The Guarantor System: Why You Can’t Rent in Japan Alone
Why can’t you rent an apartment in Japan without a guarantor? The history of the hoshounin system, how guarantor companies solved it for foreigners, and what it costs.
The Culture of Overtime (Zangyo) and Why It’s So Hard to Leave Work
Why do Japanese employees stay at their desks long after the work is done? The history, laws, and slow decline of zangyo overtime culture.
Why Finding an Apartment in Tokyo and Osaka From January to March Is So Hard
Anyone who has navigated Japan’s rental market has probably received the same piece of advice from someone who learned it
Pet Culture in Japan: How the Country Loves — and Pampers — Its Animals
Walk through a Tokyo neighborhood and you might see a dog riding in a stroller. A toy poodle in a
Why Anpanman Rules Japan: The Philosophy Behind the Country’s Most Beloved Children’s Character
Ask a young child in Japan to name their favorite character, and the answer is likely not Pikachu. It is
City vs. Country in Japan: Two Ways of Living, One Country
When most foreigners picture Japan, they picture Tokyo. The skyline, the scramble crossing, the trains running on time. That image
Driving in Japan: Road Signs, Rules, and What Surprises Foreign Drivers
Foreigners who drive in Japan for the first time tend to arrive at two conclusions quickly: the roads are narrow,
Why Japanese Homes Are Small — And Why That Might Be by Design
Foreigners invited to a Japanese friend’s home for the first time tend to notice the same thing: it is smaller
Renting in Japan: Key Money, Deposits, and the Customs That Confuse Everyone
The first shock of renting an apartment in Japan is rarely the monthly rent. It is the amount due before
Why Japan Takes Off Its Shoes: The Culture of the Genkan
Visit a home in Japan and the instruction is immediate and wordless. The front door opens onto a small lowered