As we marvel at the technology around us, we realize that we have the wealth of human knowledge at our fingertips. With just a quick swipe on our phone, we can see what the weather is in Brazil, find ...

Great journalism depends on ad revenue. To keep reading, please turn off your ad blocker, create an account or support us by ...

Ongoing Sino-Japanese diplomatic tensions—touched off last month by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on Japan’s willingness to defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack—continue ...

Every winter in Osaka, thousands gather at a temple to laugh—nonstop—for 20 minutes. Known as "Owarai Shinji", this rare ritual draws on ancient Japanese mythology, where laughter once brought the sun ...

A baby and his family dog sit across from each other in a podcast studio. “Welcome to the talking baby podcast,” says the infant, wearing headphones and sounding like a deep-voiced radio broadcaster. ...

Comedy anime often relies on a chaotic dynamic between eccentric oddballs and one rational observer. This serious figure is known as the straight man or tsukkomi in Japanese humor. These characters ...

A well-known Japanese variety program, Hamada Kayōsai, is facing intense international backlash after its host was seen getting physically aggressive with a female guest during a recent broadcast. The ...

Taiwanese streamer Ray Asian Boy's career skyrocketed after a chance 2023 encounter with Kai Cenat in Tokyo. His authentic humor propelled him to millions of followers on TikTok and Twitch. After a ...

Some Halloween costumes transform ordinary people into fantasy characters. But a social media trend in Japan has people trying instead to capture mundane situations from everyday life. So, instead of ...

Japanese humor in manga and anime tends to be more subtle and relies on wordplay, irony, and situational comedy. While there are plenty of slapstick moments, the humor in Japanese cartoons often ...

Sanae Takaichi, a fan of Iron Maiden, had an improbable rise to power. Like her mentor, Shinzo Abe, she is expected to lead Japan to the right. Sanae Takaichi acknowledging the applause after she was ...