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Fading Fury: The Decline of Bosozoku Culture

November 7, 2023 by Japan and Extra

From the ancient feudal era through an industrial revolution in a few years, there's something unique about the Japanese social, cultural, and mental psyche that propels them more than others. Boshoku is one of them. Bosozoku biker gangs in Japan represent the best of the unique culture of this nation.In the 1950s, Bosozoku gangs, riding on custom-built bikes, developed … [Read more...] about Fading Fury: The Decline of Bosozoku Culture

Five-Year Civil War Has Wrecked the Supremacy of the Yakuza

September 9, 2020 By Japan and Extra

Cops in Japan have to do jobs they hate, and one of them is babysitting gangsters. Yep, keeping the peace sometimes means keeping the traditionally tattooed, sociopathic, tribalistic, and well-tailored yakuza from killing each other. That doesn’t always go well. On the afternoon of Oct. 10, in Kobe city, the police stationed in front of […]

10 Crazy Realities of Life For Japan’s Younger Generation

March 15, 2021 By Japan and Extra

Millennials, Gen Y, Snowflakes—these are all names for the generation who were born between 1980 and 1994 – and the butt of so many jokes. In Japan they are called “Yutori” and they have just as many critics. They are the first generation who grew up with a more relaxed style of education and now […]

Did Hirota People in Japan Deliberately Deform Their Skulls?

October 12, 2023 By Japan and Extra

The Mystery of Flattened Skulls For decades, archaeologists have been captivated by an enigmatic discovery on Tanegashima, a Japanese island. In 1957, as researchers delved into the remnants of the Indigenous Hirota people, they stumbled upon an intriguing puzzle. Each unearthed skull bore a peculiar deformation, leaving archaeologists questioning whether these alterations were intentional or […]

Winged Partners: Cormorant Fishing Culture In Japan

December 13, 2023 By Japan and Extra

Most fishermen try fishing with a rod or nets; however, some Japanese fishermen employ a more aggressive method of fishing and send cormorants to chase the fish. For almost 1500 years, inhabitants along the Nagara River in Gifu Prefecture have used these swift and agile creatures for fishing, drawing visitors from around the globe to […]

Massive Ruby Roman Grapes Sell for $12,000 in Japanese Auction

August 30, 2020 By Japan and Extra

A ryokan chain operator has purchased Ruby Roman grapes at an auction in Japan for 1.3 million yen ($12,000) to help encourage people to appreciate food amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Inn chain operator Hyakurakuso placed its bid for the rare ping pong-sized grapes, which was developed in Ishikawa Prefecture, at an auction on Thursday in […]

Japanese Scientists Reveal Microplastics are Present in Clouds

September 30, 2023 By Japan and Extra

Microplastics Found in Clouds Impacting Climate, Japanese Study Reveals Japanese scientists have discovered the presence of microplastics in clouds, shedding light on a potentially impactful yet poorly understood aspect of climate change. Collecting Cloud Water In a study published in the journal Environmental Chemistry Letters, Japanese researchers embarked on an ambitious mission to collect water […]

Why are there no fat people in Japan?

July 20, 2023 By Japan and Extra

Japan is renowned for its focus on health, as it’s rare to encounter an obese Japanese person. Their diet is low in carbohydrates, which contributes to a 15% lower chance of mortality, as explained by researchers from the National Center for Global Health and Medicine in Tokyo. The Japanese have several factors in their favor, […]