Anti-Foreign Hatred Growing on Japanese Media, Fueled by Profit Motive
A deeply concerning trend is accelerating in Japan's media landscape: anti-foreigner content is being deliberately amplified because it generates massive engagement and ad revenue. Stories about foreigners receiving illegal subsidies or committing crimes can garner tens of thousands of views instantly, with X (formerly Twitter) paying creators for viral content. This creates a dangerous feedback loop where anti-foreigner expressions become increasingly extreme to chase clicks. The article highlights how misinformation about foreign residents — particularly regarding welfare benefits and crime rates — spreads virally despite being statistically misleading.
Japan's "Dating Infrastructure" Has Collapsed — Marriage Now a Luxury
Japan once had a built-in "dating infrastructure" through its system of lifetime employment and workplace marriages. Even people who weren't great at romance could start families because the company matchmaking culture and social pressure naturally paired people off. With that system gone — replaced by contract work, job-hopping, and eroding social bonds — dating has become a "survival game" of personal responsibility. Getting married now requires a massive investment of time, money, and social skills, effectively making it a luxury rather than a default life milestone. The article frames this as a structural explanation for Japan's plummeting birth rate that goes beyond individual choice.
Constitutional Scholar vs. Takaichi: "The Constitution Restricts State Power" — PM Disagrees
Legal scholar Setsu Kobayashi has publicly challenged PM Takaichi's understanding of constitutional law, revealing a fundamental ideological clash at the heart of Japanese governance. When Kobayashi stated in the House of Representatives that "the constitution is intended to restrict state power," Takaichi responded: "I do not take that view. The constitution is something that grants power to the state." This exchange lays bare a radically different conception of constitutionalism — the Western liberal tradition sees constitutions as constraints on government power, while Takaichi's view aligns with the LDP's 2012 draft constitution that sought to expand state authority and weaken individual rights protections.
PM Takaichi Unveils "JESTA" — New Visa Pre-Screening System, PR Fee Jumps 20x to ¥200,000
PM Takaichi is doubling down on immigration enforcement with JESTA (Japan Entry Screening & Tracking Administration), a new visa pre-screening system aimed at cracking down on overstayers. The system will screen applicants before entry. Simultaneously, the cost of applying for permanent residency is set to skyrocket from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000 — a 20-fold increase. Other visa fees are also increasing significantly. Critics argue this makes Japan even less attractive for skilled workers it desperately needs amid a shrinking workforce, while supporters say it strengthens border security.
PM Takaichi Announces Bill to Establish a National Intelligence Agency
In a significant move toward centralizing Japan's security apparatus, PM Takaichi has announced legislation to create a dedicated National Intelligence Agency. This would consolidate intelligence gathering and analysis currently scattered across multiple ministries and agencies. The move has been debated for decades in Japanese security circles, with advocates arguing Japan lacks a coherent intelligence capability comparable to the CIA or MI6. The proposal comes as Japan faces growing threats from China's military expansion and North Korea's nuclear program.
Panasonic, the Former Plasma King, Will No Longer Make Its Own TVs
Panasonic, once the undisputed king of plasma displays, has announced it will exit TV manufacturing entirely. The company will outsource production while maintaining its brand. This marks the end of an era — Panasonic's plasma TVs were legendary for their picture quality, and more recently their OLED sets like the Z95B were praised as having the best factory calibration in the industry. With Sony also having exited display manufacturing, 2026 effectively marks the end of Japanese TV hardware as we knew it.
McDonald's Japan Hiking Prices Today — Big Mac Hits ¥500
Starting today (Wednesday), McDonald's Japan is raising prices across its menu. The iconic Big Mac will now cost ¥500, another marker of Japan's slow-motion escape from deflation — or depending on your perspective, another sign that wages aren't keeping up with rising costs. The company posted record profits last year, making the "inflation" justification ring hollow for many consumers.
Japan Seeks Stronger Defense Ties with Pacific Island Nations
Japan is moving to strengthen its defense relationships with Pacific Island nations, part of a broader strategy to counter China's growing influence in the region. The initiative focuses on maritime security cooperation, surveillance capabilities, and capacity building for island nations that have become a geopolitical battleground between democratic and authoritarian powers. This aligns with Japan's expanded defense posture under recent National Security Strategy updates.
China Issues Dual-Use Blacklist of 20 Japanese Entities
China has placed 20 Japanese companies and organizations on a dual-use export blacklist, effectively banning the export of items with potential military applications to these entities. The list includes Mitsubishi Heavy Industries subsidiaries and JAXA (Japan's space agency). China's Foreign Ministry called the move "completely justified," stating the purpose is to "prevent Japan's remilitarization." This represents a significant escalation in economic tensions between the two nations and comes in response to Japan's tightening of its own export controls on semiconductor equipment to China. Japan has formally protested the move, calling it "unacceptable."
Rental Apartment? Not for You, Foreigner.
A viral thread highlighting the persistent and systemic housing discrimination foreigners face in Japan. Despite laws technically prohibiting such discrimination, the reality on the ground remains grim — landlords routinely reject applicants solely based on nationality, with no consequences. The thread catalyzed a massive community response from long-term residents sharing their own experiences.
