Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Unseen Japan

Noah Oskow @noahoskow.bsky.social · 55m

There's something about Airbnb using an (admittedly well-made) bit of art depicting, of all things, the "Shibuya Yokocho" in Miyashita Park as their representational image of Tokyo. A corporate bit of faux-Showa nostalgia that apes real yokochos, with among the more mediocre kitchens in the region.

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Unseen Japan @unseenjapan.com · 6h

[Insider] Want to see something beyond Shibuya Scramble? The famed ward of Tokyo is so much more than its bustling heart and Harajuku. In our latest paid newsletter, we dive into some of the less-traveled areas a short walk away from the station.

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[Insider] Exploring The Unseen Side of Downtown Shibuya - Unseen Japan

Want to see something beyond Shibuya Scramble? Here's a guide to some of the chiller places outside of the city's beating heart.

unseen-japan.com

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Unseen Japan @unseenjapan.com · 16h

As far as anyone can tell, "pien" as a word came into fashion among the JC (女子中学生; joshichuugakusei, middle schoolers) and JK (女子高校生; joshikoukousei, high schoolers) set around 2018. It took off in popularity around that time.

Pien: Its Life As Emoji, Vocabulary, and Fashion - Unseen Japan

Learn how "pien" became the in-fashion word of 2020 - and how its use spread through popular media and Kabukicho street culture.

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Unseen Japan @unseenjapan.com · 18h

For some reason, the Osaka Expo is officially hawking its own NFT featuring a picture of mascot/eldritch horror Myaku-Myaku. The Expo is pitching the giveaway as a so-called "soul-bound token," a type of NFT that can never be digitally transferred.

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"Soul-based token" of Myaku-Myaku doled out by the Osaka Expo 2025

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Unseen Japan @unseenjapan.com · 1d

a football player with the word patriots on his shirt

ALT: a football player with the word patriots on his shirt

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Reposted by Unseen Japan

Watchers without borders, Piotr Filmsky @navelgeezer.bsky.social · 1d

"promoting the now down-and-out Web3 tech as a solution to overtourism"

Because no one will go if they have to pretend to understand what a blockchain is?

Unseen Japan @unseenjapan.com · 1d

Want a commemorative NFT of your trip to Japan? Yeah, we're betting no one else does, either! That isn't stopping multiple companies and government entities from promoting the now down-and-out Web3 tech as a solution to overtourism.

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Japan Is Betting That Tourists Want...NFTs?! - Unseen Japan

The world has moved on from the NFT scam. Japan, however, thinks it's found a nifty new tool to promote regional tourism.

unseen-japan.com

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Unseen Japan @unseenjapan.com · 1d

Want a commemorative NFT of your trip to Japan? Yeah, we're betting no one else does, either! That isn't stopping multiple companies and government entities from promoting the now down-and-out Web3 tech as a solution to overtourism.

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Japan Is Betting That Tourists Want...NFTs?! - Unseen Japan

The world has moved on from the NFT scam. Japan, however, thinks it's found a nifty new tool to promote regional tourism.

unseen-japan.com

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Unseen Japan @unseenjapan.com · 1d

Talk about Japan travel and news with other UJ fans on our Discord server:

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Join the Unseen Japan Discord Server!

Check out the Unseen Japan community on Discord - hang out with 2786 other members and enjoy free voice and text chat.

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Unseen Japan @unseenjapan.com · 1d

Wherever you go in Japan, there will certainly be plenty of onsens around. From Hokkaido to Okinawa, Japan is home to thousands of onsens, both natural and man-made. Here are some of the best to check out on your next trip.

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The Best Onsen to Check Out While in Japan - Unseen Japan

Whether you're traveling to Japan or planning a trip in-country, these onsen are bucket list experiences for everyone.

unseen-japan.com

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Unseen Japan @unseenjapan.com · 1d

The Shinjuku Moulin Rouge thrived through the 1930s and 1950s, offering music, dance, and laughter even as air raids and censorship closed in. Destroyed in air raids in 1945, the theater rose from the ashes two years later.

Shinjuku's Moulin Rouge: The Theater That Danced Through War and Censorship - Unseen Japan

Japanese imperial authorities frequently raided it and censored its scripts. Despite this, the women at the Shinjuku Moulin Rouge danced on.

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Unseen Japan @unseenjapan.com · 2d

Japanese politician Moroi Masahide said, “Foreigners are legally in a different position from Japanese citizens,” and added that “foreigners lack fundamental human rights.” Saitama Prefecture's Governor Ōno immediately rejected the statement.

Saitama Lawmaker States Foreigners in Japan Have "No Fundamental Human Rights" - Unseen Japan

The lawmaker later backtracked on the statement, saying that he only meant they didn't have "the same rights" as Japanese citizens.

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Unseen Japan @unseenjapan.com · 2d

Patterned after its namesake in France, Shinjuku's Moulin Rouge attempted to bring entertainment to Japan during wartime. To do so, it had to contend not only with air raids but with censorship by Imperial authorities.

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Shinjuku's Moulin Rouge: The Theater That Danced Through War and Censorship - Unseen Japan

Japanese imperial authorities frequently raided it and censored its scripts. Despite this, the women at the Shinjuku Moulin Rouge danced on.

unseen-japan.com

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Unseen Japan @unseenjapan.com · 2d

Sanae Takaichi is a conservative and nationalist politician known for emphasizing “Japan First” policies. She frequently champions stricter immigration rules and tighter oversight of foreign visitors.

