HISTORY
Iidesan, Fukushima’s Odd Border: Gods, Mountains, Lines in the Sand
In western Fukushima Prefecture, an odd salient of territory extends, wedged between Niigata and Yamagata Prefectures. So why is it there?
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HISTORY
HISTORY
Stronger than the Wave: Five Southern Tohoku Folk Traditions
The Tohoku region's endured a lot over the past 200 years. How five rich folk traditions capture the durability and diversity of…
HISTORY
Queer Echoes: Koike Chikyoku, Unlikely Warrior Artist
The story of a little-know artist-turned-warrior during the waning days of the samurai -- and who just might have been a queer…
HISTORY
The Indomitable Lady Onami of Sukagawa
Too often, history leaves out the Japanese women who left their mark on the world around them. Meet Lady Onami, who led…
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
Zuzu-ben: How Japan’s Northern Dialects Became Shorthand for “Hick”
Why a wide range of local dialects in Japan's north are intrinsically - and unfairly - associated with rural backwardness.
TRAVEL
Promoting Prefectures Through Punny Pokemon
The Local Acts initiative is helping promote prefectures through pokemon, including many that were affected by the Tohoku Earthquake.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
Japan is Quietly Facing an Energy Crisis
A spike in electrical usage and a dip in solar energy output is raising fears that Japan could soon find itself in…
POLITICS
Meet the Activists Who Want the Tokyo Olympics Cancelled
Japan's politicians insist the Tokyo Olympics will happen in 2021 no matter what. We talked to activists who are fighting to stop…