Underrated Positives of Living in Japan
A refreshingly positive thread where residents share the often-overlooked benefits of life in Japan that don't make the tourist guides: the absence of visible drug addiction on streets, the reliability of infrastructure, the quality of everyday food, the safety, the convenience store culture, and countless small quality-of-life improvements that compound into a remarkably comfortable daily existence.
New Permanent Residency Update Guidelines Analyzed
The immigration bureau has updated its guidelines for permanent residency applications, and the community is parsing through the fine print. A key point of discussion is the "longest period of stay" requirement — the guidelines note that having a 3-year visa status counts as meeting this requirement, which is a significant clarification for many applicants. Combined with the ¥200,000 fee increase announced separately, the PR landscape in Japan is shifting rapidly.
Takaichi's Office Distributed Catalog Gifts Worth Tens of Thousands of Yen to All LDP Members
This is the biggest domestic political story in Japan right now. PM Takaichi's office distributed expensive catalog gifts (数万円相当) to over 300 LDP members of parliament as "congratulatory gifts" for winning their seats in the last election. The gifts were delivered by her political secretary (who is also her younger brother) directly to Diet members' offices. Takaichi acknowledged the distribution on her X account, insisting political party subsidies were not used. However, coming so soon after the Ishiba-era gift card scandals, this reignites the perpetual "politics and money" (政治とカネ) controversy. Multiple outlets (朝日, 毎日, 産経, Yahoo) are running this as their top story. The domestic framing emphasizes how this contradicts Takaichi's promises to clean up LDP corruption — the very issue that propelled her to the premiership.
PM Takaichi Signals Opposition to Further BOJ Rate Hikes in Meeting with Governor Ueda
In a Mainichi scoop, PM Takaichi reportedly expressed reluctance toward additional interest rate increases during a direct meeting with BOJ Governor Ueda. This is a significant intervention — Japanese prime ministers traditionally maintain at least the appearance of respecting BOJ independence. Takaichi's stance reflects concern that rate hikes could derail her economic agenda, particularly the proposed 2-year consumption tax cut she's championing through the "National Conference" (国民会議) framework. The framing in Japanese media highlights the tension between Takaichi's populist economic promises and the BOJ's mandate to normalize monetary policy after decades of ultra-loose conditions.
NTT Docomo to End 3G Service March 31 — Rivals Move to Capture Remaining Users
NTT Docomo will shut down its 3G network at the end of March, marking the end of an era for mobile telecommunications in Japan. While most users have long migrated to 4G/5G, an estimated hundreds of thousands of primarily elderly users still rely on 3G-only devices. Competing carriers are aggressively marketing to capture these displaced customers. The story is covered from a "daily life impact" angle in Japanese media, with practical guidance for affected users — a very different framing from the technology-focused coverage in English-language outlets.
15 Japanese Nationals Detained in Cambodia for Alleged Involvement in Phone Fraud Rings
Cambodian authorities have detained 15 Japanese nationals suspected of involvement in 特殊詐欺 (specialized fraud) — the highly organized phone scam operations that have become a major crime problem in Japan. The suspects were operating from Cambodia, part of a broader pattern where these fraud rings set up overseas call centers to evade Japanese law enforcement. This story is getting significant domestic coverage as it highlights the transnational nature of Japan's phone fraud epidemic, which costs Japanese victims billions of yen annually, predominantly targeting elderly people.
"Death of EC" Follows "Death of SaaS" — AI Shopping Agents Threaten Amazon's Model
Nikkei is running a provocative analysis piece arguing that after "the death of SaaS," the next industry to be disrupted by AI is e-commerce itself. The thesis: AI shopping agents that can autonomously browse, compare, and purchase products will undermine the platform model that made Amazon dominant. The predicted losers are existing EC platforms (Amazon, Rakuten); the winners are brick-and-mortar retailers like Walmart and Home Depot who have physical inventory and fulfillment networks that AI agents will direct consumers to. The Japanese business audience is paying close attention given Rakuten's already-precarious position. This is the kind of Silicon Valley-meets-Tokyo analysis Nikkei excels at.
Anthropic CEO Faces Pentagon Ultimatum: Allow Military AI or Lose Government Contracts
Nikkei's Silicon Valley bureau reports on a high-stakes confrontation between Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and US Defense Secretary Hegseth. The Pentagon has given Anthropic until February 27 to agree to unrestricted military use of its AI systems or face being designated a "supply chain risk" and excluded from government procurement. Amodei met with Hegseth at the Pentagon on the 24th. The story frames this as a defining moment: will Anthropic compromise its safety principles under government pressure? Nikkei's Japanese audience — deeply interested in AI governance — is following this as a bellwether for how democracies will regulate military AI use.
🌸 梅花祭 (Baika-sai Plum Blossom Festival) — TODAY!
