INSIDER
[Insider] “Utility Pole Girls”: Japanese Media Has a Demeaning New Buzzword for Women
A survey of 3,000 women found 58% identified with the phenomenon. But it's the label that has people riled up.
language
INSIDER
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
Why Are More Japanese Girls Calling Themselves “Boku”?
How do you refer to yourself in Japanese? For most women, it’s some variant of "watashi." But for many young girls, the…
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
MEXT to Nothing: Japan Struggles to Help Foreign Residents Learning Japanese
Many foreign residents in Japan want to learn Japanese. But reports show a majority feel they're not getting the support they need…
INSIDER
Moving to Japan: The ULTIMATE Guide (We’re Not Joking)
Want to move to Japan? About to land and confused about what to do when you get here? Here's everything you need…
LIVING IN JAPAN
Japan May Require Japanese Language Test for Permanent Residency
The Japanese government may also require applicants to take courses in Japanese culture and manners before settling in for the long haul.
TRAVEL
Why AI Translation Makes For An Awkward Japan Trip
More tourists report using AI translation - even though many admit it sucks. Here are better alternatives than talking through a machine.
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
These Are the Hardest Japanese Place Names to Read – Even for Native Speakers
Can you pronounce these difficult Japanese place names? If not, don't feel bad: most native speakers can't either!
INSIDER
[Insider] On Orientalism and Punctuation in the Japanese Language
How a silly post about punctuation led to a wild theory showing that the Orientalization of Japan is far from dead.