LIFESTYLE

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Remember to give thanks to yourself during the holidays and beyond

Remember to give thanks to yourself during the holidays...

While reflecting on what we’re thankful for during the holiday season, we often ...

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From ‘mail-order brides’ to ‘passport bros,’ the international dating industry often sells traditional gender roles

From ‘mail-order brides’ to ‘passport bros,’ the intern...

Fifteen years ago, when I started studying the international dating industry, fe...

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Move. Cheer. Dance. Do the wave. How to tap into the collective joy of 'we mode'

Move. Cheer. Dance. Do the wave. How to tap into the co...

With a runway of smoking-hot coals laid out before them, residents in San Pedro ...

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Kyoto’s for-adults immersive samurai theme park announces opening date

Kyoto’s for-adults immersive samurai theme park announc...

Toei is one of Japan’s biggest producers of samurai movies and TV series, and 50...

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Preparing to study abroad requires knowing what might go wrong during and after the trip

Preparing to study abroad requires knowing what might g...

After spending two college semesters in northern Thailand, Sarah Jongsma found h...

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Hokkaido's famous Blue Pond shimmers as annual illumination begins

Hokkaido's famous Blue Pond shimmers as annual illumina...

The annual winter illumination has begun at Hokkaido's famous "Aoi Ike" Blue Pon...

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What would convince Japanese people to live in a home where there’d been a death or 'accident?'

What would convince Japanese people to live in a home w...

In Japanese real estate, some apartments and homes are referred to as jiko bukke...

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Half of Japan working adults in 20s engage in 'oshikatsu' fan activities

Half of Japan working adults in 20s engage in 'oshikats...

Nearly half of full-time workers in their 20s in Japan engage in oshikatsu activ...

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Urushi: A beginner’s guide to Japanese lacquerware

Urushi: A beginner’s guide to Japanese lacquerware

Among Japan’s many traditional handicrafts, urushi (lacquerware) stands out as o...

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As China cracks down on stories about men in love, female fans mourn the idealized romances

As China cracks down on stories about men in love, fema...

For Cindy Zhong, like many young Chinese women, a relaxing night used to mean cu...

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Maker of Japan’s first crane machine is looking for a working model, offering ¥100,000 reward

Maker of Japan’s first crane machine is looking for a w...

Crane games are so ubiquitous in Japan that they feel like something that’s alwa...

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Why do some foreigners in Japan hate each other?

Why do some foreigners in Japan hate each other?

Moving to Japan is full of challenges, discoveries and (mostly) positive culture...

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Climate change is in the news during COP30. We've got tips to tackle your climate anxiety

Climate change is in the news during COP30. We've got t...

Every autumn, news feeds get flooded with stories about climate change. That's b...

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Transform fallen leaves into valuable leaf mold for your garden this fall

Transform fallen leaves into valuable leaf mold for you...

There are a lot of leaves outside my window, and I’m guessing your view might be...

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Japan’s permanent Pokémon theme park zone announces grand opening date, ticket sale start

Japan’s permanent Pokémon theme park zone announces gra...

Waiting can be hard, especially when you’re waiting for something that sounds as...

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What it’s like to join a matchmaking party in rural Japan

What it’s like to join a matchmaking party in rural Japan

Finding love in rural Japan is not impossible. Despite living in one of the coun...