TRAVEL
Shibuya Station’s Hachiko Gate Just Became a Gigantic Mess
Going to Shibuya Station? Be warned that a change to the Hachiko Gate due to construction will slow you down.
News
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TRAVEL
ENTERTAINMENT
The Dead Nakai Theory: Some Nakai Masahiro Fans Use Conspiracy to Cope
Some diehard fans say there's a reason ex-SMAP member Nakai Masahiro is behaving badly: because the actual Nakai is dead.
TECHNOLOGY
Japan Will Eliminate Credit Card Signatures Soon. Will That Impact Travel?
As of March 2025, Japan will eliminate the "PIN bypass" procedure that's allowed customers to get away without entering their secret code.
LIVING IN JAPAN
Japanese School Wrongly Expels Kurdish Student Whose Immigration Status Lapsed
The sixth-year elementary student will return to school after the Japanese government said the decision contradicts its guidance.
LAW & CRIME
Bag Thief in Kabukicho Arrested Thanks to AirPods
A thief got more than he bargained for when he sped off with a bag containing a pair of AirPods that had…
WOMEN
Ito Shiori’s “Black Box Diaries” Gets Academy Award Nom, Makes History
Ito's documentary about her sexual assault, which has won worldwide acclaim, is the first by a Japanese director to get an Oscar…
TRAVEL
Hotel Prices in Japan Hit Record High, Due in Part to Weak Yen
Booking a hotel for Japan travel? Expect a bit of a sticker shock: hotel prices are at levels not seen since 1997.
WOMEN
There Are Still Zero Female Pro Shogi Players in Japan’s Regular League
Pro women's shogi player Nishiyama Tomoka came close to breaking a 100-year barrier for women in her exam match this week.