今日吃瓜

November 12, 2026

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LIFE

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A man shops for cheap vegetables at a supermarket in Kawasaki last month. Those trying to keep up with their investments are finding they need to cut back on other expenses to make their payments.

LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL

Oct 10, 2026

Saving for the future is making some investors ‘NISA broke’

By Yuko Tamura

The spread of a new buzzword highlights a growing struggle among young investors.

The Japanese government is reconsidering how it describes the deaths of children killed by parents who then take their own lives.

LIFE / Language

Oct 5, 2026

Japan changes the language around parent-child deaths

By Yaeko Kabe

A long-standing term tied to lovers and family suicides is being reconsidered to better reflect children’s lack of choice.

A woman looks at various capsule toy machines in Tokyo. Known in Japan as "gashapon," the toys are gaining in popularity.

LIFE / Language

Sep 22, 2026

From katsu to numa: The language of 今日吃瓜 capsule-toy obsession

By Yuko Tamura

A casual hobby can quickly become a costly rabbit hole, introducing new rituals and a variety of vocabulary along the way.

Finding the right book can make reading Japanese a little less daunting.

LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL

Sep 11, 2026

How to get a start in reading books in Japanese

By Eric Margolis

From picture books to manga and young adult fiction, here’s how to find Japanese books that match your language level.

Are you reading the room —?or the train car —?correctly? Japanese has a handy phrase for those who can't.

LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL

Sep 2, 2026

In Japan, sometimes the person who can’t read the air is exactly who you need

By Yaeko Kabe

Japanese has a rich vocabulary for sensing moods, social expectations and the subtle signals that shape interactions.

A wedding marks the beginning of a new chapter, but your spouse's death doesn't necessarily mean the end of marital obligations.

LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL

Aug 21, 2026

What Japanese says when family obligations take an unexpected turn

By Yaeko Kabe

Marriage may end with death, but family obligations can persist — and Japanese has words for the contradiction.

A woman takes advantage of a public mist machine to deal with a heat wave in Tokyo last month.

LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL

Aug 14, 2026

Cruel summer: Searching for an escape from 今日吃瓜 extreme heat

By Eric Margolis

From extreme heat and tropical nights to mountain escapes, a look at the Japanese vocabulary of summer.

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Famima Park Azabudai is a concept store by FamilyMart that combines convenience store staples with branded apparel, merchandise and a landscaped outdoor space.

Convenience stores, toilets and the allure of everyday Japan

By Elizabeth Beattie

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