talent to Keep Geisha Tradition Alive (Japan Times)
- Traditional Geishas Entertain Western Guests (NY Times)
- Modern Japan: Influenced by Traditional Japan
- Contemporary Japan: Culture & Society
- Tokyo: Where Ancient and Modern Meet (Telegraph)
- Traditional Culture Exemplified in Modern Japanese Media (GaijinPot)
- Japanese Architecture: What Makes it So Different (Tofugu)
- In Japan, History has No Place (NY Times Magazine)
- Japan’s Fashion Forward Sub-Cultures (The Diplomat)
- Harajuku Culture and Trends (Travel Channel)
- Japanese Youth like a Little bit East, A Little Bit West (The Age)
- How Haruki Murakami Navigates between Japanese and Western Cultures (Culture Trip)
- How Japan Copied American Culture and Made it Better (Smithsonian)
- Shibuya: Tokyo’s Center of Youth Culture (Matcha Japan Travel Magazine)
- The Way of Coffee: Japan Brews Up Its Own Unique Culture (National Geographic)
- How Video Games Revived the Dying Art of Woodprinting (Co.Design)
- Rakugo shinju, kabukibu and the Traditional Arts of Japan (Anime News Network)
- Forbidden Ink: Redrawing the Lines of Japan’s Tattoo Debate (The Diplomat)
- Traditional Japanese Art Inspires a Futuristic Innovation: ‘Brain Organoids’ (Science Daily)
- From Robots to Retinas: 9 Amazing Origami Applications (Popular Science)
Transportation in Japan
- Why Tokyo’s Privately Owed Rail Systems Work So Well (Citylab)
- Japan’s Mission Impossible: To Spend $100 Billion in 15 Months (Reuters)
- What Japan can Teach America about Sustainable Transportation
- From the Shinkansen to the Maglev: Japan’s Railway – The Envy of Them All (GaijinPot)
- Why Japan Lead’s the World in High-Speed Trains (Economist)
- How the Shinkansen Bullet Train Made Tokyo Into the Monster it is Today (Guardian)
- How the Shinkansen Changed Japanese Cities (Museum of the City)
- Japan’s High-Spending Legacy (BBC News)
See our Travel in Japan page for more information on this topic.
Trash and Recycling in Japan
- Why are There So Few Public Trash Cans in Japan (Japan Info)
- Tokyo Q&A: Why Does Tokyo Have No Bin? (TimeOut Tokyo)
- 5 Reasons that Make Japan a Clean and Green Country (Japan Info)
- Japan’s Garbage Disposal System Explained (Tofugu)
- The Big Tokyo Trash Mystery (Metropolis)
- Japan’s Secret Garbage Problem (Rocket News)
- Heritage Listing a Wake-up Call for Taking Charge of Mt. Fuji Clean-Up (Japan Times)
- Wasteland: Tokyo Grows on Its Own Trash (Japan Times)
- Kamikatsu: Japan’s Zero Waste Village (Guardian)
- Plastic Fantastic: How Does Tokyo Recycle Its Waste (Japan Times)
Uchi-Soto and Group Culture in Japan
The concept of Uchi Soto is one of the most unique aspects of Japanese culture. This concept is the key to understanding Japanese society and it explains why Japanese people behave the way they do and how they view foreigners in Japan.
So what is Uchi Soto? Uchi (内) literally means home, while Soto (外) refers to outside. The core concept revolves around the idea of dividing people into two groups, a in-group and an out-group.Your family and close friends are considered uchi (in-group), as well as your co-workers and superiors in your research host lab.
Most tourists in Japan will always remain Soto (外) or in the out-group but Nakatani RIES Fellows in Japan have a unique opportunity to truly join and become a member of their research host lab. You will be new to the lab, and only there for a short time, so just like any close group you may remain a little bit towards the outside edge of the in-group but many alumni have shared that they really felt a true part of their research host lab group by the end of the summer.
- Uchi Soto and Japanese Group Culture (GaijinPot)
- Uchi-Soto
- At Home in Japan: Uchi-Soto
- Japanese Business Culture: Being Included
- The Nail That Sticks Up: Conformity in Japan (Tofugu)
- 26 Etiquette Rules Every Teacher in Japan Should Know (Tofugu) – Many apply to working in any Japanese group/lab
Vending Machines in Japan
Did you know that Japan has the highest number of vending machines per capita, with about one machine for every twenty-three people? U.S. students often wonder why there are so many vending machines and how they can be profitable given that there are so many machines everywhere. The resources below might help give some insight to these questions but at the end of the day one key reasons – it’s super convenient to be able to get a cold (in summer) or hot (in winter) beverage whenever you want one because there is probably a vending machine just a few steps away.
- Japan’s Vending Machines Tell you a Lot About the Culture (Business Insider)
- Why Vending Machines are so Popular in Japan (Kotaku)
- The World of Japanese Vending Machines (Kotaku)
- Why Japan Has So Many Vending Machines (Japan Today)
Women in Japan
- See also Women in STEM in Japan on our Doing Research page
- See also section on Work Ethic and Work Culture in Japan on our Career Resources page.
- Miscellaneous
- Politics
- Commentary by Shinzo Abe “When women can thrive, so will Japan and the world”, Japan Times, April 27, 2015
- Will Japan’s Womenomics Work? (Medill Reports Chicago)
- “Caroline Kennedy: An Ambassador Whose Role Transcended the Embassy”, New York Time, January 11, 2016
- Women in Japanese Government: Three Rising Politicians to Know (GaijinPot)
- Women Are Making Their Voices Heard in Male Dominated Japanese Politics (NPR)
- Japanese Princesses Engagement Revives Debate on Women in the Royal Family (NY Times)
Work Ethic and Job Hunting in Japan
For more on this topic see section on Job Hunting in Japan and Work Ethic and Work Culture in Japan on our Career Resources page.
Youth Culture in Japan
- Dating Differences Between America and Japan (GaijinPot)
- Japan’s Fashion Forward Sub-Cultures (The Diplomat)
- Harajuku Culture and Trends (Travel Channel)
- Why People Cosplay in Japan (GaijinPot)
- Japanese Youth like a Little bit East, A Little Bit West (The Age)
- Japanese Youth Culture
- Japan is Obsessed with Climate Change: Young People Don’t Get It (NY Times)
- Pachinko Parlors Court Japan’s Youth (NY Times)
- Youth Let Their Thumbs Do the Talking in Japan (NY Times)
- Hip Hop Culture in Japan (GaijinPot)
- Teenagers in Japan Can Finally Vote: But Will They? (NY Times)
- Start-Up Spirit Emerges in Tokyo (NY Times)
- Depression Simmers in Japan’s Culture of Stoicism (NY Times)
- Shutting Themselves in (NY Times)
- The Curious Japanese Obsession with Blood Types (GaijinPot)