Articles | Page 3 | Japan Story

17 Oct 2020

SoftBank’s Future Vision of a happy, connected world

The goal of technology is to end human sadness, according to SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son. His favourite dog Otosan comes along for the ride into the future.

12 Oct 2020

East Asian men want dating equality

The self-styled "Asian Playboy" wants to level the field with white people.

7 Oct 2020

Please don’t call me Oriental – I am not a rug!

Oriental is an acceptable word for rugs, food stores and hotels. But is it derogatory to use it for people?

30 Sep 2020

The sweet meeting with Jim that made me long to bake shortbread

When I spoke to the boss of a biscuit company I remembered my boyhood dream of becoming a baker.

21 Sep 2020

Getting Drunk With Hello Kitty

Japanese women are supposed to like cute drinks but some ladies prefer beer.

21 Sep 2020

Japan’s “invisible” navy

The naval section of Japan's Self Defence Force is better resourced than that of many other countries. How does it compare to the navy of the People's Republic of China?

21 Sep 2020

Britain’s historic post-Brexit trade pact with Japan

Scottish shortbread's been popular in Japan for forty years. The UK government hopes a new trade deal will smooth the way for other exporters.

7 Sep 2020

Karaoke Madness! When hard pressed workers need a break

Foreigners often think Japanese are perennially polite, especially at work. But some staff risk being cheeky to their superiors when they go out.

1 Sep 2020

Taking stock of Shinzo Abe’s legacy

Duncan Bartlett and Zhao Ying discuss Shinzo Abe's legacy and the China-Japan relationship

26 Aug 2020

Perfectly convenient: In praise of small shops

Japan's thousands of convenience stores are sometimes taken for granted by locals but David Tonge loves them.

About Japan Story

Are you ready to read unexpected stories about life in Japan? This website brings you hundreds of original articles and new ones are posted every week.

I’m a former BBC correspondent in Tokyo and now a freelance writer and editor, specialising in Asia. I start by looking at themes about Japan which are being reported in the news and then I try to go beyond the headlines. Many posts cover issues relating to politics, news and current affairs.

There are fun pieces, too. Inside you’ll find tales of ghosts, wild animals and even monsters that eat people’s dreams.

I’m particularly grateful to the guest writers who have contributed their own perspectives on Japan and I welcome suggestions for other topics. Please read on, as we tell Japan’s many stories.

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