Planning to go to Universal Studios Japan in August? Check your dates carefully, as prices are set to hit record highs. — By Jay Allen Planning a trip to Osaka? Got your sites set on stopping by Universal Studios Japan in Osaka? Be prepared for sticker shock if you go in August, as USJ just announced a record price hike to handle the Obon crowds. USJ ticket prices to cross 10,000 yen mark According to the pricing calendar on its…

Japan’s extensive expressway network has some of the most expensive tolls in the world. Now, the date for them to be made free has been moved to next century. — By Noah Oskow In 2005, the Japanese government made a promise that would only be fulfilled when those involved would be quite elderly indeed. Amidst a rush to privatize the nation’s extensive highway system, it was stated that the country’s infamously expensive toll roads would be made free by 2050…

Japan’s Central Shrine Administration has taken an aggressively anti-LGBTQ stance. But some Shinto shrines are bucking the prejudice. — By Nyri Bakkalian Amidst a wave of queerphobia by the establishment forces in shrine Shinto, and the increasing calls for marriage equality in Japan, a shrine in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture is opening its doors to LGBTQ couples wanting to get married on shrine grounds.

Earlier this year, a group that aimed to replace the Japanese writing system with the Latin alphabet admitted defeat. — By Jay Allen It was a valiant effort. But after over 100 years, a Japanese group that thinks the language would be much improved by writing it in the Latin alphabet has shuttered its doors. The fight against “irrational” kanji-kana mixing

A recent survey asked married couples in Japan how much housework they do. The shocking results spotlight the unfair burden placed on women. — By Jay Allen The majority of Japanese households are dual-income. Yet when it comes to housework, women in heterosexual marriages still bare the brunt of the labor. A new survey spotlights exactly how little most men in Japan do — and the gulf between men’s and women’s perceptions of work-life…

“Suzume” has been another major hit for popular anime director Shinkai Makoto. See where it stacks up in both Japan and the world at large. — By Noah Oskow On May 27th, Shinkai Makoto’s hit new anime film, Suzume no Tojimari (すずめの戸締まり, called simply Suzume in English-language markets) ended its impressive run at the box office in its home country of Japan. The movie, which released on November 11th, 2022, was in theaters for an extended…

Who would win in a battle between Tyrannosaurus Rexes and humans? What if it’s a battle where short, stubby arms are a handicap? — By Jay Allen If you woke up this morning and wondered to yourself, “Who’d win in a beach cleaning contest between dinosaurs and humans,” well — good news! A group in one Japanese city decided to find out. Protecting Matsue’s natural beauty

A collectible card shop in Japan recently warned its patrons that if they can’t control their smell, they’ll likely be asked to leave. — By Kay Benton One card shop chain’s location is asking visitors to mind their stench. The Akihabara location of Cardland has issued a statement via its Twitter account urging customers to bathe and apply deodorant before entering the store. On May 19, the store’s account @cardland_akiba posted “Due to the…

The major streaming service for Studio Ghibli films in Russia is losing rights to the library after May. Will fans go back to pirating? — By Noah Oskow For Studio Ghibli, Japan’s most famous animation house, the Russian connection runs deep. Miyazaki Hayao, co-founder of Ghibli and director of such globally beloved fare as Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and My Neighbor Totoro, was majorly influenced by Soviet animation during the 1960s. He’s cited 1957’s The…