Takaichi’s PM bid faces further headwinds with coalition split

Komeito, the Liberal Democratic Party’s long-time junior coalition partner, said Friday it plans to leave the ruling camp, parting ways with the LDP and its new president, Sanae Takaichi, after the LDP... Read more »

Tokyo’s Ultimate Ramen Festival: The Great Tsukemen Expo

What is the Great Tsukemen Expo? Shinjuku may be best known for its nightlife, but for a few weeks each year, it transforms into a hotspot for some of Japan’s most delicious... Read more »

Nobel Prizes this year offer three cheers for slow science

At least three different reporters on Tuesday asked John Clarke, one of this year’s Nobel Prize in physics laureates, how exactly we ended up with technology like the cellphone today from his... Read more »

Osaka Expo expected to turn an operating profit of over 23 billion yen

But is that still enough to call it a success? When the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo was set to open last April, a large number of nay-sayers came out of the woodwork, predicting... Read more »

Lafcadio Hearn (Yakumo Koizumi) and His Many Lives

From late September 2025, NHK’s Asadora,Japan’s most-watched morning drama series and a national cultural staple, debuted “The Ghost Writer’s Wife”, telling the story of Setsu Koizumi, the wife of Greek-Irish-Japanese writer Lafcadio... Read more »

Blue Jays knock out Yankees to advance to first ALCS since 2016

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider made seven pitching changes on Wednesday. A few hours later, Schneider gave a short speech in the clubhouse and kicked off a celebration by yelling “Start... Read more »

Shopping, Cafes, Cocktail Bars and Restaurants in Tokyo

From October 18 to November 30, Hibiya Okuroji will be hosting a special campaign for Tokyo Weekender readers — show this article at check-out to receive a discount coupon (no purchase necessary).... Read more »

Romantic Horror in Japanese Folklore and Literature

When October rolls around, many of us reach for classic Gothic romances: Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, Bram Stoker’s Dracula or Gaston Leroux’s Phantom of the Opera. These Western tales of dark love... Read more »

Meet Daizou: Daiso’s Adorable New Mascot

Daiso is a self proclaimed “happy price paradise,” where you can find nearly anything you could possibly need and more at unbeatable prices, usually set at just 100 yen. From everyday household... Read more »

Imperial Japan’s All-American Radio Propagandist

“Hey, boneheads, how’s tricks? Time for a vicious assault on your morale. Here’s Bing Crosby.” During the Pacific Theater of World War II, American soldiers often found comfort in broadcasts like this... Read more »