Today, Feb 25! The annual Baika-sai at Kitano Tenmangu is one of Kyoto's most beloved early spring festivals. Held on the anniversary of Sugawara no Michizane's death (the deity of scholarship enshrined here), the festival features an outdoor tea ceremony served by geiko and maiko from Kamishichiken, set among 1,500 plum trees in bloom. This is peak plum blossom season. The tea ceremony tickets (with sweets) sell out fast — arrive early.
北野天満宮 梅苑公開 (Plum Garden Open)
The famous plum garden at Kitano Tenmangu is open through May 24, but late February is peak bloom. Over 1,500 plum trees of 50 varieties create a spectacular display of pink, white, and red blossoms. The garden includes a tea service area where you can enjoy matcha while surrounded by plum blossoms. This is separate from today's Baika-sai festival but combines perfectly with it.
城南宮 枝垂梅と椿まつり (Weeping Plum & Camellia Festival)
One of Kyoto's most photogenic early spring scenes: 150 weeping plum trees (枝垂梅) cascade with pink and white blossoms in Jonangu Shrine's Rakusuien garden. The fallen petals carpet the ground in what's known as "plum blossom snow." Late February is the absolute peak. Also ongoing: camellia displays and a special blessing ceremony. This is consistently rated one of Kyoto's top spring destinations.
早春の草花展 (Early Spring Flower Exhibition)
The Kyoto Botanical Garden's special early spring exhibition showcases flowers that bloom between winter and spring — a curated collection in the garden's greenhouse area featuring early camellias, plum blossoms, snowdrops, and other harbingers of spring. A gentle, educational experience perfect for a weekday visit. The botanical garden itself is also beautiful this time of year with outdoor plum groves.
お雛さまと人形の世界 (Hina Dolls & the World of Japanese Dolls)
With Hina Matsuri (March 3) approaching, Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art is showcasing an exquisite collection of hina dolls and Japanese doll artistry spanning centuries. The exhibition includes rare Edo-period dolls, Kyoto-style gosho ningyo, and contemporary doll artists' work. A perfect pre-Hina Matsuri visit to understand the rich tradition behind the festival. Through March 15.
雛まつりと人形 (Hina Festival & Dolls) at Kyoto National Museum
The Kyoto National Museum's seasonal exhibition pairs its finest hina doll collection with related artifacts from the museum's vast holdings. This is museum-quality — expect to see Important Cultural Properties alongside the seasonal doll displays. A more scholarly complement to the Kyocera exhibition. Through March 15.
第60回 京の冬の旅 — 高台寺 特別公開 (Kodai-ji Special Opening)
The 60th "Kyoto Winter Journey" special openings continue, and Kodai-ji is one of the highlights. Built by Nene (Toyotomi Hideyoshi's wife) as a memorial temple, the normally-restricted areas open to visitors during this campaign. See Momoyama-period art, the famous bamboo grove, and stunning winter garden views. Multiple other temples are also participating: Nishi Honganji's Hiunkaku, Ninnaji, Toji's Five-Story Pagoda, and more. Through March 4–18 depending on temple.
西本願寺 飛雲閣 特別公開 (Nishi Honganji Hiunkaku Special Viewing)
A rare chance to see the Hiunkaku (Flying Cloud Pavilion) at Nishi Honganji — one of Kyoto's "three great pavilions" alongside Kinkaku-ji and Ginkaku-ji, but far less known. This National Treasure is normally closed to the public. The three-story structure, said to have been relocated from Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Jurakudai palace, features unique architectural elements mixing Japanese and Chinese styles. Limited-date openings through March 14.
梅まつり (Plum Festival) at Umekoji Park
Umekoji Park — literally "Plum Lane" — lives up to its name with a plum blossom festival running through March 1. The park's grove of plum trees is a family-friendly, free alternative to the shrine plum gardens. Located right next to the Kyoto Railway Museum and Kyoto Aquarium, making it easy to combine into a full day out. Last week of the festival!
AFK Resonance Exhibition at Tōfuku-ji
Artists Fair Kyoto's "Resonance" exhibition transforms Tōfuku-ji temple into a contemporary art space, juxtaposing modern works against 800-year-old Zen architecture. This is Kyoto's most ambitious art-meets-temple project, featuring emerging and established artists in dialogue with the sacred space. Final weekend approaching — ends March 1.
アイヌの美 ―彩りと輝き― (The Beauty of the Ainu) at Bunka Hakubutsukan
The Museum of Kyoto (京都文化博物館) hosts an exhibition on Ainu art and material culture — textiles, woodwork, jewelry, and ritual objects showcasing the aesthetic traditions of Japan's indigenous northern people. Given renewed interest in Ainu culture after the Golden Kamuy phenomenon, this is a timely and educational exhibition. Through March 19.
セカイノコトワリ (The Principles of the World) at National Museum of Modern Art
The National Museum of Modern Art Kyoto (MOMAK) presents an ambitious exhibition exploring how artists interpret and visualize the fundamental principles governing our world — from physics to philosophy. Through March 8. MOMAK also has its 4th Collection Exhibition running concurrently (¥430), featuring works from their permanent collection.