Japanese Politician Says Tourists Are Kicking Nara's Deer. But Where's Her Evidence? - Unseen Japan

Are foreigners mistreating the deer in Nara? One prominent Japanese politician says so - but the facts don't back her up.

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Unseen Japan @unseenjapan.com · 2d

ICYMI: Ryokan or hotel for your Japan trip? Many assume hotels are the more convenient option, while ryokan are more of a cultural experience. And while there’s some truth to that, the reality is a little more nuanced.

Ryokan vs. Hotels: Inside Japan’s Unique Accommodation Culture - Unseen Japan

Should you stay in a "modern" hotel or a more "traditional" ryokan in Japan? Here's what to consider when deciding.

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Unseen Japan @unseenjapan.com · 3d

Moroi Masahide, a 56-year-old independent representative in Saitama Prefecture, recently declared that foreigners in Japan "have no fundamental human rights." He backtracked on the statement after being slammed by other politicians.

Saitama Lawmaker States Foreigners in Japan Have "No Fundamental Human Rights" - Unseen Japan

The lawmaker later backtracked on the statement, saying that he only meant they didn't have "the same rights" as Japanese citizens.

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Unseen Japan @unseenjapan.com · 3d

By asking their hotels to issue a Temporary Leave Permit, which certifies that the bearer resides at a given address in Japan, tourists were able to bypass the residency requirement and get Japanese driver's licenses.

Japan Closes Tourist Driver's License Exchange Loophole - Unseen Japan

Tourists to Japan used to be able to get a powerful souvenir: a Japanese driver's license. But that's all changed.

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Unseen Japan @unseenjapan.com · 3d

ICYMI: The Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo Sento Association are promoting the unique appeal of public bathhouses (sento) to international visitors in a new campaign running through the end of February 2026.

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Tokyo's Sento Are Opening Their Arms to Foreign Tourists - Unseen Japan

Tokyo and the Tokyo Sento Association want more tourists (tattooed or otherwise!) to experience this aspect of traditional Japanese culture.

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Unseen Japan @unseenjapan.com · 4d

Japan is famous worldwide for its food. But in Kitakyushu, at the northern tip of Fukuoka Prefecture, udon isn’t just food — it’s comfort in a bowl. Now, one famous local chain is making itself felt in Tokyo and Japan's central Kanto region

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Why This Kyushu Udon Chain Is Drawing Tokyo Crowds - Unseen Japan

Sukesan Udon, Kitakyushu’s iconic soul food, has landed in Kanto, sparking long lines and a social media buzz. What makes it so special?

unseen-japan.com

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Unseen Japan @unseenjapan.com · 4d

Today in Japan, "mama" and "papa" for one's parents are now commonplace. But they were once so controversial that one legislator sought to have them banned. Here's the story of how Japan's native words lost out to their English counterparts.

Mama, Papa: How the Japanese Words for Parents Lost Out to English - Unseen Japan

"Mama" and "papa" are such ubiquitous terms in Japan that it's easy to forget they're foreign words - words the government once tried to ban.

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Unseen Japan @unseenjapan.com · 4d

ICYMI: With its strict drug laws, it can be hard to get high in Japan. That leads some people to resort to any means necessary for a buzz. The latest dangerous trend is leading to calls for an outright ban on all vaping.

"Zombie Cigarettes" Are Japan's New Recreational Drug Scare - Unseen Japan

The increasing popularity of the drug has some in the country calling for a complete ban on vaping to stop it in its tracks.

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Unseen Japan @unseenjapan.com · 5d

ICYMI: The National Police Agency (NPA) is considering amendments to Japan’s Stalker Regulation Act. The proposed changes would enable officers to issue warnings to suspected stalkers without requiring victims to file requests first.

Japanese Police Consider Changing Anti-Stalking Law After Murder - Unseen Japan

Japan's National Police Agency (NPA) is considering the change after police in Kawasaki failed to protect a stalking victim.

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Unseen Japan @unseenjapan.com · 5d

The witching season is upon us, and Halloween fast approaches. In the mood to enter the eerie world of Japanese horror in anticipation? Look no further than these five classic films, all by masters of their craft: youtu.be/MRXcaLcfV2A

Five Japanese Horror Films for a Haunted Halloween

YouTube video by Unseen Japan

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Unseen Japan @unseenjapan.com · 5d

When most people think “Japanese food,” they probably think of sushi or ramen. But there’s so much more to Japanese cuisine. Here's why tourists increasingly have their eyes on the country’s vast number of variations on the incredible, edible egg.

Why Tourists Are Smitten with Japan's Popular Egg Cuisine - Unseen Japan

Forget sushi and ramen. More than ever, tourists to Japan are discovering the delectability of the country's egg-based dishes.

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Unseen Japan @unseenjapan.com · 5d

Through its political wing, the Shintō Association of Spiritual Leadership (SAS, or Shintō Seiji Renmei), Jinja Honchō lobbies for conservative causes such as constitutional revision, moral education, and support for Yasukuni Shrine.

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Headquarters for Jinja Honchō (the Association of Shintō Shrines)

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Unseen Japan @unseenjapan.com · 5d

The “Nikoniko Lunch” was created as an allergy-friendly option, not for religious purposes. However, some people distorted this fact and spread false claims on social media, saying that Muslim-friendly lunches were now on the menu.

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