Japanese-learning portal for foreign children to be upgraded
Japan’s education ministry plans to upgrade its portal site for foreign children learning Japanese in fiscal 2027, amid…
Japan starts planning language program for foreign residents
The government held its first meeting of a working group to establish a program for foreign residents to…
Japanese Social Media Auto-Translation: a Blessing, or a Curse?
For years, Japanese social media went about its business behind a surprisingly sturdy language barrier. Plenty of people…
Genericide, Japan Edition: How Japan’s Famous Names Slipped Into Common Speech
If you’ve ever asked for an aspirin when you just meant acetylsalicylic acid, or talked about riding an…
Calls grow to improve Japanese language education
As policies related to foreign nationals are expected to be a major issue in Sunday’s Lower House election…
Kanji Forever? Why Japan Still Uses Chinese Characters, But Korea Mostly Doesn’t
The cultural influence of China on Korea and Japan is rich and powerful. That’s clearly seen in the…
Japan to launch language support project for foreign children
The education ministry plans to launch a model project in fiscal 2027 to provide basic Japanese-language instruction for school…
![[Insider] "Utility Pole Girls": Japanese Media Has a Demeaning New Buzzword for Women](https://www.europesays.com/japan/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1778885767-380x220.jpeg)
[Insider] “Utility Pole Girls”: Japanese Media Has a Demeaning New Buzzword for Women
I hesitated writing this piece. On the one hand, it’s the exact intersection of cultural issues, women’s issues,…
Japan considers making language programs a factor in residency screenings
The government is considering creating programs teaching Japanese language, culture and social rules to foreign nationals and making attendance…
Improving health literacy reduces health inequalities among university students in Japan
International students face a range of health challenges in their daily lives due to language barriers, different cultural…
U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific – Asia rocks Okinawa
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Keegan Bushouer, U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific vocalist, sings for members…
Connecting Beyond the Language Barrier
JAPAN Forward launched its “Ignite” series of English compositions to directly share the voices of students in Japan…