10+ Best Articles on Japan
The most useful articles and videos on japan from around the web—beginners to advanced—curated by thought leaders and our community. We focus on timeless pieces and update the list whenever we discover new, must-read articles or videos—make sure to bookmark and revisit this page.
Top 5 Japan Articles
At a glance: these are the articles that have been most read, shared, and saved on japan by Refind users in 2023 so far.
Videos
Watch a video to get a quick overview.
Why Kyoto Prohibits Bright Colours
If you compare Kyoto to other cities around Japan you'll notice that it's a bit less colourful, a bit more toned down and subdued. Why is this?Sources:- Kyot...
Why Kyoto Prohibits Bright Colours
If you compare Kyoto to other cities around Japan you'll notice that it's a bit less colourful, a bit more toned down and subdued. Why is this?Sources:- Kyot...
Trending
These links are currently making the rounds on japan on Refind.
#27: Why isn't chess popular in Japan?
Overview of the past, present and future of the game in the Land of the Rising Sun
Short Articles
Short on time? Check out these useful short articles on japan—all under 10 minutes.
A peek into Japan's Convenience Stores
Editor’s note: Due to the sheer amount of interesting material here we decided to break this into a two-part article. All across Japan, one sight remains ubiquitous – the convenience store. A far, far…
Everything is Aiming
Kyūdō, the Japanese martial art of archery, offers an alternative philosophy where aims matter more than goals, and where success is the process itself.
«It is not the target that matters. It is not the finish line that matters. It is the way we approach the goal that matters. Everything is aiming.”»
Escape the perfectionist trap with the Japanese philosophy of "wabi sabi"
Perfectionism is on the rise, and its consequences for mental health can be devastating. The Japanese philosophy of "wabi sabi" can help.
«“Instead, what keeps us living and what keeps me vitally engaged is a constant pursuit of betterment»
How Japan Built Cities Where You Could Send Your Toddler on an Errand
The Netflix show Old Enough! offers a glimpse of an alternate reality.
Actually, Japan has changed a lot
The 2020s are not the 1990s.
Long Articles
These are some of the most-read long-form articles on japan.
Japan was the future but it's stuck in the past
The so-called lost decade has now stretched to three. What went wrong, asks Rupert Wingfield-Hayes.
My transformative first trip to Japan
The final part of my first journey to Japan and how it changed my life.
Japan’s Rent-a-Family Industry
People who are short on relatives can hire a husband, a mother, a grandson. The resulting relationships can be more real than you’d expect.
Yamagami Tetsuya’s Revenge
One July morning, after years of careful planning, drawing up lists of possible targets, and tinkering with gunpowder and plumbing supplies, Yamagami Tetsuya put his plan into motion. He loaded a…
The new science of cute
The Long Read: Kumamon, a cartoon bear created to promote tourism in an overlooked part of Japan, has become a billion-dollar phenomenon. Now, a new academic field is trying to pinpoint what makes things cute – and why we can’t resist them
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